Simone Lawson
The Parliament of India is bicameral in nature, consisting of the President and two Houses: the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and the House of the People (Lok Sabha). The Lok Sabha is the lower house of Parliament, with greater influence and powers than the Rajya Sabha, which is the upper house. The Lok Sabha is composed of representatives chosen by direct election on the basis of adult suffrage, with a maximum strength of 552 members. The Rajya Sabha has a maximum membership of 245, of which 233 are elected by the State legislative assemblies of India and of union territories. Members of the Rajya Sabha are elected for staggered six-year terms, while members of the Lok Sabha are directly elected by the people of India for five-year terms.
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What You'll Learn
Lok Sabha members are directly elected by the people of India
The Parliament of India consists of the President of India and the two Houses of Parliament: the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and the House of the People (Lok Sabha). The Lok Sabha is the lower house of Parliament, and its members are directly elected by the citizens of India through general elections held every five years.
The Lok Sabha is involved in legislative functions such as passing bills, approving the budget, and questioning the government. It is also more powerful than the Rajya Sabha in certain areas. For example, money bills can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha, and upon being passed, are sent to the Rajya Sabha, where they can be deliberated on for up to 14 days. If the Rajya Sabha does not return the bill within 14 days or rejects it, the bill is still considered passed by both houses. Additionally, the Lok Sabha can pass a vote of no confidence against the government, which the Rajya Sabha cannot do.
The Lok Sabha has a maximum strength of 552 members, including representatives of the people and a few nominated members. The current Lok Sabha consists of 545 members, with 530 representing states and 20 representing Union Territories. The members are elected by adult universal suffrage and a first-past-the-post system to represent their respective constituencies, and they hold their seats for five years or until the body is dissolved by the President of India.
The Lok Sabha is constituted based on the population of each state, aiming for a ratio between the number of seats and the state's population. This distribution ensures that each state has a fair representation in the House.
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Rajya Sabha members are indirectly elected by members of legislative assemblies
The Parliament of India consists of the President of India and the two Houses of Parliament: the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and the House of the People (Lok Sabha). The Lok Sabha is the lower house of Parliament, and its members are directly elected by the citizens of India through general elections held every five years.
The Rajya Sabha, or the Council of States, is the upper house of Parliament. Unlike the Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha's members are indirectly elected by the members of legislative assemblies. The Rajya Sabha has a maximum membership of 250, of which 12 members are nominated by the President of India for their contributions to art, literature, science, and social service. The remaining members are elected by the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies of India and the members of the Electoral College for Union Territories. The Rajya Sabha is a continuing chamber and is not subject to dissolution.
The elections to the Rajya Sabha are indirect, with members representing states elected by the elected members of legislative assemblies of the states. This is done through a system of proportional representation using the single transferable vote. The members representing Union Territories are chosen in a manner decided by Parliament.
The Lok Sabha has certain powers that make it more powerful than the Rajya Sabha. Motions of no confidence against the government can be introduced and passed in the Lok Sabha, whereas members of the Rajya Sabha cannot bring such a motion. The Lok Sabha also has control over money bills, as these can only be introduced in the lower house by a minister and on the recommendation of the President.
While the Rajya Sabha has less power than the Lok Sabha in some areas, it does have powers that protect the rights of states against the Union government. The Constitution empowers Parliament to make laws on matters reserved for states, but only if the Rajya Sabha first passes a resolution by a two-thirds majority granting such power.
In matters concerning non-financial (ordinary) bills, once a bill has been passed by one house, it is sent to the other house, where it may be kept for a maximum of six months. If a deadlock occurs, a joint session of both houses can be held, presided over by the speaker of the Lok Sabha and decided by a simple majority.
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Lok Sabha members hold seats for five years
The Lok Sabha, or the House of the People, is the lower house of the Indian Parliament. It is constituted of representatives of the people chosen by direct election on the basis of adult suffrage. The Lok Sabha holds more power than the Rajya Sabha, or upper house, in certain areas.
The Lok Sabha has a maximum membership of 552, including representatives of the people and a few nominated members. The current Lok Sabha has 545 members. The total elective membership is distributed among the states in a way that the ratio between the number of seats allotted to each state and the population of the state is, as far as possible, the same for all states.
The Lok Sabha is constituted through direct elections held every five years, with members representing their respective constituencies. The elections are based on an adult universal suffrage and first-past-the-post system. To be eligible to become a member of the Lok Sabha, an individual must be an Indian citizen, at least 25 years old, and subscribe to an oath or affirmation as per the Indian Constitution.
The Lok Sabha plays a crucial role in legislative functions, such as passing bills, approving the budget, and questioning the government. It is also involved in overseeing administration, passing the budget, addressing public grievances, and discussing development plans, national policies, and international relations.
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Rajya Sabha members sit for staggered six-year terms
The Rajya Sabha, or the Council of States, is the upper house of the Indian Parliament. It has a maximum strength of 250 members, with 245 seats currently filled. The Rajya Sabha is constituted differently from the Lok Sabha, with its members being elected or nominated. The 233 elected members are chosen by the elected members of State Legislative Assemblies, while the remaining 12 members are nominated by the President of India for their expertise in specific fields, such as art, literature, science, and social service.
The Rajya Sabha members serve staggered six-year terms, which means that approximately one-third of the 233 designates are up for election every two years in even-numbered years. This staggered term system ensures continuity and stability in the Rajya Sabha, allowing for a constant presence of experienced members to guide and mentor the newly elected ones. It also provides a level of consistency in the legislative process, as not all seats are up for election at once, which could potentially lead to significant shifts in the composition of the house.
The Rajya Sabha is a continuing chamber and is not subject to dissolution, unlike the Lok Sabha. This means that the Rajya Sabha remains functional even if the Lok Sabha is dissolved, providing stability and continuity to the Indian Parliament. The staggered six-year terms of the Rajya Sabha members contribute to this continuity by ensuring a constant rotation of members and preventing a complete turnover of the house at any given time.
The Rajya Sabha plays a crucial role in legislative functions, representing the states, participating in constitutional amendments, and facilitating specialized discussions. While the Lok Sabha holds more power in certain areas, such as money bills and government formation, the Rajya Sabha has specific powers and responsibilities that contribute to the overall functioning of the Indian Parliament.
The Rajya Sabha, with its staggered six-year terms, provides a balance to the Lok Sabha's five-year terms or until dissolved by the President of India. This difference in term lengths and dissolution rules ensures that the Rajya Sabha can serve as a stabilizing force, providing continuity and consistency in the legislative process, even during periods of transition or political upheaval in the Lok Sabha.
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The Lok Sabha is more powerful than the Rajya Sabha
The Parliament of India consists of the President of India and two Houses of Parliament: the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and the House of the People (Lok Sabha). The Lok Sabha is the lower house, directly elected by the citizens of India through general elections held every five years, while the Rajya Sabha is the upper house, with members elected by the elected members of State Legislative Assemblies and by the members of the Electoral College for Union Territories.
The Lok Sabha also has a larger membership than the Rajya Sabha, with a maximum strength of 552 members compared to 250 in the Rajya Sabha. This numerical advantage gives the Lok Sabha greater influence in joint sessions of the two houses, which are held to resolve deadlocks on non-financial bills. Although the Constitution places both houses on equal footing in this regard, the Lok Sabha's opinions often prevail due to its bigger size.
In conclusion, while both houses play pivotal roles in India's democratic system, the Lok Sabha is more powerful than the Rajya Sabha due to its exclusive domain over money bills, its ability to pass motions of no confidence, and its greater numerical strength.
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Frequently asked questions
The maximum number of members in the Lok Sabha is 552, though currently, there are 543 seats.
Members of the Lok Sabha are directly elected by the people of India, based on universal adult suffrage.
Members of the Lok Sabha hold their seats for five years or until the body is dissolved by the President of India.
The maximum number of members in the Rajya Sabha is 250, though currently, there are 245.
Members of the Rajya Sabha are elected by the elected members of state legislative assemblies using a method of proportional representation.
