KSLU Solved Question Papers
Political Science (Theory and Thought)
Previous Year Question Paper with Solution
B.A. LL.B. (Five Years) · Sem 1
2015 Dec (100 marks) Examination
munotes.in
Mumbai
B.A. LL.B. (Five Years) Sem 1 Political Science (Theory and Thought) 2015 Dec (100 marks) Question Paper with Solutions
First published on munotes.in on 21 October 2026.
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Contents
The questions below are the paper as Karnataka State Law University set it at the 2015 Dec (100 marks) examination, in the order it was set.
MarksPage
The Paper as Set
The questions in this volume are the questions asked at the 2015 Dec (100 marks) examination, reproduced as Karnataka State Law University set them, in the order it set them. Long reading passages are shortened to their first and last lines and our summary; the original paper prints them in full. Only the answers are ours. See the original question paper.
Duration 3 hours · Total marks 100 · 13 questions answered
How to use this volume
Solve the paper first, under exam conditions and against the clock. Then read the answers here and mark your own. Reading a solution before attempting the question feels productive and teaches very little, because recognising an answer is not the same as being able to write one.
Q1Explain the meaning, scope and significance of the study of political science.[16]
Answer
For full marks, cover: the meaning of the word; four definitions (Garner, Paul Janet, Seeley, Leacock); whether it is a science; the scope under Garner's three heads and the modern additions; at least six points of importance, with the special value for a law student; and a conclusion.
Introduction
Political science is the study of the state and its government. The word "politics" comes from the Greek word polis, which means a city-state. The Greeks lived in small city-states such as Athens and Sparta. So for them politics meant the affairs of the city. Aristotle wrote the first systematic book on the subject, the Politics. Garner reports that Aristotle described politics as "the master science".
Definitions
- Garner gives the shortest definition: "political science begins and ends with the state."
- Paul Janet, a French writer, called it "that part of social science which treats of the foundations of the state and the principles of government." Leacock accepts this as the best formal definition.
- Seeley compared it with other sciences: "political science investigates the phenomena of government as political economy deals with wealth, Biology with life, algebra with numbers, and geometry with space and magnitude."
- Leacock gives a simple starting point: "political science deals with government."
Two ideas run through all four definitions. The first is the state, which is the political community. The second is government, which is the machinery through which the state acts. Political science studies both.
Is political science a science?
The case against. Auguste Comte denied that politics is a science, for three reasons. Experts do not agree on its methods and conclusions. It lacks continuous development. And it cannot predict events with certainty. Human behaviour does not follow fixed laws like the laws of physics.
The case for. Garner answers that a science is "a fairly unified mass of knowledge relating to a single subject", gathered by systematic observation and classified. Political facts can be observed, compared and classified. Aristotle himself studied the constitutions of many Greek states before he wrote. Garner concludes that "both reason and the weight of authority justify the claim of politics to the rank of a true science."
The balanced answer. Political science is a social science, not an exact science. It cannot predict like chemistry. But its method is scientific, and it is also an art, because it guides the practical work of governing. Garner notes that the word politics is used in both senses. As a science it gives knowledge of the state. As an art it seeks solutions to concrete problems.
Scope of political science
Garner lists the fundamental problems of the subject under three heads. They are the core of its scope.
- The nature of the state. First, "an investigation of the nature of the state as the highest political agency for the realization of the common ends of society." This covers the meaning, elements, origin and purpose of the state, and its relation to society, government and associations.
- Political institutions. Second, "an inquiry into the nature, history, and forms of political institutions." This covers constitutions, the legislature, the executive, the judiciary, and forms of government such as democracy, monarchy, federal and unitary systems.
- Laws of political growth. Third, "a deduction therefrom, so far as possible, of the laws of political growth and development." Here the subject looks forward and asks what the state ought to be.
These three heads are often summed up as a study of the state in three times. The past is studied historically. The present is studied analytically. The future is studied as what the state ought to become.
The modern subject has widened the scope further:
- Political theory and thought. The ideas of thinkers from Plato, Aristotle and Kautilya to Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Marx and Gandhi. Ideologies such as individualism, socialism and liberalism.
- Sovereignty, rights and duties. The source of authority, the rights of the citizen against the state, and the duties the citizen owes.
- International relations. War and peace, diplomacy, international law and bodies such as the United Nations.
- Public administration. How laws and policies are actually carried out by the civil service.
- Political behaviour. Political parties, pressure groups, public opinion, elections and voting. This is the newer "behavioural" side of the subject.
| Traditional view of the scope | Modern view of the scope | |
|---|---|---|
| Main focus | The state and its legal institutions | Political behaviour and processes as well |
| Method | Historical, philosophical, legal | Also observation, surveys, comparison |
| Typical questions | What is the state? What is sovereignty? | How do people vote? How do parties work? |
| Key writers | Aristotle, Garner, Leacock | Behavioural political scientists |
The width of the scope: links with other sciences
The scope of political science is wide because the state touches every part of social life. So the subject borrows from, and lends to, its neighbours.
- History. Seeley said that political science is the fruit of history, and history is the root of political science. The growth of parliament in England, or of federalism in India, can be understood only through history.
- Economics. Taxation, planning, subsidies and the welfare state are both economic and political questions. The old name for economics was "political economy".
- Law. Law is the will of the state expressed in rules. Constitutional law is the meeting point of law and politics.
- Sociology. Sociology studies society as a whole. Political science studies the part of society that is politically organised. Caste, religion and class all shape Indian politics.
- Ethics. Political science asks not only what the state is but what it ought to be. Questions of justice and rights are ethical questions.
An Indian illustration. Take the reservation of seats for women in legislatures. Its history lies in the long demand for representation. Its economics lies in the cost of exclusion. Its law lies in a constitutional amendment. Its sociology lies in gender roles. Political science draws all of these together to judge whether the policy is wise.
Importance of political science
- It explains the state we live in. Every person lives under a state and is governed by its laws. Political science explains where that power comes from and what limits it.
- It makes good citizens. A citizen who knows his rights can defend them. A citizen who knows his duties can perform them. Both are needed in a democracy.
- It strengthens democracy. Democracy depends on informed voters. Knowledge of parties, elections and policies helps voters choose wisely and resist propaganda.
- It is essential for a law student. Constitutional law, administrative law and jurisprudence all rest on political ideas such as sovereignty, rule of law and separation of powers. The courts use these ideas directly.
- It guides government and reform. Comparative study shows what has worked in other countries. India borrowed parliamentary government from Britain and judicial review from the United States after such study.
- It explains international affairs. War, treaties, the United Nations and global trade can be understood only with political knowledge.
- It teaches tolerance and a critical mind. The student meets opposing ideologies, from individualism to Marxism. He learns to weigh arguments instead of following slogans.
The law student's example. In Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala, AIR 1973 SC 1461, the Supreme Court held that Parliament can amend the Constitution but cannot destroy its basic structure. Sikri CJ listed the features of that structure. They included the "Republican and Democratic form of Government", the "Secular character of the Constitution" and the "Separation of powers". Every one of these is a concept of political science. A judge could not decide the case without them. This shows why the subject is taught in the first semester of a law course.
Limitations
Political science has limits that a good answer should admit. It cannot conduct laboratory experiments on whole nations. Its conclusions depend partly on values, so writers disagree. And events such as revolutions are hard to predict. These limits do not destroy its value. They only mean that its conclusions must be held with care.
Conclusion. Political science is the systematic study of the state and its government. In Garner's words, it "begins and ends with the state." It is a social science and also a practical art. Its scope covers the nature of the state, political institutions, political thought, rights and duties, international relations, administration and political behaviour. Its importance lies in making informed citizens, strengthening democracy and guiding reform. For a law student it is the foundation of constitutional law, as Kesavananda Bharati shows.
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