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Chapter 9: From the Rulers to the Ruled: Types of GovernmentsClass 7 Social Science — summary, notes, extra questions & NCERT solutions
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What are the three functions of government?
Summary
This chapter explores what government is and the different forms it takes around the world. Government performs three functions: making rules (legislative), implementing them (executive) and ensuring they are followed (judicial). Using a school student-committee example, the chapter shows why choosing representatives through voting is a democratic way to organise things. It explains that governments differ in who gives them authority, how they are formed, what their parts do, and what goals they pursue. Democracy, the 'rule of the people', is the most popular form today and rests on principles like equality, freedom, representative participation, universal adult franchise, fundamental rights and an independent judiciary. The chapter distinguishes direct democracy (as in parts of Switzerland) from representative democracy, and within the latter, parliamentary democracy (where the executive comes from the legislature, as in India) from presidential democracy (where the president is separately elected). It looks back at early republics like the Vajji mahajanapada and the Uttaramerur inscriptions describing Chola village elections. It then surveys other forms of government — monarchy (absolute and constitutional), theocracy, dictatorship (with examples like Hitler and Idi Amin) and oligarchy — and explains, through comparison, why democracy is widely considered a better form of government, while noting that even democracies face challenges.
Functions of governmentPrinciples of democracyForms of democracyEarly republics in IndiaMonarchy, theocracy, dictatorship and oligarchy
Key terms
Democracy
A form of government understood as the 'rule of the people', where the people are the source of power and authority.
Universal adult franchise
The right of every citizen above a certain age to vote and choose their representatives.
Parliamentary democracy
A representative democracy where members of the executive, like the prime minister and ministers, are also part of the legislature.
Presidential democracy
A representative democracy where the executive, headed by a president elected by the people, works independently of the legislature.
Monarchy
A government ruled by a monarch (king or queen), usually hereditary; it may be absolute or constitutional.
Separation of powers
The principle that the legislature, executive and judiciary work independently and do not interfere in one another's functions.
Extra questions & answers
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