In this article you will learn about the Lok Sabha in Political Science.
Lok Sabha (The House of the People)
The Lok Sabha (The House of the People) is the lower house of the Parliament of India and is the primary legislative body of the country. It is a democratic, powerful and full representative house of the Union Parliament. It was established under the Constitution of India, which came into effect on 26 January 1950, and serves as the representative of the people of India. The Lok Sabha has a total of 543 members, 545 members (as of 2021), 547 Members (as of 2023) elected from single-member constituencies and two members who are appointed by the President of India to represent the Anglo-Indian community. The members of the Lok Sabha are elected by the people of India living in all States and Union territories of India.
Method of Election of the Member of Lok Sabha
The members of the Lok Sabha are elected on the basis of :
(i) Universal Adult Franchise : A citizen who has attained the age of 18 years old or more has the right to vote in the elections to the Lok Sabha.
(ii) Joint Electorate System : The voters vote on the basis of a joint electorate system which means that all the voters of a constituency vote for common candidates and not on the basis of their allegiance to different communities. The country is divided into territorial constituencies and each constituency elects one representative.
(iii) Reservation of some seats : Some Lok Sabha constituencies are reserved for the people belonging to the scheduled castes and the scheduled tribes. These are called the Reserved Constituencies.
(iv) Single Member Constituencies : The whole country is divided into as many electoral constituencies as is the number of the members of the Lok Sabha to be elected. From each constituency one representative is elected.
(v) Territorial Constituencies : These are the geographically demarcated areas which are delimited by a Delimitation Commission.
(vi) Secret Ballot : The members of the Lok Sabha are elected by secret ballot and no one knows who has voted in favour of which candidate. Now electronic voting machines are used in elections.
(vii) Direct Election of the Members of Lok Sabha : All the members of the Lok Sabha are directly elected by the people. Any voter can register his vote to elect any candidate of his choice from his constituency. A candidate securing the largest number of votes from amongst all the contestants from a constituency gets elected as the representative of people of his constituency.
Position of the Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha is a very powerful House. The Council of Ministers is only responsible to the Lok Sabha and not to the Rajya Sabha. The members of the Council of Ministers remain in office so long because they enjoy the confidence of the Lok Sabha. The Lok Sabha has full control and power over the finances of the State. It dominates ordinary law-making as nearly 90% of the bills are introduced in it and the joint sitting method of resolving the conflict between the two Houses tends to favour it. The Prime Minister generally belongs to the Lok Sabha. It can cause the dismissal of the Council of Ministers by passing a vote of non-confidence or by rejecting a policy or law of the government.
As a directly elected, the Lok Sabha really represents the sovereign will of the people of India. Like the British House of Commons, the Lok Sabha in the Union Parliament is the real centre of power.
The Lok Sabha is responsible for passing laws and budget proposals, as well as serving as a forum for discussion and debate on important national and international issues. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected for five-year terms, although elections can be called earlier if the government loses a vote of confidence or if the President dissolves the house.
The Lok Sabha has the power to pass laws on a wide range of subjects, including finance, trade, defence, and social welfare. The Lok Sabha also has the power to amend the Constitution of India. It is also responsible for passing the annual budget of the Indian government, which outlines the government's revenue and expenditure for the coming financial year. The Lok Sabha can also approve or reject the proposals made by the government in the budget.
The Lok Sabha serves as a representative of the people of India, allowing citizens to voice their opinions and concerns through their elected representatives. Members of the Lok Sabha can also raise issues of national and international importance in the house.
The Lok Sabha has the power to oversee the executive branch of the government and hold it accountable for its actions. This includes the power to question ministers, demand information, and initiate investigations into government policies and activities.
The functioning of the Lok Sabha is guided by rules and procedures laid down in the Parliament of India (Procedure) Rules, 1974 and the Lok Sabha (Powers and Privileges) Act, 1951. The Lok Sabha also has a Speaker, who presides over the house and is responsible for maintaining order and decorum. The Speaker is elected by the members of the Lok Sabha and serves as the representative of the house to the President of India and to other national and international bodies.
The Lok Sabha also has a number of committees that are responsible for various aspects of parliamentary work. These committees are made up of members of the Lok Sabha and are established to examine specific issues and make recommendations to the house. Some of the important committees in the Lok Sabha include the Public Accounts Committee, the Standing Committee on Finance, and the Committee on Petitions.
The Lok Sabha also has the power to impeach the President of India for violating the Constitution or for committing acts that amount to abuse of power. This process requires a two-thirds majority vote in the Lok Sabha and a similar vote in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Parliament of India.
In conclusion, the Lok Sabha is a critical institution in the Indian democratic system, serving as a representative of the people of India and a forum for discussion and debate on important national and international issues. The Lok Sabha plays a vital role in the functioning of the Indian government, serving as a check on the executive branch and passing laws and budgets that impact the lives of all Indians.
This article on Lok Sabha in Political Science is contributed by Dipshikha Anand. If you like LawStudyPoint.com do follow us on our Twitter handle.