Parliament & Law-Making
Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, how a bill becomes law, Question Hour, No-confidence motion.
Parliament & Law-Making
Parliament & Law-Making in India
What you'll learn
- Parliament — the supreme legislative body of India.
- Structure: Lok Sabha (Lower House) + Rajya Sabha (Upper House) + President.
- How a bill becomes a law.
- Role of Parliament: making laws, controlling the budget, questioning the government.
- Why Parliament is important in a democracy.
Key concepts
Structure of Parliament
| House | Full name | Members | Election |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lok Sabha | House of the People | 543 elected + 2 nominated (Anglo-Indian) | Directly elected by citizens every 5 years |
| Rajya Sabha | Council of States | 245 (233 elected + 12 nominated) | Elected by State Legislatures; permanent (1/3 retire every 2 years) |
President is part of Parliament — gives assent to bills.
Key officials
| Post | Role |
|---|---|
| Speaker | Presides over Lok Sabha; maintains order |
| Vice-President | Chairman of Rajya Sabha |
| Prime Minister | Leader of ruling party/coalition in Lok Sabha |
How a Bill becomes a Law
- Introduction — Bill introduced in Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha.
- First Reading — Bill read aloud; no debate.
- Second Reading — Clause-by-clause debate; amendments possible.
- Third Reading — Final vote; simple majority needed.
- Other House — Same 3-reading process in second house.
- President's Assent — President signs; Bill becomes Act (law).
Special case — Money Bills: Can only be introduced in Lok Sabha. Rajya Sabha cannot reject, only suggest changes; Lok Sabha decides.
Joint Session: If two houses disagree, President can call a joint sitting of both houses — Lok Sabha usually prevails (more members).
Powers of Parliament
| Power | Detail |
|---|---|
| Legislative | Makes laws on Union List (defence, foreign affairs, railways) and Concurrent List |
| Financial | No tax or spending without Parliament's approval (Budget) |
| Executive oversight | Question Hour — MPs question ministers; No-confidence motion can remove government |
| Constituent | Can amend Constitution (with special majority) |
| Judicial | Can impeach President, Vice-President, judges |
Question Hour
- First hour of every Parliament session.
- MPs can ask starred questions (oral answer) or unstarred questions (written answer).
- Makes ministers accountable — must explain their decisions publicly.
Quick check
- What are the two houses of Parliament? How are members of each elected?
- Name the steps in how a bill becomes a law.
- What is a Money Bill? Which house has more power over it?
- What happens during Question Hour?
- What is a No-confidence motion?
Open the Practice tab for graded questions on Parliament.
Key Takeaways (TL;DR)
- What you'll learn
- Key concepts
- Quick check
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