What is Parliament?
Parliament is the legislative
branch of the Indian Government. The word "Parliament" comes from
the French word "parler," which means "to speak."
Parliament is a place where elected representatives speak and make laws for the
country.
The
Indian Parliament works on the Westminster model of the British
Parliament. It is a bicameral legislature, which means it has two
houses.
Example: Just like the managing committee of a
school takes decisions for the whole school, Parliament takes decisions for the
whole country
Constitutional
Basis
Article 79: States that there shall be a
Parliament for the Union
Article 80:
Composition of Rajya Sabha
Article 81:
Composition of Lok Sabha
Structure
of Indian Parliament
The Indian Parliament has three
main parts:
|
Part
|
Description
|
Role
|
|
President
|
Head of the Parliament.
|
Summons and prorogues Parliament sessions.
|
|
Lok Sabha
|
Lower House
(House of the People).
|
Represents the people of India.
|
|
Rajya
Sabha
|
Upper House (Council of States).
|
Represents the states and union territories.
|
Example: Think of
Parliament like a school management system:
President = School Principal (final approval)
Rajya
Sabha = Senior Teachers
Council (experienced, permanent)
Lok Sabha = Student Council (directly elected, represents
students)
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Lok Sabha (House of the People)
Lok
Sabha is called the Lower House or Popular House.
Key features: Total Members: Maximum 552 members (currently 543)
State Representatives: 530 members from states
Union
Territory Representatives: 20 members from UTs
Nominated
Members: 2 Anglo-Indian members (this provision ended in 2020
by 104th Amendment Act)
Term:
5 years (can be dissolved earlier)
Elected By: Direct election by people aged 18
years and above
Presiding
Officer: Speaker of Lok Sabha
Qualifications:
·
Must
be Indian citizen
·
Age:
25 years or above
·
Must
be registered voter in any constituency
Example: If you are 18 years old, you can vote
to elect your Lok Sabha member in your area (constituency).
Powers & Functions of Lok Sabha:
1. Money Bill can be introduced only in
Lok Sabha
2. Exclusive power to pass a No-Confidence Motion
3. Controls Council of Ministers
4. Greater power in budget approval
5. Elects the Speaker and Deputy Speaker
Rajya Sabha (Council of States)
Rajya
Sabha is called the Upper House.
Key features: Total
Members: Maximum 250 members (currently 245)
State
Representatives: 233 members from states and UTs
Nominated
Members: 12 members nominated by President (experts in art,
science, literature, social service)
Term: 6 years (permanent body, never fully
dissolved)
Retirement: 1/3rd members retire every 2 years
Elected
By: Elected by State Legislative Assembly members (indirect
election)
Presiding Officer: Vice President of India (ex-officio
Chairman)
Qualifications:
·
Must
be Indian citizen
·
Age:
30 years or above
·
Must
be registered voter from the state they represent
Powers & Functions of Rajya Sabha:
1. Approves non-money bills
2. Can suggest amendments to money bills
3. Protects the interests of states
4. Can approve creation of new All India Services
(Under Article 312)
5. Plays key role when Lok Sabha is dissolved
Example: Rajya
Sabha is like a permanent committee that never closes completely. When some
members retire, new members join.
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Comparison:
Lok Sabha vs Rajya Sabha
|
Feature
|
Lok Sabha
|
Rajya Sabha
|
|
Meaning
|
House of the People
|
Council of States
|
|
Type
|
Lower House
|
Upper House
|
|
Total Strength
|
543 members
|
245 members
|
|
Representation
|
Represents people
|
Represents states
|
|
Election
|
Direct election by voters
|
Indirect election by MLAs
|
|
Term
|
5 years
|
6 years (1/3 retire every 2 years)
|
|
Dissolution
|
Can be dissolved
|
Permanent body (never dissolved)
|
|
Money Bill
|
Can introduce money bills
|
Cannot introduce money bills
|
|
No-Confidence Motion
|
Can be moved
|
Cannot be moved
|
|
Power
|
More powerful
|
Less powerful in most matters
|
|
Presiding Officer
|
Speaker
|
Vice President (Chairman)
|
Powers and Functions of
Parliament
Parliament
has many important powers. Let’s understand them one by one:
1.
Legislative Powers (Law-Making)-
Parliament
makes laws for the entire country.
How Laws are Made:
·
Any
member can introduce a bill (proposed law)
·
Bill
is discussed in both Houses
·
Both
Houses must approve the bill
·
President
gives final approval (assent)
·
Bill
becomes an Act (law)
Example: If the government wants to make a new
law about road safety, it will introduce a Road Safety Bill in Parliament.
After discussion and approval, it becomes the Road Safety Act.
Distribution
of Law-Making Powers:
|
List
|
Subjects
|
Who Makes Laws
|
|
Union List
|
98 subjects (Defence, Foreign Affairs, Railways)
|
Only Parliament
|
|
State List
|
59 subjects (Police, Agriculture, Health)
|
State Legislatures
|
|
Concurrent List
|
52 subjects (Education, Forests, Marriage)
|
Both Parliament and States (Parliament's law prevails)
|
2.
Financial Powers (Money Control)-
Parliament controls all money matters
of the government.
·
Budget
Approval:
Finance Minister presents the budget; Parliament approves it
·
Taxation: Only Parliament can impose new taxes
·
Money
Bill: Lok Sabha
has more power than Rajya Sabha in money matters
·
Auditing: Parliament checks how government
spends money
Example: If the government wants to increase
income tax, it must get Parliament's approval first.
3.
Executive Control-
Parliament
controls the Council of Ministers (government).
Methods of Control:
·
Question
Hour: MPs ask
questions to ministers
·
Zero
Hour: MPs raise
urgent public matters
·
No-Confidence
Motion: Lok
Sabha can remove the government
·
Adjournment
Motion: Discuss
urgent public issues
·
Censure
Motion:
Criticize government policies
Example: During
Question Hour, an MP can ask the Health Minister, "Why are medicines not
available in government hospitals?"
4.
Judicial Functions
Parliament performs some judicial
functions.
·
Impeachment
of President:
Parliament can remove the President for violating the Constitution
·
Impeachment
of Judges: Can
remove Supreme Court and High Court judges
·
Punish
Members: Can
punish its own members for misconduct
5.
Electoral Functions
Parliament
participates in important elections.
·
Elects
the President of India
·
Elects
the Vice President of India
·
Members
of Rajya Sabha are elected by State Assemblies
6.
Constitutional Amendment
Parliament can amend (change) the
Constitution of India.
Process:
·
Amendment
bill needs 2/3rd majority in both Houses
·
President
must give approval
·
Some
amendments need state approval also
Example: In 2019, Parliament amended the
Constitution to give 10% reservation to economically weaker sections.
Types of Bills in Parliament
|
Bill Type
|
Where
it originates
|
Rajya
Sabha Power
|
President's
Assent
|
|
Ordinary
Bill
|
Either
house
|
Equal power
with Lok Sabha
|
Can be sent
back once
|
|
Money Bill
|
Only Lok
Sabha
|
Can only
recommend changes
|
Cannot be
sent back
|
|
Financial
Bill
|
Only Lok
Sabha
|
Limited Powers
|
Normal
procedure
|
|
Constitutional Amendment Bill
|
Either
house
|
Equal power
|
Must give
assent
|
Sessions of Parliament
Parliament meets in sessions to conduct its business. Article 85 of the
Constitution says that Parliament must meet at least twice a year. There should
not be more than 6 months gap between two sessions.
Three
Sessions of Parliament
|
Session
|
Time Period
|
Main Business
|
|
Budget Session
|
February to May
|
Presenting and passing the Union Budget
|
|
Monsoon Session
|
July to August
|
General legislative business
|
|
Winter Session
|
November to December
|
Legislative and policy discussions
|
Note:
Budget Session is the longest session.
Important Terms
Related to Sessions
Summoning: President
calls MPs to attend a session
Example: President issues an official letter
calling all MPs to attend the Budget Session from February 1.
Adjournment: Temporary
suspension of the House for hours or days
Example: Speaker says, "The House is
adjourned till 2 PM tomorrow."
Adjournment Sine Die: Ending
the session without fixing the next meeting date
Example: After completing all business, the
session ends sine die.
Prorogation: President
formally ends a session
Example: After adjournment sine die, the
President issues a prorogation order.
Dissolution: Only for
Lok Sabha, ending its 5-year term
Example: After 5 years or when the government
loses majority, Lok Sabha can be dissolved.
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Joint
Sitting of Parliament
Conducted under Article 108
Presided by Speaker
Used when Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
disagree
Money Bills cannot go for joint sitting
Parliamentary
Committees
Financial Committees:
1. Public Accounts Committee - Examines government spending
2. Estimates Committee - Suggests alternative policies
3. Committee on Public Undertakings - Examines public sector
Departmental
Committees:
·
Examine
work of specific ministries
·
24
such committees
Other Important
Committees:
·
Business
Advisory Committee
- Manages parliamentary time
·
Rules
Committee -
Framed rules of procedure
·
Committee
on Privileges -
Examines privilege matters
Important Articles Related to
Parliament-
|
Article
|
Description
|
|
Art 79
|
Parliament
composition
|
|
Art 80
|
Rajya Sabha
composition
|
|
Art 81
|
Lok Sabha composition
|
|
Art 83
|
Duration
|
|
Art 85
|
Sessions
|
|
Art 108
|
Joint
sitting
|
|
Art 110
|
Money Bill
|
|
Art 112
|
Budget
|
|
Art 123
|
Ordinance-making
power
|
Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1:
What is the maximum strength of Lok Sabha?
Answer:
The maximum strength of Lok Sabha is 552 members—530 from states and 20 from
union territories.
Q2: Who is the presiding officer of
Rajya Sabha?
Answer:
The Vice President of India is the ex-officio Chairman (presiding officer) of
Rajya Sabha.
Q3:
Can Rajya Sabha be dissolved?
Answer:
No, Rajya Sabha is a permanent body and cannot be dissolved. Only 1/3rd of its
members retire every two years.
Q4:
Which House is more powerful in money matters?
Answer:
Lok Sabha is more powerful in money matters. Money bills can only be introduced
in Lok Sabha.
Q5:
How many sessions does Parliament have in a year?
Answer:
Parliament has three sessions annually: Budget Session, Monsoon Session, and
Winter Session.
Q6:
What is the minimum age to become a Lok Sabha member?
Answer:
The minimum age to become a Lok Sabha member is 25 years.
Q7:
What is a Money Bill?
Answer:
A Money Bill deals with taxation, government expenditure, borrowing, or public
funds. It can only be introduced in Lok Sabha.
Q8:
What is the difference between adjournment and prorogation?
Answer:
Adjournment temporarily suspends the House meeting, while prorogation formally
ends the entire session.
Q9:
Who decides the schedule of Parliament sessions?
Answer:
The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs decides the schedule, and the
President officially summons Parliament.
Q10:
Can Parliament make laws on state subjects?
Answer:
Yes, Parliament can make laws on state subjects under five special conditions,
such as national emergency or when Rajya Sabha passes a resolution.
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