Omar Bennett
The Parliament of India is the country's primary legislative body and is responsible for lawmaking. It is composed of the President of India, the Lok Sabha (House of the People), and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States). The Lok Sabha is the lower house and has 543 members, directly elected by Indian citizens. The Rajya Sabha has a maximum of 250 members, 233 of whom are elected from states and union territories, and 12 are nominated by the President. The Parliament has various powers, including enacting laws, initiating impeachment proceedings, and appointing committees to oversee government policies.
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What You'll Learn
- The Parliament of India was preceded by the Imperial Legislative Council during British rule
- The current Parliament of India was formed in 1950 after the Indian Constitution came into force
- The President of India is elected by the Parliament of India and the state Legislative Assemblies
- The Lok Sabha, or the lower house, has 543 members who are directly elected by citizens of India
- The Rajya Sabha, or the upper house, has a maximum of 250 members, 12 of whom are nominated by the President
The Parliament of India was preceded by the Imperial Legislative Council during British rule
The Parliament of India was preceded by the Imperial Legislative Council, which was established during British rule in India. The council was created under Acts of Parliament in the United Kingdom and initially served as a small advisory body. Over time, it evolved into a partially elected body, although it was never elected through suffrage.
The composition and powers of the Imperial Legislative Council changed several times during its existence. The Indian Councils Act 1861, for example, renamed the council the Governor-General's Legislative Council or the Imperial Legislative Council. This act also changed the way members were appointed: three members were appointed by the Secretary of State for India, two by the Sovereign, and the viceroy could appoint an additional 6 to 12 members. While the council now had more members, the participation of Indian members in meetings remained negligible.
In 1858, the British Crown took over the administration of India from the East India Company, and the council was transformed into the Imperial Legislative Council. The Court of Directors of the Company lost its power to elect members of the Governor-General's Council, and instead, the one member who had a vote only on legislative questions was appointed by the Sovereign, with the other three members appointed by the Secretary of State for India.
Under the Government of India Act 1919, the Imperial Legislative Council was converted into a bicameral legislature with the Imperial Legislative Assembly (also known as the Central Legislative Assembly) as the lower house and the Council of State as the upper house. The Governor-General, however, retained significant power over legislation. He could authorise expenditure without the Legislature's consent for "ecclesiastical, political, and defence" purposes and for any purpose during "emergencies". He also had the power to veto any bill or stop debate on it. If he recommended a bill's passage and only one chamber cooperated, he could declare the bill passed over the objections of the other chamber.
The Imperial Legislative Council was dissolved on 14 August 1947 under the Indian Independence Act 1947, and was replaced by the Constituent Assembly of India and the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan. The legislatures of colonial British India were thus precursors to modern parliamentary democracy in the Indian subcontinent, and the notion of parliamentary sovereignty took root in the region after independence.
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The current Parliament of India was formed in 1950 after the Indian Constitution came into force
The Parliament of India is the supreme legislative body of the Government of India. The current Parliament of India was formed in 1950 after the Indian Constitution came into force. The Constituent Assembly of India, consisting of indirectly elected representatives, was established to draft a constitution for India. The Assembly was not elected based on complete universal adult suffrage, and Muslims and Sikhs received special representation as minorities. The Constituent Assembly appointed 22 committees to deal with different tasks of constitution-making. The Assembly approved the draft constitution on 26 November 1949, and on 26 January 1950, the constitution took effect. This date is commemorated as Republic Day.
The Parliament of India is a bicameral legislature composed of the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the Lok Sabha (House of the People). The president of the Republic of India, as head of the legislature, has the power to summon and prorogue either house of Parliament or to dissolve the Lok Sabha. However, they can only exercise these powers upon the advice of the prime minister and the Union Council of Ministers. Those elected or nominated (by the president) to either house of the Parliament are referred to as members of Parliament (MPs). The members of parliament in the Lok Sabha are directly elected by the voting of Indian citizens in single-member districts.
The Parliament of India possesses a wide array of powers that form the backbone of the country's democratic governance. It is vested with the authority to make laws on subjects enumerated in the Union List and 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. It holds exclusive authority over matters not covered by the Union or State Lists, known as residuary powers. Additionally, the Parliament plays a vital role in formulating and approving the Union Budget.
The Parliament building in India is of significant heritage value. The old building, an 85-year-old structure, suffers from inadequate space and is believed to have structural issues. The new building, on the other hand, optimally utilizes space with a built-up area of approximately 65,000 square meters and a distinctive triangular shape. It houses an expanded Lok Sabha Hall, accommodating up to 888 seats, and a larger Rajya Sabha hall, accommodating up to 384 seats. The Central Hall, located within the Parliament building, is of particular historical importance as it is where the Indian Constitution was framed.
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The President of India is elected by the Parliament of India and the state Legislative Assemblies
The President of India is the head of state of the Republic of India and the first citizen of the country. The President is also the supreme commander of the Indian Armed Forces. The office of the President was created when India became a republic on 26 January 1950 when its constitution came into force. The President of India is elected by an electoral college. This consists of the elected members of both houses of the Parliament of India (the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha) and the elected members of the legislative assemblies of each of India's states and union territories.
The Parliament of India is the legislature of the Union, consisting of the President and the two Houses, the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and the House of the People (Lok Sabha). The Parliament has the power to impeach the President and remove the Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, the Chief Election Commissioner, and the Comptroller and Auditor General. The Parliament also has the functions of legislation, overseeing administration, passing the budget, ventilation of public grievances, and discussing development plans, national policies, and international relations.
The Rajya Sabha consists of 250 members, of which 12 are nominated by the President from among individuals with special knowledge or practical experience in areas such as literature, science, art, and social service. The remaining members are representatives of the States and Union Territories. The Lok Sabha currently consists of 545 members, of which 530 are directly elected from the States and 13 from Union Territories, while two are nominated by the President to represent the Anglo-Indian community.
The President of India is elected by the members of the electoral college in a secret ballot procedure. The value of votes cast by members of the state legislative assemblies and both houses of parliament is determined by the provisions of Article 55(2) of the Constitution of India. The number of votes per legislator in a given state is calculated by dividing the state's population by 1000 and then dividing that number by the number of legislators from the state voting in the electoral college. The number of votes per MP is calculated by dividing the total value of all MLAs' votes by the number of MPs.
The President is elected using Instant-runoff voting. The votes of MPs and MLAs tend to go to the candidate supported by their respective parties. The President is elected for a term of five years.
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The Lok Sabha, or the lower house, has 543 members who are directly elected by citizens of India
The Lok Sabha, or the lower house of the Indian Parliament, is constituted after a general election. As of 26 January 2020, it is composed of 543 members, including 524 members representing the people of 28 states and 19 members representing the people of 8 Union Territories based on their population. The maximum strength of the Lok Sabha is 550 members, though the Constitution initially set the limit at 500 seats. The increase in the number of seats is due to territorial reorganisations, the creation of new states, and population shifts.
The members of the Lok Sabha are directly elected by the citizens of India through universal adult suffrage. Every citizen of India who is over 18 years of age, irrespective of gender, caste, religion, or race, and is otherwise not disqualified, is eligible to vote for members of the Lok Sabha. The members of the Lok Sabha are elected for a term of five years from territorial constituencies across the country. The constituencies are based on the state's population to ensure equal representation. The house meets in the Lok Sabha Chambers of the New Parliament House in New Delhi.
To be eligible for membership in the Lok Sabha, a person must be a citizen of India, be 25 years of age or older, and not hold any office of profit under the union or state government. They should not be proclaimed criminals, i.e., they should not be convicts, confirmed debtors, or otherwise disqualified by law. Additionally, they should have their name on the electoral rolls in any part of the country.
The Lok Sabha is not a permanent body and can be dissolved earlier than its five-year term by the President of India on the advice of the Prime Minister. During a national emergency, the term of the Lok Sabha can be extended by Parliament for a maximum of one year but not beyond six months after the emergency has ended. The party or coalition of parties that wins the highest number of seats forms the government, headed by the Prime Minister, who is appointed by the President of India.
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The Rajya Sabha, or the upper house, has a maximum of 250 members, 12 of whom are nominated by the President
The Rajya Sabha, or Council of States, is the upper house of the Parliament of India. It is a permanent body that cannot be dissolved, ensuring continuity in governance. The Rajya Sabha serves as the voice of the states in the law-making process, giving them a platform to articulate their perspectives on national legislation. This reflects the constitutional vision of balancing the unity of the nation with the diversity of its constituent units. The upper house has a maximum of 250 members, with 238 elected and 12 appointed, according to Article 80 of the Constitution of India. The current seating capacity is 245, with 233 elected members and 12 appointed. The 12 members are nominated by the President of India and are chosen for their special knowledge in areas like arts and science. However, they are not entitled to vote in presidential elections as per Article 55 of the Constitution.
The qualifications for becoming a member of the Rajya Sabha are outlined in Article 84 of the Constitution. A member must be an Indian citizen, at least 30 years old, and not a proclaimed criminal or insolvent. They should also not hold any other office of profit under the Government of India and must possess sound mental health. Members of the Rajya Sabha are elected by the Legislative Assembly of States and Union Territories through proportional representation, with about a third of the designates up for election every two years in even-numbered years. The Rajya Sabha has equal footing in legislation with the Lok Sabha, the lower house, except in the area of Loss of Supply, where the Lok Sabha has overriding powers.
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Frequently asked questions
The Parliament of India is the country's primary legislative body. It is composed of two houses: the Lok Sabha (House of the People) or the lower house, and the Rajya Sabha, or upper house.
Members of the Lok Sabha are directly elected by citizens of India on the basis of universal adult franchise, representing parliamentary constituencies across the country.
Members of the Rajya Sabha are indirectly elected by elected members of the legislative assembly of the states. The number of members from each state depends on its population.
