The Parliament of India: Find out how it is structured, its powers, and its law-making function. Learn how it represents the people, debates matters, controls the finances, and promotes and protects democracy. Have you ever thought about how India makes its laws? The Parliament of India is the authority to make laws, debate matters of importance, and frame policies. We, the Parliament, are responsible for the governance, accountability of the Government, and for taking care of democracy in the country.

The Structure of the Parliament:

The Parliament of India has three components:

•President;

•Lok Sabha, or House of the People;

•Rajya Sabha or Council of States;

1. Lok Sabha: The House of the People

•The Lok Sabha is the House for the people.

•Members are elected by way of general elections.

•General elections are held every 5 years.

•The Lok Sabha will have max 552 Members.;

•The Lok Sabha has 530 Members from the states.

•The Lok Sabha has 20 Members from the union territories.

•The President can appoint 2 Members of the Anglo Indian community.

•As members are elected, the Lok Sabha represents the views of the ordinary person.

•The Lok Sabha has the most Power in respect to financial matters.

2. Rajya Sabha: The Council of States

•Rajya Sabha is the upper House of Parliament.

•It represents the states and union territories of India.

•Members of the Rajya Sabha are NOT elected by the people.

•State legislative assemblies elect members.

•The maximum strength of the Rajya Sabha is 250 members.

•Of those, 238 members are elected.

•The President can nominate 12 members.

•Nominated members are nominated for distinguished contributions in fields such as art, science, or literature.

•Rajya Sabha is a permanent body, which means it is never dissolved.

•Every two years, one-third of Rajya Sabha members retire, ensuring that it will be functional at all times

3. The President as a Component of Parliament

The President of India is part of Parliament. Any law passed by either House, needs the President's approval. The President could also summon and dissolve the Lok Sabha.

The President can address Parliament on a special occasion. The President can promulgate ordinances in times of emergency that have the same force as law.

Regulatory Powers of Parliament

There are several key powers that the Parliament can exercise. Specifically, legislative, financial, judicial, administrative, and amending powers. All the powers would be considered to exercise democratic processes in India.

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1. Legislative Powers

Parliament passes laws on a range of topics. These topics are organised into three lists in the Constitution:

•Union List

•State List

•Concurrent List

Parliament can also pass laws for State List topics under certain conditions, such as:

•When states ask Parliament to do so.

•During a national emergency.

2. Financial Powers

Parliament has control of all financial matters regarding the country. The Government cannot spend or collect money without permission from Parliament. The Government's budget for the year, which the finance minister presents, must be passed by the Lok Sabha.

•Parliament has control of all financial matters.

•The Government has to take Parliament's permission to spend / collect money.

•The finance minister presents the annual budget.

•The budget must pass the Lok Sabha.

•Money bills only start in the Lok Sabha.

3. Control over Executive

•Parliament controls the executive.

•The Executive is headed by the Prime Minister and consists of the Council of Ministers.

•The executive can be scrutinised in terms of its actions. The questions, debates, and motions bring the Government to account.

•Parliament has the Power to dismiss a government.

•This is the accepted interpretation of Indian democracy.

4. Judicial Powers

•Parliament has some limited power of justice.

•It can remove judges of the Supreme Court via impeachment.

•It can remove judges of the High Court through impeachment.

•It can remove the President for violating the Constitution.

5. Amending Power

•Parliament is able to amend the Constitution under Article 368.

•Amendments must be passed by a special majority of both houses of Parliament.

•A special majority means simply that more than 50% of the total number of members must be present and voting, plus two-thirds of the critical members and voting.

•In several instances, half the state legislatures are needed to ratify the amendment.

•Once the Bill passes, it is sent to the President for their assent.

•The Constitution's basic structure cannot be amended.

Process of Law-Making

Law-making in Parliament follows a systematic procedure. To become a law, a bill has to go through a systematic process in a step-by-step manner.

1. Introduction of a Bill

A bill is a proposal for either a new law or a change to an existing one. A Bill is always being introduced in either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha, with a money bill being always introduced in the Lok Sabha.

A member of parliament may introduce a bill at any level, but if a minister does so, it is a government bill; if a private member does so, it is a private member's bill.

2. Stages of a Bill

•First Reading: The proposed law (Bill) is introduced and then published. There will not be any debate at this stage.

•Second Reading: The proposed law (Bill) is debated at length. The law may be referred to a committee to review further.

•Consideration Stage: The proposed law (Bill) will be modified or amended.

•Third Reading: The proposed law (Bill) is debated and voted on in its final form. No further amendments are allowed.

If both houses agree, then the Bill is forwarded to the President of India. If the President approves, the proposed law (Bill) becomes law.

3. Money Bills

•Money bills must be introduced in the Lok Sabha.

•Before the introduction, there must be recommendations made by the President of India.

•Once the money bill has passed the Lok Sabha, it will then be forwarded to the Rajya Sabha.

•The Rajya Sabha cannot amend or disallow a Money Bill.

•After 14 days, the Rajya Sabha is required to return the money bill, whether or not it includes the most recent recommendations.

•The Lok Sabha can allow the amendments or reject, if any, made by the Rajya Sabha.

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If the Rajya Sabha does not return the Money Bill within 14 days of receipt, the Money Bill is deemed to have passed the Lok Sabha as it originally passed.

Joint Sittings

•A joint sitting shall be convened if bills cannot be resolved between the two houses.

•The President summons the joint sitting.

•The Speaker of the Lok Sabha, or if not him, the Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha, or in their absence, the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, presides over the joint sitting.

•Together, both houses vote as one on the Bill.

•A joint sitting is permissible for only normal and financial bills.

•Money bills and constitutional amendments do not require a joint sitting.

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Role in the practice of democracy

Democracy is safeguarded by the Indian Parliament. It provides a voice for the people through their representatives. It is supposed to hold the Government to account. And it should protect the values inherent in the Constitution.

While the functioning of the Parliament is integral to the workings of democracy, it is also the place where debates take place. All matters of national importance, including the economy, social and economic policy, can genuinely be discussed in any accepted debate outside of Parliament. Through these discussions, there can be disagreement or consensus, but the point is that the essence of democracy is captured or practised at this time.

Importance for citizens

•Every citizen must acknowledge Parliament's vital role.

•Parliament impacts every aspect of your daily life through laws and policies.

•A vote helps form the Lok Sabha through elections

•Follow your Parliament for debates and bills.

•Awareness leads to action around you in our democracy

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FAQs

1. What is the Parliament of India?

A: The Parliament, which is India's supreme legislative body, is composed of the President, the Lok Sabha, and the Rajya Sabha.

2. How are members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha elected?

A: Members of the rajya Sabha, however, are elected by members of the state legislative assemblies, members of the Lok Sabha are elected directly by the general electorate.

3. Describe the procedure regarding Money Bills in the Parliament of India.

A: Money Bills can only be introduced in Lok Sabha. Only the Rajya Sabha has the authority to suggest modifications to money bills. Rajya Sabha has to return the Money Bills to Lok Sabha within fourteen (14) days of receiving it.

4. Who presides over the joint sitting of the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha?

A: The Speaker of the Lok Sabha presides over the joint sitting of Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha. If Speaker is not available then, deputy speaker or deputy chairman of Rajya Sabha presides.

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Parliament of India Explained: Structure, Powers & Process

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