Ch 04 - Working of Institutions9th Polity & Civics
Government vs. The State
How does the 'State' fundamentally differ from the 'Government' in political science terminology?
How does the 'State' fundamentally differ from the 'Government' in political science terminology?
Permanent vs. Temporary Entity
- Government: The specific set of institutions and individuals currently holding administrative power. It is temporary and changes regularly after elections.
- The State: The permanent, sovereign political entity occupying a defined territory (e.g., The Republic of India).
- Relationship: Governments are merely the administrative mechanisms that come and go, but the State continues permanently.
Prism Memory Hook
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Need for Political Institutions
Why do democratic systems purposefully rely on complex institutions rather than entrusting power to a single competent individual?
Why do democratic systems purposefully rely on complex institutions rather than entrusting power to a single competent individual?
Checks, Balances, and Consultations
- The Rationale: Institutions operate through strict rules, routine meetings, and committees.
- The Benefit: While these procedures cause inevitable delays, such delays are democratically vital because they enforce wider consultation and consensus-building.
- The Safety Net: They make it structurally difficult for any leader to rush through a bad or autocratic decision.
- The Three Pillars: Modern democracies distribute power across three core institutions:
- Legislature (Makes laws)
- Executive (Implements laws)
- Judiciary (Settles disputes)
Prism Memory Hook
LEJ (Legislature, Executive, Judiciary)
The Office Memorandum (O.M.) of 1990
What historic policy decision was enacted via the Office Memorandum (O.M.) No. 36012/31/90-Est (SCT) issued on August 13, 1990?
What historic policy decision was enacted via the Office Memorandum (O.M.) No. 36012/31/90-Est (SCT) issued on August 13, 1990?
Expansion of Affirmative Action
- The Decision: The Department of Personnel and Training formally announced a 27% reservation of civil posts and government services for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC).
- The Impact: Prior to this order, constitutional job reservations were strictly limited to Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). This memorandum legally established a third eligible category (SEBC).
Prism Memory Hook
O.M. 13 Aug 90 = 27% SEBC
Also in this chapter
36 more cards to study in Prism
- 4The First Backward Classes Commission
- 5The Mandal Commission (1979)
- 6Indira Sawhney Case (1992)
- 7The 'Creamy Layer' Concept
- 8Authority of Parliament
- 9Lok Sabha vs. Rajya Sabha: Structure and Election
- 10Nominated Members in Parliament
- 11Power Comparison: Ordinary Bills
- 12Power Comparison: Money Bills
- 13Power Comparison: Control Over the Executive
- 14The Executive: Definition
- 15Political vs. Permanent Executive
- 16Minister vs. Civil Servant
- 17Appointment of the Prime Minister
- 18Council of Ministers vs. Cabinet
- 19Powers of the Prime Minister
- 20Constraints on the Prime Minister (Coalition Era)
- 21Visual Analysis: Prime Ministerial Dominance
- 22The President: Constitutional Role
- 23Election of the President
- 24Presidential vs. Parliamentary Systems
- 25Presidential Discretionary Power
- 26Presidential Veto (Reconsideration)
- 27Scenario Check: Presidential Dismissal
- 28Integrated Judiciary
- 29Independence of Judiciary
- 30Appointment of Judges
- 31Removal of Judges (Impeachment)
- 32Judicial Review
- 33Public Interest Litigation (PIL)
- 34Guardian of Fundamental Rights
- 35Visual Analysis: The Partisan Judiciary
- 36Institutional Roles: Quick Match
- 37Principle of Collective Responsibility
- 38Tiers of the Council of Ministers
- 39Rationale for Bicameralism
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