THE UNION PARLIAMENT
NOTES
1. The Role and Significance of Parliament
● Beyond Law-Making: Parliament is not only a law-making body. It is a multi-functional
institution.
● Key Functions:
○ Financial Control: It decides how the nation's finances should be run.
○ Executive Control: It keeps a watch over the deeds and misdeeds of the
Administration.
○ Survival of Government: If the ruling party loses the support of the Lok
Sabha, the government goes (has to resign).
○ Welfare: It is concerned about citizens' security, living conditions, and welfare.
● Symbol of the Nation:
○ It is a true representation of "We, The People of India" .
○ Members come from every region, community, and faith.
○ It is "the Symbol of the Nation's Hopes and Aspirations."
2. Federal Setup in India
● Meaning: A Federal Setup involves a dual government – one national government
and governments of the component states.
● Constitutional Provision: The Constitution declares, "India, that is Bharat, shall be a
Union of States."
● Key Feature: There is a distribution of legislative, executive, and financial powers
between the Union and the States.
3. The Indian Parliament: Main Constituents
● Three Constituents: The Parliament consists of:
1. The President
2. The Lok Sabha (House of the People)
3. The Rajya Sabha (Council of States)
● Role of the President:
○ The Parliament is incomplete without the President.
○ He/She does not sit in Parliament but can address it and send messages.
○ A Bill passed by the Houses cannot become a law without the President's
assent.
4. The Lok Sabha (House of the People)
4.1 Term / Duration
● Normal Term: 5 years.
● Dissolution: Can be dissolved earlier by the President.
● Extension: During a Proclamation of Emergency, the term can be extended by a
law of Parliament for one year at a time.
, 4.2 Composition
● Maximum Strength: 550 (as per Article 81).
● 530 from States.
● 20 from Union Territories.
● Allocation of Seats: Roughly on population basis.
● Reservation of Seats: Reserved for:
○ Scheduled Castes (SCs)
○ ·Scheduled Tribes (STs)
○ Note: In a reserved constituency, only SC/ST candidates can contest, but
all electors can vote.
● Universal Adult Franchise: Every citizen 18 years or older is entitled to vote.
● Parliamentary Constituencies: Members are elected from 543 single-member
constituencies by the first-past-the-post system (candidate with the largest number of
votes wins).
4.3 Qualifications for Membership
● Must be a Citizen of India.
● Must be not less than 25 years of age.
● Must be a registered voter in any parliamentary constituency.
4.4 Disqualifications for Membership
A person is disqualified if they:
● Hold an Office of Profit under the Government.
● Are of unsound mind (declared by a court).
● Are an undischarged insolvent.
● Have ceased to be a Citizen of India.
● Are disqualified by any law made by Parliament.
● Rule: No person can be a member of both Houses at the same time, or a member of
both Parliament and a State Legislature.
4.5 Quorum
● Meaning: The minimum number of members required to be present before a meeting
can begin.
● Number: One-tenth of the total number of members (at least 55 members).
4.6 Leader of Opposition
● A party gets recognition as a Parliamentary Party if it has one-tenth of the total
membership of the House.
● The leader of the largest opposition party is recognised as the Leader of the
Opposition.
5. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha
● Principal Presiding Officer of the Lok Sabha.
5.1 Election and Removal
● Elected by the House from amongst its members by a simple majority.
NOTES
1. The Role and Significance of Parliament
● Beyond Law-Making: Parliament is not only a law-making body. It is a multi-functional
institution.
● Key Functions:
○ Financial Control: It decides how the nation's finances should be run.
○ Executive Control: It keeps a watch over the deeds and misdeeds of the
Administration.
○ Survival of Government: If the ruling party loses the support of the Lok
Sabha, the government goes (has to resign).
○ Welfare: It is concerned about citizens' security, living conditions, and welfare.
● Symbol of the Nation:
○ It is a true representation of "We, The People of India" .
○ Members come from every region, community, and faith.
○ It is "the Symbol of the Nation's Hopes and Aspirations."
2. Federal Setup in India
● Meaning: A Federal Setup involves a dual government – one national government
and governments of the component states.
● Constitutional Provision: The Constitution declares, "India, that is Bharat, shall be a
Union of States."
● Key Feature: There is a distribution of legislative, executive, and financial powers
between the Union and the States.
3. The Indian Parliament: Main Constituents
● Three Constituents: The Parliament consists of:
1. The President
2. The Lok Sabha (House of the People)
3. The Rajya Sabha (Council of States)
● Role of the President:
○ The Parliament is incomplete without the President.
○ He/She does not sit in Parliament but can address it and send messages.
○ A Bill passed by the Houses cannot become a law without the President's
assent.
4. The Lok Sabha (House of the People)
4.1 Term / Duration
● Normal Term: 5 years.
● Dissolution: Can be dissolved earlier by the President.
● Extension: During a Proclamation of Emergency, the term can be extended by a
law of Parliament for one year at a time.
, 4.2 Composition
● Maximum Strength: 550 (as per Article 81).
● 530 from States.
● 20 from Union Territories.
● Allocation of Seats: Roughly on population basis.
● Reservation of Seats: Reserved for:
○ Scheduled Castes (SCs)
○ ·Scheduled Tribes (STs)
○ Note: In a reserved constituency, only SC/ST candidates can contest, but
all electors can vote.
● Universal Adult Franchise: Every citizen 18 years or older is entitled to vote.
● Parliamentary Constituencies: Members are elected from 543 single-member
constituencies by the first-past-the-post system (candidate with the largest number of
votes wins).
4.3 Qualifications for Membership
● Must be a Citizen of India.
● Must be not less than 25 years of age.
● Must be a registered voter in any parliamentary constituency.
4.4 Disqualifications for Membership
A person is disqualified if they:
● Hold an Office of Profit under the Government.
● Are of unsound mind (declared by a court).
● Are an undischarged insolvent.
● Have ceased to be a Citizen of India.
● Are disqualified by any law made by Parliament.
● Rule: No person can be a member of both Houses at the same time, or a member of
both Parliament and a State Legislature.
4.5 Quorum
● Meaning: The minimum number of members required to be present before a meeting
can begin.
● Number: One-tenth of the total number of members (at least 55 members).
4.6 Leader of Opposition
● A party gets recognition as a Parliamentary Party if it has one-tenth of the total
membership of the House.
● The leader of the largest opposition party is recognised as the Leader of the
Opposition.
5. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha
● Principal Presiding Officer of the Lok Sabha.
5.1 Election and Removal
● Elected by the House from amongst its members by a simple majority.
