Parliament is the supreme legislative body of the Union. — Article 79, Constitution of India
5.1 Why Do We Need a Legislature?
The legislature makes laws, approves budgets, controls the executive, and represents citizens. In a democracy, law-making must be:
- Deliberative — open debate and amendment
- Representative — reflecting diverse interests
- Accountable — to voters and constitutional limits
5.2 Parliament of India
Article 79 — Parliament consists of President, Rajya Sabha (Council of States), and Lok Sabha (House of the People).
| House | Composition | Term | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lok Sabha | Max 552 members; directly elected | 5 years | Money bills; government formation; no-confidence |
| Rajya Sabha | Max 250; indirectly elected + nominated | Permanent (1/3 retire every 2 years) | Represents states; revising chamber |
Article 81 — Lok Sabha seats allocated by population; Article 80 — Rajya Sabha: 12 nominated (arts, science, social service), rest elected by State Assemblies.
5.3 Law-Making Process
- Bill introduced in either House (Money Bills only in Lok Sabha — Art. 110)
- Debate, committee scrutiny, amendments
- Passage by both Houses (Rajya Sabha cannot reject Money Bill — Art. 109)
- Presidential assent (Art. 111) — bill becomes Act
Ordinances (Art. 123) allow temporary law when Parliament is not in session — must be approved within six weeks of reassembly.
5.4 Powers of Parliament
- Legislative — Union List, Concurrent List (States have exclusive State List)
- Financial — budget, taxation, audit (CAG)
- Executive control — questions, debates, no-confidence motion, committees
- Constituent — amend Constitution (Art. 368) within basic structure limits
- Electoral — impeachment of President, judges
Parliamentary devices: Question Hour, Zero Hour, adjournment motion, calling attention.
5.5 State Legislature
Each state has Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly); some have Vidhan Parishad (Legislative Council). Powers parallel Parliament within state jurisdiction.
Centre–State legislative relations governed by Seventh Schedule (Union, State, Concurrent Lists).
Chapter Summary
- Legislature makes laws and holds executive accountable
- Bicameral Parliament: Lok Sabha (popular) + Rajya Sabha (federal/revising)
- Bill-to-Act process involves both Houses and presidential assent
- Parliament controls finance and can amend the Constitution
- State legislatures exercise powers under the federal division of lists
Exercises (NCERT)
- Exercise 1 — comparing powers of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
- Exercise 2 — tracing the passage of an ordinary bill
- Exercise 3 — why Rajya Sabha is called a permanent body