What is Government? Class 6 Notes CBSE Political Science Chapter 3 (Free PDF Download)

We always hear the term ‘government.’ But do we know what it means? Is it a manner to rule over the people? Is it a means to bind people by rule of law? Is it a means to protect and defend the country?

Definition of a Government

Here is a big shocker - even big philosophers and political analysts differ in their definition of the government.

John Locke had said once that government is a complex machinery that protects the ‘natural rights’ - the right to life, property and to live freely - of the people.

• Montesquieu on the other hand was not a believer of natural rights. He thought that when human beings lived without a society without forming any group, they felt unsafe and remained timid. As they formed society, they became fearless because now they were in a big group. Once the societies and the groups became fearless, there was a chance of war among the groups and even among themselves within the group. This led to the formation of the government so that human beings could then be protected and law and order could prevail.

• Rousseau’s idea of government is also quite progressive. According to him, it is true that natural rights of human beings should not be revoked by anyone. But the machinery upon which people have entrusted the responsibility of protecting their rights is fraud & harmful. According to him, the government should be made up of all the people living in the nation-state.

• So, what then can be the definition of a government in a modern world? It is a mixture of all above philosophies. A government is there to perform its basic duties necessary to make the nation keep moving forward. It functions as the gatekeeper of the rights of the people. However, in modern world, it is not practically possible for all the people to take part in the governance directly. So what they do is, they elect people to power who, on their behalf, would then later form the government.
  
  

The Jobs of the Government

Generally speaking, the primary job of a government is to run the country. Now there are various aspects to running a country.   

• The government also looks after the development of the country. It decides where to build roads, hospitals or a school. It makes sure that the facilities like electricity, water etc reach the maximum number of people in the country.

• The government takes care of the economy of the country. It controls the inflation (excessive price rise) and it makes sure that the factories, manufacturing units & industries remain healthy so that the country advances financially. It is also responsible for controlling the banking system of the country.

• The government, with the help of armed forces, makes sure that the borders of the nation are protected from any foreign attacks. It also maintains amicable relationships with its neighbouring countries through diplomacy and other policies.

• The government in a welfare state then makes sure that the people of the country have food to eat. It makes special arrangements for poor people. In times of disasters, the government helps the people with necessary aids.

• The government also has the judicial arm - the court to resolve quarrels between the citizens of the country.
  
  

Levels of the Government

• A country is a huge area. Millions of people live in a country. It is not possible for a centralised government to govern, protect and develop all the parts of the huge country. To solve this problem, leaders have come up with different levels of the government.

• We have various state governments to look after affairs of the states, to protect and defend the people living in the states. Then there are focused local governments which emphasises on developing a particular area of the state & helping the people of that are. The duty of central government is to develop, govern, and protect the whole country in a general manner.

• This kind of decentralised form of government is known the federal government. In India, we also see such a type of government.

• India has states like Haryana, Kerala, Maharashtra etc. These states also have their respective state governments. These states also consist of municipalities and Panchayats - these are the local form of governments.
  
  

How Does Government Make Sure That Its Rules Are Followed?

So, government generally formulates rules to manage the economy, build roads, stop people from encroaching on the properties of others. But why do people listen to governments?

People listen to governments because the government’s legislative arm creates laws so that there remains an order and peace in society. For example, as your book says, every person who wants to drive a motor vehicle has to first obtain driver’s licence. Without driver’s licence, it is illegal to drive a vehicle and it is punishable. This rule is also enforced with the help of laws concerning motor vehicles.

There are certain laws that prevent others from entering the property of others without permission. The citizens, themselves can use such laws to protect themselves.

Types of Governments

• There are many types of governments. The most popular type of government that we see around us is the democratic government. In a democratic government, people elect the leaders who would govern the nation on their behalf. The merit of democratic government is that the people have a say in the way the government functions.

• In the olden days, there was monarchy where the King had the sovereign power. People would also not elect the King. Generally, the rule was dynastic in nature. Most of time, King had little regard for the desires and expectations of the people.

• Again, in many countries, we see dictatorial governments where one man or one government has every power. That man or that government stifles freedom of the people & does everything to make sure that the power remains with the man or the government.
  
  

India Is a Democracy

India is also a democracy. The people of India take part in the election where they choose people who would then represent them in the assembly. This kind of democracy is known as representative democracy because here, instead of directly participating in the governance, the people choose their representatives who would do that work.

But India was not democracy from beginning. Before the British came, India was ruled by Kings and dynasties. When the British came, India became the subject of British rule. It is the sacrifice of the freedom fighters that has helped India gain democracy. In India any adult - be it, man or woman - has the right to vote. This is known as the Universal Adult Franchise - a major criterion for any country to call itself democratic

Class 6 Social Science Civics Chapter 3 - What Is Government Notes

What is Government Class 6 Notes Overview 

A Government is of prime importance and the very pillar of decision-making in a country. A government plays a vital role in making crucial decisions of a company and even establishing different facilities for the citizens of the country. For instance, the government looks into elements like building schools and roads, improving the supply of electricity, lowering the prices of onions and other essential household items when they get expensive, and so on. Furthermore, the government also needs to take necessary actions on distinguishing social issues and similar elements like regulating and administering railway and postal services. Along with this, the government has a wide range of roles and responsibilities. You will learn more about each of these roles in this chapter.

Levels of Government 

Now that you are familiar with what a government is and what its fundamental role is, you’ll learn in brief about different levels of government. So, if you’re wondering how the government organizes itself to suit all these roles, worry not because this section of the chapter has got you covered. The government primarily comprises about three levels. These three levels include- local, state, and national levels. The local level includes a town locality or your village as a whole. The state-level includes an entire state like Maharashtra or Karnataka. Lastly, the national level includes the entire country. These levels of the government are thus distributed with essential roles and responsibilities for the smooth running of the country.

Laws and The Government

This section of the chapter deals with different laws associated with the government. The government, in general, is the law-making body of a country. It thus makes specific laws that the citizens of the country must abide by. Along with making relevant decisions, the government can even enforce them. For instance, every individual driving a motor vehicle must ensure getting a license. If caught without a license, they can be fined a hefty amount of money and even jailed under rare circumstances. Similarly, there is a wide range of such laws that people need to adhere to. They may experience unfortunate punishments if they do not follow these laws. Students will learn more about all the laws they must follow and what the government may do if you do not follow them.

Types of Government 

While you’ve learned that the government acts as the decision-making body of the country, have you ever wondered who gives it the authority for doing so? Well, this depends on the type of government your country comprises. In a democratic country, the citizens of the country themselves give the government this authority through elections. In these elections, people vote for a particular party or persons, thereby electing them. These elected officials then work towards regulating the country by forming a government. However, in a monarchy government, the monarch, also known as the queen or king, has the sole power of making vital decisions of the country, along with running the government.

Democratic Governments 

India is a democratic country. Due to this, the law-making body of the country is elected by the people of the country itself. After eventful struggles of attaining independence, India has finally become a democratic country. Several countries like India have faced similar challenges and have become a democracy. The very ideology of a democracy is that people have the right to elect their leaders. Thus, the country is ruled by the person that is elected in the majority. In this section, students will learn thoroughly about what a democracy is and how a democratic government works to regulate the country.

Votes for Women 

The last section of this government deals with the votes for women. The government does not willingly partake in power anywhere throughout the world. Around the USA and Europe, women and the poor struggle with several discriminations. They have to fight for their rights, for basic rights to participate in the government. This section talks about distinguishing problems that women face while trying to participate in the government. Furthermore, it also gives us different examples of how women fought for their rights to vote. Students can now refer to what is government class 6 notes to learn more meticulously about this section.

Conclusion 

Vedantu's free PDF notes on CBSE Class 6 Political Science Chapter 3, "What is Government?," offer a valuable educational resource for young learners exploring the fundamental concepts of governance and the role of government in society. These notes align seamlessly with the CBSE curriculum, providing comprehensive insights into the workings of government. Vedantu's commitment to providing accessible educational content empowers students to understand the complexities of governance with ease. These notes simplify intricate political science concepts, encourage critical thinking, and foster a deeper appreciation for the importance of government in maintaining order and justice in our communities. By utilizing these resources, students can enhance their knowledge, critical thinking skills, and overall academic performance in the field of political science.