Hinglish

What Is Government? What Are Its Functions?

Class 7 Social Science · Chapter 9: From the Rulers to the Ruled: Types of Governments · NCERT Exploring Society: India and Beyond section 9.1

Learn

Government keeps law and order, ensures peace and security, manages relations with other countries and defence, delivers education, healthcare and infrastructure, manages the economy, and works for people's welfare. Kauṭilya summed up a ruler's duties as rakṣha (protection), pālana (law and order) and yogakṣhema (welfare). But not every country chooses its government in the same way.

At Zoya's school, the Head Teacher wants a student committee to help with timetables, sports, the mid-day meal and No Bag Days. "Only Grade 12!" says one student. "No, Grade 11," says another. Ishaan asks, "Then who will speak for the younger classes?" Three ideas emerge: everyone joins (too many to decide anything), the Head Teacher picks members (many voices left out), or each class elects a representative. The last is the democratic way: a representative acts on behalf of those who chose them.

Like the committee, a government must make rules (the legislative function), carry them out (the executive function) and ensure they are followed (the judicial function). Democracy is "rule of the people": the people select representatives to govern them. Abraham Lincoln called it "government of the people, by the people, for the people".

Explore: which function?

  1. Sort each action.

Remember

  • Governments keep order, defend, provide services, manage the economy and work for welfare.
  • Their three functions are legislative, executive and judicial; in a democracy people choose representatives.

Quick check

Carrying out laws and running the country by them is the … function.

  1. executive
  2. legislative
  3. judicial
  4. electoral
Answer

executive. Making laws is legislative; checking they are followed is judicial.

Think about it

How is a school student committee different from Parliament?

One answer

A committee deals only with school matters and works under the Head Teacher; Parliament makes laws for the whole country, is elected by all adult citizens and holds the government to account.

Practice

Practise with fresh questions at three levels (easy, medium, hard), some answered hands-on, with hints and worked answers. Get 4 of your last 5 right to finish the topic.