Federalism Class 10 Notes: CBSE Civics Chapter 2

Introduction:

• Discover concise and comprehensive revision notes for Class 10 Democratic Politics Chapter 2 on federalism.

• Gain a deep understanding of the key concepts and principles underlying Federalism.

Key Points:

Definition of Federalism:

• Explore the concept of federalism, a system of government that divides power between a central authority and regional governments.

• Understand how this division of power maintains a balance between a strong central government and the autonomy of regional governments.

Powers and Responsibilities:

• Delve into the powers and responsibilities of the central government, such as defense, foreign affairs and currency regulation.

• Explore the areas where regional governments exercise authority, such as education, public health and local infrastructure development.

Two Levels of Government Exist:

1. One exists at the national or the central level that is usually responsible for the entire country. They take care of few subjects that are of national interest.

2. Others exist at the level of state or divisional provinces and look after the administration on daily basis.

• In a unitary system of government, only one level holds political power or authority. If other levels of government are present they work as subordinates or under the central government.

• A federal government, in contrast, cannot order the state or the local government to follow the guidelines generated by the central government. 

Key Features of Federalism are:

1. Multiple Levels of Government: Federalism involves two or more layers of government, each with its own set of powers and responsibilities.

2. Distinct Jurisdictions: Each level of government manages the same citizens but has specific areas of authority, such as legislation, taxation, and administration.

3. Constitutional Guarantee: The powers and existence of each government tier are protected by the constitution, ensuring stability and clarity.

4. Amendment Process: Changes to key constitutional provisions require approval from both levels of government, preventing unilateral alterations.

5. Judicial Oversight: Courts interpret the constitution and resolve disputes between government levels, ensuring that power is exercised correctly.

6. Defined Revenue Sources: Each government tier has its own sources of revenue, ensuring financial independence and proper functioning.

7. Dual Objectives: Federalism aims to maintain national unity while accommodating regional diversity, balancing the needs of a diverse population.

Different Ways of Creating Federalism:

For federalism to work effectively, two key factors are necessary: mutual trust between different levels of government and a shared commitment to coexist. Federations can be established through two main approaches:

1. Coming Together: Independent states join voluntarily to form a larger federation. This approach is seen in countries like the USA, Switzerland, and Australia, where separate states unite to create a single nation.

2. Holding Together: A large country decides to divide its powers between the central government and its smaller states or regions. This method is used in countries such as India, Spain, and Belgium, where a central authority shares power with various regional governments.

What Makes India a Federal Country?

The Constitution provided for a two-tier system of government: the Union Government or Central Government and the State governments. Later Panchayats and Municipalities were also added.

 Since there is a three-tier of government, the Constitution states three lists:

1. Union List:

• Subjects like defense, foreign affairs, currency, etc. are included in the list.

• These subjects are of national importance.

• Laws related to this list are made by the Union List.

2. State List:

• Subjects like police, commerce, irrigation, etc. are covered under this list.

• These subjects are of State and local importance.

• Laws related to this subject are made by the state government.

3. Concurrent List: 

• Contains subjects of common interest to both the Union as well as the States such as education, forest, trade unions, marriage, adoption, and succession. 

• Both the Central and the state governments can make laws in the Concurrent List.

• Some States enjoy a special status such as Assam, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, and Mizoram under Article 371 due to their peculiar social and historical circumstances. 

• Chandigarh, Lakshadweep, the capital city of Delhi, is called Union Territories and the Central Government has special powers in running these areas.

How is Federalism Practiced?

Linguistic States

• The creation of linguistic States was a significant step for democratic politics in our country.

• In 1947, the boundaries of several old States of India were changed to ensure that people who spoke the same language lived in the same State. Some states like Nagaland, Uttarakhand, and Jharkhand were created to recognize differences based on culture, ethnicity, or geography.

• It helped to make the country more united and the administration was easier.

Language Policy

Hindi was identified as the official language but no language was given the status of the national language. Besides Hindi, there are 21 other languages recognized as Scheduled Languages by the Constitution. 

Center-State Relations

Restructuring the relationship between the Center and the State is yet another way in which federalism was strengthened in practice. If no single party has a clear majority in the Lok Sabha, major national parties could join forces with other parties, along with several regional parties, to form a coalition in the Centre.

Decentralization in India

• The process in which the power is taken from the Central and State government and distributed in the hands of local governments is called decentralization.

• This idea was brought into account as there are many problems and issues that are better resolved and taken care of at the local level than state or central level. Hence several local institutes were set up to take care of them.

• This initiative was taken by the Indian government in 1992 and the Constitution was amended to create a third-tier of government. This made Indian democracy more powerful and effective.

• To bring this to power effectively, the following steps were taken:

• Regular elections for these local bodies were made mandatory.

• Seats were reserved for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward classes to ensure their representation.

• Women had one-third of the seats reserved for them.

• State Election Commission was also established to conduct these elections.

• Some share of power and revenue that the state government had was given to these local bodies.

• Panchayati raj is the local government that is present in each village. A gram panchayat is also present in some groups of villages in some states.

• Big cities and urban areas are taken care of by the municipalities.

Panchayati Raj System

The Panchayati Raj System is the local government structure in rural areas. It consists of several layers of local councils that manage village affairs:

1. Gram Panchayat: Each village, or a group of villages in some states, has a Gram Panchayat, which is a council made up of several ward members (known as panchs) and a president (called a sarpanch). These members are elected directly by the village residents and are responsible for decision-making in the village.

2. Gram Sabha: The Gram Panchayat operates under the Gram Sabha, which includes all voters in the village. The Gram Sabha meets at least two or three times a year to approve the budget of the Gram Panchayat and review its performance.

3. Panchayat Samiti: Several Gram Panchayats are grouped together to form a Panchayat Samiti (or Block/Mandal). Representatives for the Panchayat Samiti are elected by the members of the Panchayats within that area.

4. Zilla Parishad: All Panchayat Samitis or Mandals in a district combine to create the Zilla Parishad. Its members include Lok Sabha and MLA representatives from the district, along with officials from other district-level bodies.

Municipalities

Just as Gram Panchayats manage rural areas, Municipalities handle urban areas. Large cities are organised into Municipal Corporations. Both Municipalities and Municipal Corporations are run by elected officials who represent the people. The head of a Municipality is called the Municipal Chairperson, while in a Municipal Corporation, this role is known as the Mayor.

This system of local government is one of the largest democratic experiments worldwide. It has given local governments constitutional recognition, strengthening democracy in our country and increasing women's representation and influence.

For notes on History, Geography, and Political Science for Class 10, visit CBSE Class 10 Social Science Notes at BYJU’S. Stay updated with CBSE and other competitive exams by downloading the BYJU’S App and subscribing to their YouTube channel for interactive math and science videos.

Did you Know?

• The 2011 census recorded more than 1,300 distinct languages which people claimed as their mother tongues.

• Hindi, is the mother tongue of only about 44 percent of Indians and is the most widespread language in India.

• Although the constitution did not use the word federation, the Indian Union is founded on the principles of federalism.

5 Important Topics of Class 10 Civics Chapter 2 Notes Federalism

Importance of Civics Chapter 2 Class 10 Federalism Notes

• Revision notes help us quickly understand and remember key concepts before exams.

• They save time by focusing on essential information and skipping unnecessary details.

• These notes simplify complex topics, making them easier to understand and use.

• They provide practical examples that show how theoretical knowledge is used in real-life situations.

• Revision notes ensure thorough preparation by covering all important topics in a structured manner.

• They increase confidence by clearly understanding what to expect in exams.

• Accessible formats like PDFs allow for easy studying anytime and anywhere.

Tips for Learning the Class 10 Political Science Chapter 2 Notes

• Learn the basic principles of federalism and how it functions in different countries.

• Understand the differences between 'coming together' and 'holding together' federations to see how various countries implement federalism.

• Learn about the constitutional framework that supports federalism and how amendments are made.

• Relate theoretical concepts to real-world examples and case studies to better understand the application and challenges of federalism.

Conclusion

Class 10 Civics Ch 2 Notes on federalism explains how power is shared between different levels of government in a country. Federalism helps manage diverse regions by distributing authority between central and state governments. It supports unity while allowing regional differences and needs to be addressed. Understanding federalism is crucial for grasping how democratic systems balance national and local interests. By thoroughly studying these notes, students can be well-prepared to answer similar questions in their exams. 

Related Study Materials for Class 10 Civics Chapter 2 Federalism

Chapter-wise Revision Notes Links for Class 10 Civics

Important Study Materials for Class 10 Civics