Social Sciences: Class 8 — Chapter 6: The Parliamentary System: Legislature and Executive

• Lok Sabha: The people of India choose their representatives for the Lok Sabha through direct elections based on universal adult suffrage. The maximum number of members envisaged by the Constitution is 550.
• Rajya Sabha: Members of Parliament (MPs) in the Rajya Sabha are elected indirectly by an electoral college. The number of Rajya Sabha seats allocated to each state is based on its population.

While Britain's system inspired India's parliamentary democracy, Indian constitution-makers also drew from practical experiences in colonial governance, the memory of ancient republics (mahājanapadas), and village panchayats.

Extensive discussions took place regarding whether India should have a bicameral system. It was decided that a single directly elected House would be inadequate to meet the challenges of independent India. In the spirit of federalism—a form of government where power is distributed between the centre, states, and local governments—the Rajya Sabha was created to represent state interests and maintain a balance between national unity and local concerns.

Each House of Parliament has a presiding officer to ensure orderly debates:

• In the Lok Sabha, members elect a Speaker to conduct sessions, maintain discipline, and ensure rules are followed.
• The Rajya Sabha is presided over by the Vice President of India, who acts as its chairperson.

The Sengol, a gold-plated silver sceptre, was symbolically handed over to Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru on 14 August 1947 to mark the transfer of power. Dating back to the Chola period, it serves as a symbol of righteous and just rule. It is now placed near the Speaker's chair in the new Lok Sabha. At its top sits Nandi, symbolising justice.

The Parliament is entrusted with upholding the core values of the Indian Constitution, including:

• Enabling parliamentary democracy through universal adult suffrage.
• Following the separation of powers between the legislature, executive, and judiciary.
• Ensuring federalism.
• Upholding Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy by framing laws and policies.
• Electing the President and Vice President, and amending the Constitution.

A bill is a draft of a proposed law that must be approved by Parliament before it can be enacted into law as an act.

Case Study: Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (RTE)

• Rooted in the Directive Principles of State Policy.
• The 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002, added Article 21A, making free and compulsory education for children aged 6 to 14 a Fundamental Right.
• Tabled as a bill in the Rajya Sabha, studied by a committee, debated over funding, passed by the Lok Sabha in August 2009, and received Presidential assent to become an Act.

The Process of Lawmaking:

1. Introduction in either House of Parliament (except Money Bills, which must originate in the Lok Sabha).
2. Reading of the bill.
3. Referred to a Standing Committee (a permanent committee of MPs that scrutinises government activities and bills).
4. Taken up for consideration and passing.
5. Clause-by-clause discussion and voting on amendments.
6. Vote on the Bill.
7. Process repeated in the other House.
8. Presidential assent.
9. Gazette notification.

The Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers are answerable to the Lok Sabha. Parliament holds the Executive accountable through mechanisms such as:

• Question Hour: Typically the first hour of a Parliamentary session where MPs ask ministers questions about government policies and activities.
• Special Committees: Meetings where ministries must explain and answer questions about their policies.

The Parliament approves and monitors government expenditure through the annual budget and examines the distribution of funds to different ministries.

The President is the Head of State and the nominal head of the Executive. The President appoints the Prime Minister and other ministers, summons Parliament, and gives assent to bills. Under specific circumstances (like political crises where no party holds a majority), the President can exercise discretionary powers.

The Prime Minister is the de facto executive authority. Key functions include:

• Leading the Council of Ministers.
• Advising the President.
• Coordinating the work of different ministries.
• Shaping national policies.

A permanent group of officials called civil servants (administrators or bureaucrats) helps implement laws and policies under the direction of ministers.

• Union List: Subjects on which only the Union Government can legislate.
• State List: Subjects on which State Governments exclusively legislate.
• Concurrent List: Subjects (like education and environmental policy) on which both Union and State governments can legislate. If laws conflict, the Union law prevails.

State legislatures can be:

• Unicamerel: Having only one house, the Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly).
• Bicameral: Having two houses, the Vidhan Sabha and the Vidhan Parishad (Legislative Council). States with a bicameral system include Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh.