PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM

Parliamentary System

History of the Parliament:

Designed by Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker
Opening ceremony: 18-01-1927 by Lord Irwin
First electoral Parliament: April 1952 after the first general elections held in 1951-52.

Parliament of India

Rajya Sabha

Lok Sabha

Not more than 545 members
Not more than 530- Elected representatives, 2- Nominated Anglo-Indian Representatives
Not more than 13 from UT

Rajya Sabha (Council of States)

Members: 245 (233- elected; 12- nominated)
Permanent house- not subject to dissolution
one-third of members retire every 2 years
Chairperson: The Vice President of India
The term of each member: 6 years Minimum
Age of Member: 30
Selection Procedure: Indirect
Has Special Power to declare that is necessary and expedient in the interest of the country.

Lok Sabha (House of the People)

Not more than 530 members from states and not more than 20 from Union Territories.
Current Members: 545 (543- elected, 2- nominated)
Not a Permanent house- subject to dissolution
Chair Person: Speaker Tenure: 5 years
Term of a Member: 5 years
Each member of the Lok Sabha represents a constituency
Mode of Selection: Direct
Minimum Age of Member: 25
Money Bills can only be introduced in Lok Sabha
Grants the money for the administration of the country.

Committees:

Meetings of the Parliament:

Meets three sessions in a year- Budget (February- March), Monsoon (July- September) and Winter (November- December).
Question Hour: 11 to 12

Functions of the Parliament:

Law Making Power: Prepares law for the country. The act has to pass in the parliament, before it becomes a law
Financial Powers: All expenditures must be approved by parliament
Control over the executive: Watch the activities of Executive.
Amending Power: Is competent to amend the constitution
Judicial Functions: has power to impeach President and other high officials.
Electoral Function: Involved in the election of President, Vice- president and other members
Deliberative Function: Acts as a forum for deliberation of questions of national importance.
It considers bills under two categories - Money bills and non -Money bills.

UPSC Study Materials​MCQs for Competitive Examinations