Class 9 Civics


Parliament

In India, there are two houses of Parliament:

  1. House of States (Rajya Sabha)
  2. House of People (Lok Sabha)

Rajya Sabha is called the Upper House, while the Lok Sabha is called the Lower House. System of two houses in legislature is called Bicameral Legislature.

Members of the Lok Sabha are directly elected by people, while the members of the Rajya Sabha come through indirect elections. Lok Sabha is more powerful compared to the Rajya Sabha, because Lok Sabha is directly elected by and answerable to the people. However, the Rajya Sabha has some special powers to look after the interests of states or regions.

Legislation

Parliament is the final authority for making laws in the country. The task of making a law is called legislation and hence the parliament or the assemblies are called legislatures. The legislature can make a new law, change existing laws or abolish existing laws.

Parliamentary Control

All over the world, the parliaments have some control over those who run the government. In case of India, the control of the parliament is direct and full. A government is empowered to take decision only till it enjoys the support of the Parliament.

Parliament controls all the money which the government has. In most of the democratic countries, the public money can only be spent after the sanction of the parliament.

Parliament is the highest forum of discussion and debate on public issues and national policy in any country. Parliament has the right to seek information on any matter.

Any ordinary law needs to be passed by both the houses. A bill can become a law only after passage from both the houses.

Joint Session

If there is a difference between the two Houses, then a joint session is held to take the decision. Since the Lok Sabha has more members than the Rajya Sabha, so the view of the Lok Sabha is likely to prevail during a joint session.

Money Bill

Lok Sabha has more powers in case of money bills. Once the budget or any other money bill is passed by the Lok Sabha, it cannot be rejected by the Rajya Sabha. The Rajya Sabha can only delay it by 14 days or suggest changes in it. The Lok Sabha may or may not accept those changes.

No Confidence

The Lok Sabha controls the Council of Ministers. A person who enjoys the majority support in the Lok Sabha is appointed as the Prime Minister. Once the Lok Sabha says that its members have 'no confidence' in the Council of Ministers, the Prime Minister (alongwith all the ministers) has to quit. The Rajya Sabha does not enjoy this power.

Types of Executive

Political Executive

The Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers make the political executive. The task of the Council of Ministers is to execute the programmes and policies of the government hence it is called the executive. Members of the political executive are elected by the people.

Permanent Executive

The Civil Servants form the permanent executive. They are selected through the All India Civil Services and continue in their job irrespective of the change of government.

Since the political executive is answerable to the people hence it enjoys more power than the permanent executive. However, people in the permanent executive are technically more knowledgeable and capable compared to those in the political executive.