The Union Parliament — Question 1
Back to all questionsThis picture is a symbol of our democratic rule. In this context, answer the following questions:
(a) How does the Parliament work to ensure that the people of India make laws for themselves?
(b) How does the Parliament exercise control over the Executive?
(c) When you grow up, you will have a chance to be an MP. Would you like to be an MP in the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha? Why?
(a) The Parliament symbolises that the people of India make laws for themselves as both the houses of the Parliament have citizens of India as their members.
- Lok Sabha — The Lok Sabha is the House of the People. Its members are directly elected by the people of India.
- Rajya Sabha — The members of Rajya Sabha fall into two categories - nominated and elected. The 12 nominated members are nominated by the President from among persons having special knowledge or practical experience in matters such as literature, science, art and social service. The remaining 238 representatives of each State in the Rajya Sabha are elected by the elected members of the Legislative Assembly of each State in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote.
(b) The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha and remains in office only as long as it has the confidence of the Lok Sabha. Parliament exercises control over the Executive in the following manner:
- Interpellation: Devices like Question Hour, Calling Attention Notices, and Half-an-Hour Discussions help MPs seek information from the government. Question Hour, held in the first hour of a sitting, promotes transparency by allowing MPs to question government policies and actions.
- Vote of No-confidence: If the government loses the majority's support, it must resign.
- Adjournment Motion: Used to discuss and censure serious issues like government negligence or misconduct.
- Other Motions of Censure: They include rejection of government bills or passing of private member bills against the government's stance.
- Monetary Controls: Parliament exercises monetary controls through budget discussions, cut motions, and examination of government spending by the Public Accounts Committee, based on CAG (Comptroller and Auditor-General of India) reports.
These tools ensure the government stays accountable and acts in the public interest.
(c) I would like to be MP in Lok Sabha because the members of the Lok Sabha are directly elected by the people of the country and hence, Lok Sabha has special powers which make it more powerful than the Rajya Sabha.
Chapter Overview: The Union Parliament
The Indian Parliament is the supreme legislative body of India, consisting of the President and two Houses: the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States). Parliament makes laws on subjects in the Union List and Concurrent List, controls the executive through questions and motions, approves the budget, and can amend the Constitution.
The Lok Sabha has a maximum of 552 members elected directly by the people for a 5-year term. The Rajya Sabha has a maximum of 250 members, of whom 238 are elected by state legislatures and 12 are nominated by the President. The Rajya Sabha is a permanent body with one-third members retiring every two years. Parliament ensures democratic governance, represents the will of the people, and acts as a check on executive power through debates, committees, and no-confidence motions.
Board Exam Weightage: 6-7 marks | Difficulty: Moderate
Lok Sabha vs Rajya Sabha
| Feature | Lok Sabha | Rajya Sabha |
|---|---|---|
| Also called | House of the People / Lower House | Council of States / Upper House |
| Maximum members | 552 | 250 |
| Election | Direct election by people | Indirect election by state legislatures + 12 nominated |
| Term | 5 years (can be dissolved earlier) | Permanent body; members serve 6-year terms |
| Presiding officer | Speaker | Vice-President of India (ex-officio Chairman) |
| Money Bill | Can only be introduced here; has final say | Can only suggest amendments (within 14 days) |
Must-Know Concepts
- Functions of Parliament: Legislative (law-making), financial (budget approval), executive control (question hour, no-confidence motion), constituent (amending Constitution), judicial (impeachment)
- Money Bill vs Ordinary Bill: Money Bills can only originate in Lok Sabha; Ordinary Bills can originate in either House
- Joint Session: Called by the President when Houses disagree on an Ordinary Bill; presided by the Speaker
- Question Hour: First hour of parliamentary session for asking questions to ministers — key accountability tool
- No-Confidence Motion: If passed in Lok Sabha, the entire Council of Ministers must resign
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Writing that the Rajya Sabha can be dissolved — it is a permanent body; only the Lok Sabha can be dissolved
- Confusing the Speaker (Lok Sabha) with the Chairman (Vice-President, Rajya Sabha)
- Stating that Money Bills need Rajya Sabha approval — Rajya Sabha can only make recommendations within 14 days
- Forgetting that the President is part of Parliament (Parliament = President + Lok Sabha + Rajya Sabha)
Scoring Tips
- Comparison questions between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are very common — prepare thoroughly
- Know the legislative process: introduction, committee stage, passing, presidential assent
- Mention specific articles where relevant (Art. 79: Parliament, Art. 110: Money Bill definition)
- For Lok Sabha superiority, cite: Money Bill control, no-confidence motion, larger representation
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Lok Sabha more powerful than the Rajya Sabha?
The Lok Sabha has exclusive control over Money Bills, can pass no-confidence motions against the government, has more members in a joint session (ensuring majority), and directly represents the people through universal adult suffrage.
What is a Joint Session of Parliament?
When the two Houses deadlock on an Ordinary Bill, the President summons a joint session presided by the Lok Sabha Speaker. The bill is passed by a simple majority of members present and voting from both Houses combined.
Who are the 12 nominated members of the Rajya Sabha?
The President nominates 12 members who have distinguished themselves in literature, science, art, and social service. This ensures representation of experts who may not win elections but can contribute valuable knowledge to legislation.