NCERT Solutions for Class 7 social science Chapter 9: From the Rulers to the Ruled Types of Governments Class 7

What are the different types of governments?
Answer:
Different types of governments include monarchy (ruled by a king or queen), democracy (where people elect leaders), dictatorship (where one leader has total control), and theocracy (ruled by religious leaders).

Where do governments get their power from?
Answer:
Governments get their power from the people, laws, or traditions. In democracies, leaders are chosen by the people through elections. In monarchies, power is passed down through families, while dictatorships gain control through force or political influence.

How does a country’s government interact with the people?
Answer:
A country’s government interacts with people by making laws, providing services like education and healthcare, collecting taxes, and ensuring security. In democratic governments, people can vote, protest, and share opinions to influence decisions.

Why does democracy matter?
Answer:
Democracy matters because it gives people the power to choose their leaders and take part in decision-making. It protects individual rights and freedoms, ensures equality before the law, and allows peaceful changes in leadership. In a democracy, the government is accountable to the people, which helps prevent the misuse of power and promotes justice and fairness in society.

Do you remember this picture from your Grade 6 textbook? The government also has many other roles. Try to list them. (Page 186)

Answer:
Here’s a list of various roles the government plays:

Which of the three methods do you think is most effective? Why? (Page 188)
Answer:
The most effective method for forming the student committee would be that the students choose their representatives through voting, and the chosen representatives become the members of the committee.

(a) Fill the blank columns under Country A and Country B in table given below by taking two different countries of your choice.
(b) Analyse the table and discuss amongst yourselves the similarities and differences in all the examples. (Page 196)

After studying the above examples (with reference to above question), list the core principles of a democratic government. Based on your understanding, do the activity given below: (Page 196)

Read the story of Shane and answer the questions that follow: (Page 203-204)
Shane lives in North Korea which has a set of defined rules for his everyday living. He is currently serving in compulsory military service in which he is expected to serve in the military till the time government decides. There are also rules about how his hair should be cut and the clothes he should wear. He cannot access the global internet, and so is unaware of the world outside his own country. The government watches his every action closely and he is also expected to report about anyone who tries breaking any of the defined rules. One day he met a tourist who asked him, “Why do all of you have the same haircut here?” To this Shane responded, “We all want to explore new styles, but the government decides the way we should keep our hair.”

Look carefully at the below picture. It depicts an elected body in the USA in the late 19th century. The people shown in the cartoon are all elected members. What do you observe? What do you see at the top left-hand comer of the cartoon? Who do you think is making decisions in this elected body? (Page 205)

Answer:

Can a democracy turn into an oligarchy? What can people do to keep democracy strong? (Page 205)
Answer:
Yes, democracy can turn into an oligarchy if a small, powerful group controls decision-making. People can keep democracy strong by:

You have leamt the basic characteristics of various forms of governments. Do a small role play of the various forms in your classroom:
(i) Enact democracy
(ii) Enact monarchy
(iii) Enact dictatorship
What do you find to be the most suitable form of government? (Page 206)
Answer:
Do it yourself.

What might happen if the king considered himself to have divine powers? How would he rule over the people? (Page 199)
Answer:
If a king considered himself to have divine powers then:

Write names of the various types of government that you have leamt in the chapter.
Answer:
The various types of government that we have leamt in this chapter are democracy, monarchy, theocracy, dictatorship and oligarchy.

Which type of Government does India have? And why is it called that type?
Answer:
India has a democratic government, specifically a parliamentary democracy. In a democracy, the people have the power to choose their leaders through elections. In India, citizens elect representatives to the Lok Sabha (Lower House) and Rajya Sabha (Upper House). The government is formed by the political party or coalition that has the most representatives in the Lok Sabha. It is called a democracy because the people have the right to vote and choose their leaders. India is also a republic because the head of state (the President) is elected, not a monarch.

You read that an independent judiciary is present in all types of democracies. State any three reasons why you think it is important for the judiciary to be independent.
Answer:
An independent judiciary is very important in a democracy for the following reasons:

Do you think democratic government is better than other forms of government? Why?
Answer:
Yes, a democratic government is better than other forms of government because:

These are some practices in a few different countries. Can you match the practice with the type of government?

Below is a list of countries. Find out the types of government these countries have:
Answer:

What are possible hurdles in a democracy in achieving its values and ideals? How can they be overcome?
Answer:
Democracies often face challenges in realizing their core values such as equality, freedom, and justice. Some common hurdles include: