The Parliament of India - An Introduction
The Parliament of India is a part of the Indian government. The Union Parliament of the country is the legislative body that has supreme power. The main function of the parliament is to ensure the formulation and regulation of different laws and rules in the country. In this article, we will learn about the Indian Parliament and its functions along with some other details.
What is Parliament of India?
The Indian parliament is basically a particular type of bicameral legislature that consists of two different houses. These houses are known as the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Article 79 of the Constitution of India says that, "There shall be a Parliament for the Union which shall consist of the President and two Houses to be known respectively as the council of States and the House of the People."
Together, these houses participate in the country's affairs and help in the formulation of the laws and rules that are to be obeyed by the citizens of the country.
The Lok Sabha is known as the House of the People. The members of the Lok Sabha are said to be directly elected by the common people of the country through the process of elections and voting. Hence, the people of the country have a say in which members should and shouldn’t be allowed to have a seat at the Lok Sabha.
The Rajya Sabha, on the other hand, which is known as the Council of States commonly consists of the members that are selected from the legislative assemblies of the states as well as the Union territories. The main members of the parliament include the people who are a part of these 2 different houses as well as the President of India.
Functions of The Parliament House
The main functions that the Indian parliament has been specifically mentioned in Chapter II of Part V that is a part of the Indian Constitution. There are several heads of the functions that are fulfilled by the parliament and all of them are mentioned below in detail.
The major function of the Parliament is said to be the legislation. It acted as the supreme law making body of the country and made laws for the requirements of the country. It does not only make new laws but also rectifies and edits the previous laws as well. On the other hand, it is the only body which has the power to amend the Constitution of India.
The parliament of our country is involved in the legislation of different matters that have a mention in the Concurrent list as well as the Union List. In the case of the concurrent list, the state legislatures, as well as the parliament, tend to have a joint type of jurisdiction. However, the main law is the union law that prevails over the state unless there is some sort of state law that has a better presidential assent. The parliament is also allowed to pass several laws on different items that are on the State list under certain circumstances.
When it comes to the Parliamentary type of government, the legislature has more responsibilities than the executive. On the other hand, we also can say that the executive is said to be responsible to the legislature. Hence, the parliament tends to have more control over different matters, even more than the executive as well.
In case there is a case of the vote without confidence or no confidence motion; the parliament members will easily be able to remove the Executive or the Cabinet out of their power. Not to mention that the members will also be able to make rejections in the case of budget proposals that are brought to them from the Cabinet.
Although it is only allowed in the Lok Sabha or the House of the People, the main objective of the motion of adjournment is to draw the attention of the parliament regarding any topic that is recent and will be an interest to the public. This is a very extraordinary tool that the parliament has in terms of normal business.
The members of parliament will be able to ask certain questions to different ministers on their commissions and omissions. If there are any lapses in the government, then it will be readily exposed to the parliament as well.
There are some financial responsibilities as well. Without the approval of the parliament, the executive body is not allowed to make any monetary decisions. In the case of the Union Budget, while the Cabinet is responsible for the formation of it, the Parliament has to provide its approval. All the different proposals related to the imposing of taxes also need the approval of the Indian Parliament members. Parliament is the ultimate authority when it comes to finances. The Executive cannot spend a single pie without parliamentary approval.
The parliament also has a role to play in the election of the Vice President as well as the President of the country. The electoral college of the country that is responsible for the election of the President, includes the elected members of the two houses of the Parliament as well as the legislative assemblies of the States and the Union Territories. Not to mention that the President of the Country of India can be easily removed in case there is a resolution that is passed by the Council of States and it is accepted by the Lok Sabha. This particular resolution is passed by following the impeachment process.
The parliament also has the right to punish the members of the different houses in case there are any breaches in the privileges that have been provided to them. Thus, the parliament also has judicial powers as well.
Besides these functions, the parliament can also remove the major officials as well by following a removal procedure in the Parliament. For example, removal of Judges of the Supreme Court as well as High Court, the CAG, Chairman as well as Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and Speaker as well as Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Chairman of the UPSC, etc.
Conclusion
There are a number of major functions that the parliament of India performs and it can be said without a doubt that it is one of the most important inclusions to the Indian constitution. It is undoubtedly a supreme law making body which makes certain decisions as per the requirements of the country. The parliament also represents the voice of the people thus we can say that law making is done by the people of the country and that too for the people of the country.
FAQs on The Parliament of India
1. What is the Parliament of India?
The Parliament of India, also known as the Sansad, is the supreme law-making body of the country. It is the main legislative body of the Government of India and serves as the central platform for discussion, debate, and scrutiny of national policies and laws.
2. What is the main difference between the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha?
The primary difference between the two houses lies in their composition and tenure. The key distinctions are:
- The Lok Sabha (House of the People) consists of members who are directly elected by the citizens of India for a term of five years.
- The Rajya Sabha (Council of States) consists of members who are indirectly elected by the elected members of State Legislative Assemblies. It is a permanent body where members have a six-year term.
3. How does a bill become a law in India?
A proposed law, known as a bill, must be approved by both Houses of Parliament to become a law. It is introduced in either the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha, where it is debated. Once it is passed by both houses, it is sent to the President of India for approval. After the President gives their assent, the bill officially becomes an Act or a law.
4. What are the key functions of the Indian Parliament?
The Parliament performs several crucial functions for the nation:
- Legislative Function: It is responsible for making laws on all subjects listed in the Union List and Concurrent List.
- Financial Control: It controls the country's finances by approving the Union Budget and authorising all government expenditure.
- Executive Control: It ensures the government is accountable through mechanisms like Question Hour and no-confidence motions.
- Constituent Function: It has the power to amend the Constitution of India as per the established procedures.
5. How does the Parliament hold the government accountable?
The Parliament uses several tools to keep a check on the government's activities. During Question Hour, Members of Parliament (MPs) can ask ministers direct questions about their departments. They can also initiate debates, adjournment motions, and, most importantly, a no-confidence motion. If a no-confidence motion passes in the Lok Sabha, the government is required to resign.
6. Why is the Rajya Sabha known as the 'permanent house' of the Parliament?
The Rajya Sabha is called the permanent house because it is a continuing body that is never fully dissolved. Unlike the Lok Sabha, which is dissolved after every five years, the Rajya Sabha ensures continuity. One-third of its members retire every two years, and new members are elected to fill their seats, meaning the house is always functional.
7. What is the specific role of the President in the Parliament?
Although the President does not sit in either House, they are an essential part of the Parliament. The President's key roles include summoning and ending sessions of both Houses, addressing Parliament, and, most importantly, giving assent to bills. A bill passed by both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha cannot become a law without the President's signature.
8. According to the Constitution, who makes up the Parliament of India?
As per Article 79 of the Indian Constitution, the Parliament is a composite body. It consists of the President of India and the two Houses: the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and the House of the People (Lok Sabha). All three components together form the complete Parliament.
