parliament composition, powers and role Indian Constitution

1. PARLIAMENT OF INDIA –
OMPOSITION, POWERS
AND ROLEwww.professorsaichandu.blogsport.inwww.professorsaichandu.blogsport.in

2. PARLIAMENT – AN INTRODUCTION
Meaning of the word
‘Parliament’ -- is a word
derived from the French
expression parle m e nt which
means ‘speaking’, and Latin
word ‘parliam e ntum ’ which
means ‘talking . It has come to
mean ‘meeting for discussion’.
Different Names of
Legislature: In India
Parliament is known as
Sansad. Other nations have
their own names viz. Diet in
Japan, Congress in US,
Knesset in Israel.
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3. BASIC CHARACTERISTICS
OF PARLIAMENT
India has borrowed this nomenclature from England and has adopted
what is called as ‘Westminster model of parliamentary system’ but
Indian Sansad has its unique set of characteristics such as
1.Union Parliament is non-sovereign
2.Representation to both the Houses is given on the basis of population
3.Provision of joint sitting of both the Houses
4.Provision of nomination in both the Houses
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4. COMPOSITION
Basic Principle of Composition:
Bicameralism means that
Parliament/ Legislature shall have
two houses, one representing
people and other representing units
of federation (states) to ensure the
federal system of government.
Components:
Lok Sabha (The House of People/
Lower House)
Rajya Sabha (Council of States/
Upper House)
President is an integral part of
Parliament
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5. LOK SABHATotal members – 545 (530 from different states + 13 from UTs + 2 Anglo-
Indians)
Method of Election: Directly by the people on the basis of universal adult
franchise and territorial constituencies
Basic qualifications of the members:
1.Must be a citizen of India;
2.Must be not less than 25 years of age;
3.Should not hold any Office of Profit;
4.Should neither be insane, nor bankrupt, and
5.Should possess all those qualification prescribed by the Parliament from time to time.
Tenure: 5 years
Numberof Sessions: Two Mandatory Sessions
Quorum: 1/10 th
Presiding Officer: Speaker, elected by the memberswww.professorsaichandu.blogsport.inwww.professorsaichandu.blogsport.in

6. RAJYA SABHA
Total members – 250 (238 elected + 12 nominated by
the President from amongst scientists, artists, scholars,
social workers etc.)
Method of Election: Members are elected by the
members of State Legislative Assemblies through open
ballot by single transferable vote of proportional
representation system
Tenure: Permanent House but members of Rajya Sabha
have 6 years terms and 1/3rd of its member retire every
second year
Qualifications: Not less than 30 years of Age, other
qualifications remain as those required for Lok Sabha.
Presiding Officer: Vice President is ex-officio Chairman of
Rajya Sabha
Quorum: 1/10th
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7. PARLIAMENT – MULTI-
FUNCTIONAL INSTITUTION
Legislative: Supreme law-making body – can make laws on
any subject included in the Union List or Concurrent List, on
residuary subjects. During the Proclamation of Emergency,
can make laws on the subjects given in the State List
Executive: Exercise control over the executive through
different devices/mechanisms – by asking questions, and
through motions such as adjournment, censure, call attention
and no-confidence, cut-motion etc.
Financial: Passes the Union Budget, and Vote on Account (if
Budget is not passed in the beginning of new financial year)
Judicial: Impeach President and Judges of Supreme Court and
High Court, Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Chief
Elections Commissioner
Constituent: Can amend the constitution
Electoral: Can elect President and Vice-President
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8. PARLIAMENTARY
COMMITTEES
“COMMITTEE ARE EYES, EARS AND HANDS OF THE LEGISLATURE AND
SOMETIMES THESE BECOME THE BRAIN OF THE HOUSE ALSO” –
THOMAS REEDBasic Purpose of the Committees is to
1.Bring Efficiency
2.Save Time,
3.Expert Knowledge can be acquired
4.Members of Opposition also get chance to participate
5.Discussions above party-lines
Different Committees:
Adhoc Committees: Usually on topical issues.
Standing Committees: the Business Advisory Committee, the
Committee on Petitions, the Committee of Privileges and the
Rules Committee, Department Related Standing Committees
such as Committee on Commerce, HRD, Home Affairs etc.
Other Committees: Committee on Estimates, Committee on
Public Undertakings, Committee on Public Accounts, Business
Advisory Committee, Committee on Private Members’ Bills and
Resolutions, Committee of Privileges, Committee on Petitions,
Committee on the Welfare of SCs and STs, Committee on
Empowerment of Women etc.
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9. ROLE OF PARLIAMENT – IN NUTSHELL
To form or end the Government
To represent the electorate
To legislate
To hold the Government accountable for its actions
To monitor the expenditure of public funds
To be a forum for debate
To be a forum for the expression of grievances
To call for Information
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10. CRITIQUE OF
PARLIAMENTOnly a talking-shop of the so-called representatives who are elected most of the
times by gaining less than 50% votes
Absenteeism, Disruption in the Proceedings etc.
Decisions are taken by organizations/ party-in-power outside the Parliament,
and Parliament is used just for formal ratification. Indo-US nuclear deal is one
example.
Gender-imbalance
Lack of intra-party democracy within parties does not let the debate become
non-partisan
Number of days of Parliament sittings is declining. In 1951 Lok Sabha sat for
151 days, in 2007 it came down to 66.
Inquiry reports are either not tabled, or at times delayed for political reasons.
Members are turn-coats and find ways and means to defect.
Charges of corruption against members
There is a legislative vacuum. Laws on burning issues like surrogacy, cloning,
money laundering, euthanasia, terrorism either need be reformed or made.
Many sensitive bills are still pending, Women Reservation Bill is one.
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11. REFORMS IN PARLIAMENT –
SOME SUGGESTIONS
Parliament should sit for a minimum of 120-140
days
Important decisions on policy matters must be
discussed in the Parliament before they are
taken.
Parties must give more representation to
women to bring about a desirable gender-
balance in the numbers in Parliament
People should be given the right to recall, if MPs
do not participate in Parliamentary proceedings
Ensure more participation of the voters in the
election so as to make the concept of
representation valid and justifiable.www.professorsaichandu.blogsport.inwww.professorsaichandu.blogsport.in