Parliament of India

View of Lok Sabha chamber in the New Parliament building, New Delhi

New Rajya Sabha chamber in the New Parliament building

Parliament of India

The Parliament of India is the supreme legislative body of the Republic of India. It is a bicameral legislature composed of two houses: the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the Lok Sabha (House of the People). The President of India is considered a part of the Parliament in the constitutional framework, even though they are not a member of either house. The Parliament is tasked with making laws, amending the Constitution of India, and overseeing the executive branch of the government.

Composition

The Parliament of India consists of three components:

• The President of India
• The Rajya Sabha
• The Lok Sabha

Rajya Sabha

The Rajya Sabha is the upper house of the Parliament. Its members are elected by the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies, and by the members of the Electoral college for Union Territories, in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote. The Rajya Sabha is a permanent body and is not subject to dissolution, but one third of its members retire every two years.

Lok Sabha

The Lok Sabha is the lower house of the Parliament and is considered the house of the people. Its members are directly elected by the people of India from constituencies across the country. The Lok Sabha has a maximum strength of 552 members, 530 representing the states, 20 representing the Union Territories, and 2 appointed by the President from the Anglo-Indian Community if he/she feels the community is not adequately represented.

Powers and Functions

The Parliament of India has wide-ranging powers and functions, which include:

• Legislative responsibilities: Making laws on all matters listed in the Union List, and on those in the Concurrent List along with the states. It can also legislate on state matters under certain conditions.
• Financial powers: No tax can be levied or collected without the authorization of the Parliament. It also controls the money spent by the government through the annual financial statement (budget).
• Constitutional powers: The Parliament has the power to amend the Constitution, though some amendments require the ratification by at least half of the states.
• Judicial powers: The Parliament can impeach the President of India for violation of the Constitution and remove judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts on the grounds of misbehavior or incapacity.
• Oversight of the executive: Through various committees, the Parliament scrutinizes the actions of the executive branch.

Procedure

The legislative procedure in the Parliament of India involves several stages, including the introduction of a bill, its publication in the Gazette of India, consideration and passing by both houses, and assent by the President. A bill can be introduced in either house of Parliament. However, a money bill can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha. After a bill is passed by both houses, it is sent to the President for assent, after which it becomes a law.

Sessions

The Parliament of India meets in three sessions each year:

• The Budget Session (February to May)
• The Monsoon Session (July to September)
• The Winter Session (November to December)

Significance

The Parliament of India plays a crucial role in the democratic framework of the country. It represents the will of the people and ensures that the government remains accountable and transparent in its functioning. The Parliament's ability to legislate, amend the constitution, and oversee the executive branch is fundamental to the governance and administration of the country.