In this article you will learn about the Legislature in India in Political Science.
Legislature in India : The Union Parliament
The Constitution of India provides for a Union Parliament having the authority to exercise legislative powers over all subjects of Union List, Concurrent List and all the residuary subjects. The union parliament is a bicameral legislature with the House of the people i.e. Lok Sabha as its Lower House and the Council of States i.e. Rajya Sabha as the Upper House. Both these Houses together use all the powers of the Union Parliament.
The Union Parliament is a non-sovereign legislature that works under the Constitution and exercises only those powers which the Constitution has granted to it. The law-making powers are exercised by the President-in-Parliament. The President is not a member of either House. But the bill passed by the Union Parliament becomes law only after the signature of the President. The President can use a suspensory veto over the ordinary laws passed by the Union Parliament. The Supreme Court of India can use the power of judicial review over laws made by the Parliament for determining their constitutional validity. It can reject a law or any part of a law as unconstitutional and invalid and it ceases to operate from the date it is struck down. Thus, the Union Parliament is not a sovereign legislature.
The Constitution of India vests the legislative powers of the Union in the Union Parliament which is a bicameral legislature. The House of the people (Lok Sabha) is the Lower House and the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) is the Upper House.
Legislature in India
The legislative branch of the government of India, known as the Parliament of India, is composed of two houses: the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States).
The Lok Sabha is the lower house of Parliament and comprises 543 elected members who represent the people of India. The Lok Sabha is directly elected by the citizens of India and has a maximum term of five years, unless dissolved sooner. The Lok Sabha is the more powerful of the two houses of Parliament, as it has the power to approve the national budget and pass laws.
The Rajya Sabha, on the other hand, is the upper house of Parliament and has 245 members. Out of these, 233 members are elected by the state and territorial legislatures, while the remaining 12 members are appointed by the President of India. The Rajya Sabha serves as a revising chamber and has the power to delay, but not block, the passage of legislation passed by the Lok Sabha. The Rajya Sabha has a permanent term and one-third of its members retire every two years.
The Parliament of India has the power to make laws for the entire country, except for the state of Jammu and Kashmir, which has its own separate Constitution and legislative assembly. Parliament has the power to make laws on a variety of subjects, including national security, foreign affairs, and economic policy. Parliament also has the power to remove the President, Vice-President, and Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts through a process known as impeachment.
The Parliament of India meets regularly to conduct its business and passes bills through a process that involves multiple stages of discussion, debate, and voting. Once a bill is passed by both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, it becomes a law, unless vetoed by the President. If the President does veto a bill, Parliament can override the veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both houses.
In addition to its legislative function, Parliament also serves as a forum for debate on important national issues and provides a platform for members of Parliament to hold the government accountable for its actions. Members of Parliament can ask questions of ministers, raise issues on behalf of their constituents, and participate in debates on legislation and policy.
In conclusion, the Parliament of India plays a critical role in the functioning of the government and in shaping the policies that govern the country. Through its two houses, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, Parliament represents the interests of the citizens of India and provides a democratic check on the actions of the government. The Parliament of India serves as an essential pillar of the democratic system of government in India and plays a key role in ensuring that the country remains a vibrant and thriving democracy.
This article on Legislature in India in Political Science is contributed by Dipshikha Anand. If you like LawStudyPoint.com do follow us on our Twitter handle.