Cheat Sheet: Legislature | Political Science Class 11 - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

Why Do We Need a Parliament?

The Parliament is the cornerstone of democratic political processes, serving as more than just a law-making body. It is a platform for action, including walkouts, protests, demonstrations, unanimity, concern, and cooperation. A genuine democracy is inconceivable without a representative, efficient, and effective legislature, which holds representatives accountable and forms the basis of representative democracy.

Bicameral Legislature

Overview

The Indian Parliament is a bicameral legislature consisting of two houses:

• Rajya Sabha (Council of States)
• Lok Sabha (House of the People)

States can opt for a unicameral or bicameral legislature. States with bicameral legislatures include:

Advantages of Bicameral Legislature

• Provides representation to diverse sections and geographical regions, especially in large, diverse countries.
• Ensures double-checking of decisions, as bills and policies are discussed by both houses.

Rajya Sabha

• Representation: Represents India’s states; indirectly elected by members of State Legislative Assemblies.
• Term: Members serve six years, can be re-elected; one-third of seats are elected every two years.
• Permanent House: Never fully dissolved.
• Nominated Members: Twelve members nominated by the President.
• Principles of Representation:
  • Symmetrical Representation: Equal representation regardless of state size or population.
  • Population-Based Representation: States with larger populations have more representatives.

Lok Sabha

• Representation: Directly elected by people through universal adult suffrage in 543 constituencies.
• Election Process: The country is divided into territorial constituencies with roughly equal populations; each constituency elects one representative.

Functions of Parliament

Powers of Lok Sabha

• Enacts laws on Union and Concurrent Lists; introduces and passes money and non-money bills.
• Approves taxation, budgets, and financial statements; controls executives via questions and motions.
• Approves constitutional amendments and emergency proclamations.
• Elects President and Vice President; participates in judge removal.
• Establishes committees and considers their reports.

Powers of Rajya Sabha

• Approves non-money bills, suggests amendments to money bills.
• Approves constitutional amendments; controls executive via questions and motions.
• Participates in the election and removal of the President, Vice President, and judges.
• Special Powers:
  1. Protects state powers; approves transfer of State List matters to Union/Concurrent Lists.
  2. Initiates the Vice President removal procedure.

How Parliament Makes Laws

Types of Bills

Legislative Process

• Ordinary Bills: Pass through five stages in first House; second House may pass, amend, reject, or keep pending. Deadlocks resolved via joint session called by President.
• Money Bills: Lok Sabha approves; Rajya Sabha suggests amendments, but Lok Sabha decides. Sent to the President for assent, veto, or reconsideration.

How Parliament Controls the Executive

How Parliament Regulates Itself

• Presiding Officers: Speaker (Lok Sabha) and Chairman (Vice-President, Rajya Sabha) regulate proceedings for orderly, meaningful debates.
• Anti-Defection Law: Enacted via 52nd (1985) and 91st Amendments; prevents defection (e.g., voting against party, leaving party).
• Defection: Occurs if a member disobeys party instructions, votes against party, or voluntarily leaves party membership.