Malcolm Rivera
The Parliament of India, also known as the Sansad, is the supreme legislative body of the country. It is composed of the President and two houses: the Lower House or Lok Sabha, and the Upper House or Rajya Sabha. The Parliament plays a crucial role in shaping the nation's policies, ensuring public accountability, and representing the diverse aspirations of the Indian people. It is responsible for lawmaking, amending the Constitution, and passing laws on matters mentioned in the Union List and Concurrent List. The Parliament also has the power to alter the boundaries of states and union territories, and it functions as an organ of information, with ministers bound to provide information to the Houses when demanded by members.
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What You'll Learn
The role of the President
The President of India is the head of state and the first citizen of the country. The President is also the supreme commander of the Indian Armed Forces and a vital part of the Union Executive. The President is indirectly elected by an electoral college comprising both houses of Parliament and the legislative assemblies of each of India's states and territories. The President holds office for five years and can be re-elected with no cap on re-election.
The President's primary duty is to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution and the law of India, as outlined in Article 60 of the Indian Constitution. This includes upholding the Constitution's rule of law and ensuring that any actions taken by the executive or legislature are constitutional. The President is also responsible for appointing the Prime Minister, key judges, Governors of states, and other top officials, significantly influencing the functioning of the executive and judiciary.
The President has the power to summon and prorogue either House of Parliament or to dissolve the Lok Sabha. The President also plays a role in the legislative process, as all bills passed by Parliament must be presented to the President for approval before becoming law. The President can choose to approve, reject, or withhold their assent to a bill, which is known as their veto power.
Additionally, the President has financial powers and functions, including presenting the Annual Financial Statement (Union Budget) to Parliament and making advances from the Contingency Fund of India to meet unforeseen expenditures. The President also has the power to grant pardon, commutation, remission, respite, or reprieve to convicted persons in certain cases, as outlined in Article 72 of the Indian Constitution.
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Legislative functions
The Parliament of India, also known as the Sansad, is the supreme legislative body of the country. It is composed of the President and the two Houses: the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the Lok Sabha (House of the People). The Parliament meets at Sansad Bhavan in New Delhi.
The Parliament of India plays a crucial role in shaping the country's policies, ensuring public accountability, and representing the diverse aspirations of the Indian people. As the primary institution responsible for lawmaking, the Indian Parliament possesses a wide array of powers that form the backbone of the country's democratic governance.
The Parliament of India has several important legislative functions, including:
Enacting Laws
The Parliament is responsible for making laws for the entire country. It legislates on subjects covered in the Union List and the Concurrent List under the Constitution of India. Bills can be introduced in either house, and upon approval, they become laws after receiving the President's assent. The Parliament can also amend the Constitution with the support of a special majority, allowing for modifications to accommodate changing societal needs and aspirations.
Union Budget
The Parliament plays a vital role in formulating and approving the Union Budget. The Budget Division in the Finance Ministry prepares the budget based on proposals received from various departments and ministries, and the final approval comes from the Prime Minister.
Altering State Boundaries
The Parliament has the power to alter, decrease, or increase the boundaries of states and union territories (UTs).
Information
The Parliament functions as an organ of information. Ministers are bound to provide information to the Houses when demanded by the members.
Control over Administration
Through resolutions, motions for adjournment, discussions, and questions addressed to ministers, the Parliament exercises control over the administration of the country and safeguards the people's liberties.
Residuary Powers
The Parliament holds exclusive authority over matters not covered by the Union or State Lists, known as residuary powers.
The Parliament of India, with its bicameral structure, ensures that the diverse voices of the Indian people are represented and that the country's commitment to democratic governance and the rule of law is upheld.
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Control over the executive
The Parliament of India, also known as the Sansad, is the supreme legislative body of the country. It is composed of the President and the two Houses: the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the Lok Sabha (House of the People). The Parliament plays a crucial role in shaping the nation's policies, ensuring public accountability, and representing the diverse aspirations of the Indian people.
The Parliament exercises control over the executive by several measures. Notably, the Parliament can remove the Cabinet (the executive) through a vote of no confidence. This power underscores the principle that, in a parliamentary form of government, the executive is responsible to the legislature.
The Parliament also holds the government accountable through resolutions, motions for adjournment, discussions, and questions addressed by members to Ministers. This enables the Parliament to exercise control over the administration of the country and safeguard the people's liberties.
The Parliament has the authority to make laws on subjects enumerated in the Union List and Concurrent List under the Constitution of India. Bills must be passed by both Houses of Parliament and receive the President's assent to become laws. The Parliament can also amend the Constitution with the support of a special majority, allowing for modifications to accommodate changing societal needs and aspirations.
The Rajya Sabha, as the Upper House, plays a crucial role in checking hasty or ill-considered legislation passed by the Lok Sabha. It achieves this through provisions for revision and thought, acting as a safety valve for the functions of the Lower House. The Rajya Sabha also facilitates the representation of eminent professionals and experts who may not have been directly elected.
In summary, the Parliament of India, through its control over the executive and law-making powers, plays a vital role in shaping the country's governance and ensuring that it reflects the diverse aspirations of the Indian people.
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Amending the Constitution
The Parliament of India, also known as the Sansad, is the supreme legislative body of the country. It is responsible for lawmaking and consists of the President and two houses: the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the Lok Sabha (House of the People). The Parliament can amend the Constitution of India, with both houses having equal powers in this regard. Amendments must be passed in both houses and require the support of a special majority. This allows for modifications to be made to the Constitution to accommodate changing societal needs and aspirations.
The Parliament can also pass laws on items in the State List under certain circumstances. For example, according to Article 249, if the Rajya Sabha passes a resolution by a two-thirds majority declaring that it is necessary in the national interest, the Parliament can make laws on State List items. Similarly, under Article 253, the Parliament can pass laws on State List items to implement international agreements or treaties with foreign powers. Additionally, if there is an Emergency in operation or a state is under President's Rule (Article 356), the Parliament can enact laws on the State List.
The Parliament also has the power to alter, decrease, or increase the boundaries of states and union territories. It plays a crucial role in shaping the nation's policies, ensuring public accountability, and representing the diverse aspirations of the Indian people. The Parliament meets at Sansad Bhavan in New Delhi, which was inaugurated as the new Parliament Building on May 28, 2023, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
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The Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha
The Parliament of India, also known as the Sansad, is the supreme legislative body of the country. It plays a crucial role in shaping the nation's policies, ensuring public accountability, and representing the diverse aspirations of the Indian people. The Parliament consists of the President and the two Houses: the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the Lok Sabha (House of the People).
The Rajya Sabha is the Upper House, First Chamber, or House of Elders of India's bicameral Parliament. It is permanent in nature and cannot be dissolved as members are elected for a term of six years, with one-third of its members retiring biennially. The minimum age to become a member of the Rajya Sabha is 30 years. The President nominates 12 eminent persons from different fields to the Rajya Sabha, including literature, art, science, and social service. The Rajya Sabha enjoys certain special powers under the Constitution. For example, if the Rajya Sabha passes a resolution by a two-thirds majority declaring that it is in the national interest to create an All-India Service, Parliament may then provide for the creation of such a service by law. The Rajya Sabha also serves as a check on the Lok Sabha, ensuring that hasty or ill-considered legislation is not passed.
The Lok Sabha is the Lower House or House of the People. It has a sanctioned strength of 543 members. The minimum age to become a member of the Lok Sabha is 25 years. The power to dissolve the Lok Sabha rests with the President. The President also has the right to address either or both Houses of Parliament and to summon and prorogue either House.
Both Houses of Parliament have equal powers when it comes to amending the Constitution. Any amendments must be passed in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha to be effective. Similarly, every bill must be passed by both Houses and assented to by the President before it becomes a law. The Parliament can make laws on all matters mentioned in the Union List and the Concurrent List. In the case of the Concurrent List, where there is joint jurisdiction with the state legislatures, the Union law will prevail over the state law unless the state law received earlier presidential assent. The Parliament can also enact laws on items in the State List under certain circumstances, such as during a state of Emergency or when a state is placed under the President's Rule.
The Parliament of India represents the largest democratic electorate in the world, with 968 million eligible voters in 2024. It meets at Sansad Bhavan in New Delhi, with the Lok Sabha Hall drawing inspiration from India's national bird, the peacock, and the Rajya Sabha Hall reflecting the national flower, the lotus.
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Frequently asked questions
The Parliament of India, also known as the Sansad, is the supreme legislative body of the country. It is responsible for lawmaking and plays a crucial role in shaping the nation's policies. The Parliament consists of the President and the two Houses - the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the Lok Sabha (House of the People).
The Parliament has a wide array of powers, including the power to amend the Constitution of India, alter the boundaries of states/UTs, and make laws on subjects mentioned in the Union List and Concurrent List. It also holds the government accountable and serves as a symbol of India's democratic spirit.
The Parliament functions through its two Houses, the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha, each with its own Secretariat and Secretarial Staff. Bills are introduced and passed in both Houses, and then assented to by the President, to become laws. The Parliament also exercises control over the executive and can remove them through a vote of no-confidence.
