Foundations of Polity and Government

State: Meaning and Elements

The Basics

A state is a political organisation that has the authority to govern a defined territory and its population. More precisely, a state may be defined as a community of persons permanently occupying a definite territory, independent of any external control, and possessing an organised government.

Kautilya's Saptanga Theory of the State

The Basics

Kautilya, also called Chanakya, was an ancient Indian scholar. He served as an advisor during the Mauryan empire. He wrote the Arthashastra, a treatise on statecraft, economics, administration and justice. In it he gave one of the earliest known theories of the state, the Saptanga theory. Saptanga means the theory of seven limbs or parts of a kingdom.

Government: Meaning and Three Organs

The Basics

Government is the group of people or the system that runs a country. It makes rules, carries them out, and ensures that everyone follows them. Without such a system, a large society could not function. Disagreements over rules would never get settled, and there would be no one to enforce order.

State vs Government: Key Distinction

Note coming soon.

Forms of Government: Monarchy, Theocracy, Dictatorship, Oligarchy

The Basics

A government can take many forms. They differ mainly in who gives it authority, and how that authority passes on.

Democracy: Meaning, Principles and Types

The Basics

Democracy, in the simplest words, is rule by the people. The word comes from two Greek words: demos, meaning people, and kratos, meaning rule. It means the source of power and authority is the ordinary citizens of the country. This is unlike a king, a religious head, a dictator, or a small privileged group holding power.

Outcomes of Democracy: Accommodation, Dignity, Growth and Quality of Government

The Basics

Democracy is just a form of government. It can only create conditions for good outcomes; citizens must use those conditions to actually achieve equality, dignity, growth and good governance. Judging democracy means checking its record against five expected outcomes, not assuming it automatically delivers them.

Republic: Meaning and Significance

Note coming soon.

Ancient Indian Republics: Ganas, Sanghas and Village Self-Government

The Basics

A republic is a form of government in which the head of state is elected and is not a hereditary monarch. Ancient India already had examples of this, long before the word republic became common.

Rule of Law: Concept and Significance

The Basics

Rule of Law means that law is supreme, not the arbitrary will of any ruler or official. No person, however powerful, is above the law. Everyone, from the Prime Minister to an ordinary citizen, is governed by the same ordinary law and answerable in the same ordinary courts. This is the opposite of a system where a king or official can punish people on personal whim.

Separation of Powers: Concept and Checks and Balances

The Basics

Separation of powers means that the three organs of government, the legislature, the executive and the judiciary, exercise distinct functions and none of them is allowed to combine all powers in itself. Separation of powers is widely regarded as the best safeguard of liberty in a liberal democracy, because it prevents concentration of power in any single hand.

Federalism: Basic Concept — Unitary vs Federal

The Basics

Every country must decide how to arrange power between its national government and its regions. There are two broad ways of doing this: the unitary way and the federal way.

What is a Constitution: Meaning, Need and Functions

The Basics

A constitution is a country's rulebook. It is a document, or set of documents, that lays down a nation's basic principles and laws. Its chief purpose is to define and limit the powers of government. This stops any institution or person from ruling arbitrarily.

Constitutionalism and Constitutional Government

The Basics

A constitutional government is a government limited by the terms of a constitution. It means government according to rule, not according to the will of rulers. This is the definition examiners test most often. A constitutional government places effective restrictions on the authority of the state. This protects individual liberty. It does not restrict individual liberty to protect state authority.

Three Tiers of Government in India: Overview

The Basics

India is governed at three levels: the Union (or Central) government for the whole country, State governments for each state, and Local governments for villages, towns and cities. Each level handles different matters. Together they form the structure through which the Constitution's government functions on the ground.