What is the difference between the Governor and the Chief Minister?

The Governor is appointed by the President of India and is the constitutional head, whereas the Chief Minister is elected by the people as the leader of the majority party and is the real executive head of the state.

What is a bicameral legislature?

A bicameral legislature is a state legislature that has two houses — the Legislative Assembly (Lower House) and the Legislative Council (Upper House).

What are the qualifications to become a Governor?

A person must be a citizen of India, must have completed 35 years of age, must have a sound mind, and must not hold any public office of profit.

Samacheer Kalvi 7th Social Science State Government Exercise Solutions

Exercise Solutions Available

Step-by-step answers for all textbook questions in this chapter

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How to Use This Page

This page provides complete exercise solutions for Chapter 1: State Government from the Samacheer Kalvi 7th Social Science textbook (Civics, Term 2). Read each question, attempt it on your own first, then compare with the answers below. Use the Key Concepts section for a quick revision before exams.

Key Concepts (Quick Recap)

State Government: Consists of Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary branches
Governor: Constitutional head of the state, appointed by the President of India for a term of 5 years
Chief Minister: Real executive head, leader of the majority party in the Legislative Assembly
MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly): Elected representative of a constituency in the state
Bicameral Legislature: A state legislature with two houses — Legislative Assembly (Lower House) and Legislative Council (Upper House)
Constituency: A particular area from where voters choose their representatives
Opposition Party: MLAs who do not belong to the ruling party
High Court: Highest judicial organ of the state
Lok Adalat: People's court for settling disputes through conciliation and compromise
Qualifications for Governor: Citizen of India, 35 years of age, sound mind, no office of profit

Term	Definition
State Government	Consists of Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary branches
Governor	Constitutional head of the state, appointed by the President of India
Chief Minister	Real executive head, leader of the majority party
MLA	Member of Legislative Assembly, elected representative of a constituency
Bicameral Legislature	State legislature with two houses — Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council
Legislative Assembly	Lower house of the state legislature (Vidhan Sabha)
Legislative Council	Upper house of the state legislature (Vidhan Parishad)
Constituency	A particular area from where voters choose their representatives
Opposition Party	MLAs who do not belong to the ruling party
High Court	Highest judicial organ of the state
Lok Adalat	People's court for settling disputes through conciliation
President of India	Appoints the Governor for each state
Council of Ministers	Ministers collectively responsible to the State Legislature

Exercise Solutions

I. Choose the Correct Answer (MCQs)

Q1. What is the minimum age for becoming a member of the State Legislative Council?

a) 18 years
b) 21 years
c) 25 years
d) 30 years ✓

Q2. How many states does India have?

a) 26
b) 27
c) 28
d) 29 ✓

Q3. The word State government refers to

a) Government departments in the states
b) Legislative Assembly
c) both a and b ✓
d) none of the above

Q4. The overall head of the government in the state is the ______.

a) President
b) Prime Minister
c) Governor ✓
d) Chief Minister

Note: The textbook answer key lists (b) Prime Minister, but this is widely considered an error. The Governor is the constitutional head of the state. The Chief Minister is the real executive head.

Q5. Who appoints the Chief Minister and other Ministers?

a) President
b) Prime Minister
c) Governor ✓
d) Election Commissioner

Q6. Who becomes the Chief Minister?

a) Leader of the Majority party ✓
b) Leader of the opposition party
c) Both
d) None

Q7. What are the three branches of the state government?

a) Mayor, governor, MLA
b) Panchayat, municipality, corporation
c) Village, City, State
d) Legislative, executive and judiciary ✓

II. Fill in the Blanks

1. The Governor is appointed by the President of India. 2. The leader of the majority party is appointed as the Chief Minister in the state assembly. 3. The High Court is the highest judicial organ of the state. 4. MLA stands for Member of Legislative Assembly. 5. Electoral Constituencies is a particular area from where all the voters living there choose their representatives. 6. The elected representatives who are not the member of ruling party are called Opposition Party. 7. India has 29 states. 8. The minimum age to contest in elections is 25 years. 9. Fort St. George houses the Secretariat of Tamil Nadu.

III. Match the Following

Column A	Answer
1. MLAs	Legislative Assembly ✓
2. Governor	Head of the state ✓
3. Chief Minister	Leader of the Majority party ✓
4. Union territories	7 ✓
5. Fort St. George	Secretariat ✓

IV. Consider the Following Statements

Q1. Which of the following statement is/are not correct? To become a governor, one should:

a. should be the citizen of India
b. should have completed 25 years of age
c. should have sound mind
d. should not hold any office of profit

i. a & b
ii. c & d
iii. a
iv. b ✓

ExplanationThe minimum age to become a Governor is 35 years, not 25 years. Therefore, statement (b) is incorrect.

Q2. Consider the following statements and state true or false:

a. MLAs are together responsible for the working of the government

AnswerTrue ✓

b. All the MLAs of other political party who do not belong to the ruling party are called opposition

AnswerTrue ✓

c. MLAs are not the representatives of people

AnswerFalse ✓ (MLAs are elected representatives of the people)

Q3. Find out the correct meaning of bicameral legislature:

a. It means that there are cameras in the legislature.
b. It means that the legislature has men and women members.
c. It means that there are two houses like upper house and lower house. ✓
d. It means that the governor is the leader over the members of the legislature.

Q4. Assertion: India has a federal system of government. Reason: According to our constitution the power is divided between central and state governments.

a. A is correct and R explains A ✓
b. A is correct and R does not explain A
c. A is correct and R is wrong
d. Both are wrong

IV(b). True or False (with corrections)

1. The Governor is elected by the people of the state.

False. The Governor is appointed by the President of India, not elected by the people.

2. The Chief Minister is the real executive head of the state.

True.

3. MLAs of the ruling party form the opposition.

False. MLAs who do not belong to the ruling party form the opposition.

4. A bicameral legislature has only one house.

False. A bicameral legislature has two houses — Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council.

5. The minimum age to become a Governor is 25 years.

False. The minimum age to become a Governor is 35 years.

6. The High Court is the highest judicial organ of the state.

True.

7. Lok Adalat means people's court for settling disputes.

True.

8. The Chief Minister appoints the Governor.

False. The President of India appoints the Governor.

V. Very Short Answers (1-2 sentences)

Q1. What are the qualifications to become the Governor of a state? A person must be a citizen of India and must have completed 35 years of age to be eligible for appointment as Governor. Additionally, the person must have a sound mind and must not hold any public office of profit at the time of appointment. The Governor is appointed by the President of India for a term of 5 years, though the President can remove the Governor at any time before the term ends.

Q2. Who are called oppositions? All the MLAs of other political parties who do not belong to the ruling party are collectively called the opposition party. Their primary role is to hold the ruling government accountable by questioning its decisions, raising public issues, and suggesting alternative policies. A strong opposition is essential for a healthy democracy because it ensures that the ruling party does not become dictatorial and that the rights of citizens are protected.

Q3. Write a note on Lok Adalat. Lok Adalat (people's court) has been established by the Government of India as an alternative mechanism for settling disputes through conciliation and compromise rather than through formal court proceedings. It has been given statutory status under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, which means its decisions are legally binding on both parties. Lok Adalats help reduce the burden on regular courts and provide quick, affordable justice to the people.

Q4. What is a constituency? For election purposes, the entire state is divided into several areas on the basis of population, and each such area is called a constituency. All the people residing in that constituency who have completed 18 years of age cast their vote to elect their representative, who then serves as their MLA in the Legislative Assembly. Each constituency elects one MLA, and together these MLAs form the state legislature.

Q5. Who appoints the Chief Minister and other ministers? The Governor appoints the leader of the majority party in the Legislative Assembly as the Chief Minister. After the Chief Minister is sworn in, the Chief Minister, in consultation with the Governor, selects and recommends other ministers for appointment. Together, the Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers form the executive branch of the state government, and they are collectively responsible to the State Legislature.

VI. Short Answers (3-5 sentences)

Q1. Describe the powers of the Governor. The Governor is an integral part of the State Legislature and is the head of the state executive with enormous powers. All the administration is carried on in his name. He is the Chancellor of Government universities in the state. All bills become law only after his assent. He appoints important officials of the state government such as the Advocate General, Chairman and members of State Public Service Commission, State Election Commissioner, and Vice Chancellors of state universities.

Q2. Who is an MLA? The term MLA stands for Member of Legislative Assembly. An MLA is elected through a general election and represents a particular constituency in the state. It is not necessary for one to be a member of a political party to become an MLA; one can contest as an independent candidate also. MLAs are collectively responsible for the working of the state government and represent the interests of the people of their constituency.

Q3. What is the role of Chief Minister and other Council of Ministers at the state level? The Chief Minister is the real executive head of the state administration. He allocates the portfolios among the ministers and formulates programmes and policies for the welfare of the people. The Council of Ministers are collectively responsible to the State Legislature. All the ministers work as a team under the Chief Minister. The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Legislative Assembly of the state.

VII. Detailed Answers (Paragraph-length)

Q1. Tabulate: Qualification, Appointment and any two powers of Governor, Chief Minister and MLAs.

Answer

	Governor	Chief Minister	MLA
Qualification	Citizen of India; completed 35 years of age; sound mind; should not hold any public office of profit	Should have completed 25 years of age; should be an MLA	Must be a citizen of India; must have sound mind; must not hold any government office
Appointment	Appointed by the President of India for a term of 5 years	The leader of the majority party is appointed by the Governor	The candidate who gets more number of votes in his constituency becomes MLA
Powers	All bills become law only after his assent; Appoints important officials like Advocate General, State Election Commissioner, Vice Chancellors, etc.	Real executive head of state administration; Allocates portfolios among ministers; Formulates programmes and policies	Works as a team under the Chief Minister; Collectively responsible to the State Legislature

Q2. Explain the structure of the State Government. The State Government has three branches: Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary. Each branch has distinct roles that ensure the smooth functioning of democracy at the state level.

Legislative Branch: The Legislative branch consists of the Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) and, in some states, the Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad). States with both houses have a bicameral legislature, while states with only the Legislative Assembly have a unicameral legislature. The Legislative Assembly is the lower house where MLAs debate and pass laws, while the Legislative Council is the upper house that reviews legislation.
Executive Branch: The Executive branch is headed by the Governor as the constitutional head and the Chief Minister as the real executive head, along with the Council of Ministers. The Governor is appointed by the President of India, while the Chief Minister is the leader of the majority party elected by the people.
Judiciary Branch: The Judiciary at the state level is headed by the High Court, which is the highest judicial organ of the state. The High Court interprets laws, protects fundamental rights, and ensures that the executive and legislative branches function within constitutional limits.

The MLAs represent their constituencies in the Legislative Assembly, and those not in the ruling party form the Opposition. Together, these three branches ensure the governance, law-making, and justice delivery in the state.

Q3. Explain the role of the Opposition Party in the State Legislature. The Opposition Party consists of all the MLAs who do not belong to the ruling party. Their primary role is to hold the ruling government accountable for its actions and policies. Without a strong opposition, the ruling party could misuse its power, which would harm democracy.

Questioning the Government: Opposition members ask tough questions in the Legislative Assembly about government policies, expenditures, and decisions. This ensures transparency and accountability.
Raising Public Issues: The opposition brings forward problems faced by the people — such as lack of schools, hospitals, or roads — that the ruling party may overlook.
Suggesting Alternatives: The opposition proposes alternative policies and solutions, giving voters a choice during elections.
Participating in Debates: During legislative sessions, opposition members participate in debates, move amendments to bills, and bring attention to matters of public importance through adjournment motions and question hour.
Preventing Dictatorship: By constantly scrutinising the government, the opposition ensures that the ruling party does not become dictatorial and that the rights of citizens are protected.

A healthy democracy requires a strong and vigilant opposition that can offer constructive criticism and serve as a check on the power of the ruling party. The leader of the opposition is often given the status of a cabinet minister to ensure effective functioning of the democratic process.

Common Mistakes

1. ❌ Confusing the Governor with the Chief Minister → ✅ Governor = constitutional head (appointed by President); Chief Minister = real executive head (elected by people) 2. ❌ Mixing up minimum ages → ✅ Governor requires 35 years, MLA requires 25 years, voting requires 18 years 3. ❌ Thinking the Prime Minister is the head of state government → ✅ The Governor is the constitutional head of the state; the Chief Minister is the real executive head 4. ❌ Confusing bicameral with other terms → ✅ Bicameral = two houses (Assembly + Council), not cameras or gender representation 5. ❌ Forgetting MLAs can be independents → ✅ Independent candidates can contest and win elections without belonging to a political party 6. ❌ Misunderstanding Lok Adalat → ✅ Lok Adalat = people's court for dispute resolution through conciliation, not a regular court 7. ❌ Confusing Union territories count with states → ✅ India has 29 states and 7 Union Territories

Exam Checklist

[ ] Can you name the three branches of state government (Legislative, Executive, Judiciary)?
[ ] Can you explain the qualifications needed to become a Governor?
[ ] Do you know who appoints the Governor (President of India)?
[ ] Can you distinguish between the role of the Governor and the Chief Minister?
[ ] Can you explain what a constituency is and how MLAs are elected?
[ ] Do you know what a bicameral legislature is?
[ ] Can you list the powers of the Governor?
[ ] Can you describe the role of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers?
[ ] Do you know what Lok Adalat is and its statutory basis?
[ ] Can you define opposition party in the context of the state legislature?
[ ] Do you know the minimum ages for Governor (35), MLA (25), and voter (18)?
[ ] Can you tabulate qualifications, appointment, and powers of Governor, Chief Minister, and MLA?
[ ] Can you explain the structure of the state government with all three branches (Legislative, Executive, Judiciary)?
[ ] Can you describe the role of the opposition party in the state legislature?
[ ] Can you explain the difference between Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) and Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad)?
[ ] Do you know that India has 29 states and 7 Union Territories?

Frequently Asked Questions

The Governor is the constitutional head of the state, while the Chief Minister is the real executive head who runs the administration.