Gyan Bharati School
Class M3: Civics
Chapter 3: Why do we need a Parliament?
Name of the teachers: Ms. Aditi and Ms. Roma
Class/ Section:M3
Subject: Social Science -----Civics
Important Topics
1. What is the need of parliament?
2. Role of people and their participation; Why should people decide?
3. Peoples representatives
4. Role of parliament; objectives and functions
1. What is the need for a parliament?
a) Symbolizes the spirit of democracy
b) Highest legislative body in India
c) It depicts the idea of peoples participation in decision-making and the need for all democratic governments to have the
consent of their citizens
2. Role of people and their participation; why should people decide?
a) Indian National Movement inspired people of various backgrounds about the ideas of freedom, equality and participation
in decision–making.
b) 1885, the Indian National Congress demanded that there be elected members in the legislature with a right to discuss the
budget and ask questions.
c) The experience of colonial rule as well as the participation of different people in the struggle for freedom left little doubt in
the minds of the nationalists that all persons in independent India would be able to participate in making decisions.
d) The dreams and aspirations of the freedom struggle were made concrete in the Constitution of independent India that laid
down the principle of universal adult franchise, i.e. that all adult citizens of the country have the right to vote.
3. Peoples representatives
a) The basic idea in this kind of democracy is that the individual or the citizen is the most important person in a democracy.
b) The government is based upon the desire, consent or approval, and participation of people.
c) One way of achieving this is through elections.
How do elections ensure participation of citizens and control over the government?
People would elect their representatives to the Parliament.
One group from among these elected representatives forms the government.
The Parliament, which is made up of all representatives together, controls and guides the government. In this sense people,
through their chosen representatives, form the government and also control it.
4. Structure of the Parliament
a) The Indian Parliament is an expression of the faith that the people of India have in principles of democracy. These are
participation by people in the decision-making process and government by consent.
b) Parliament of India consists of the President, the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha.
Parliament
(Sansad)
Supreme law making body in India
headed by the President of India
Lok Sabha Rajya Sabha
(House of the people) (Council of States)
545 members, Chaired by the Lok 245 members, Chaired by Vice
Sabha Speaker President
5. How does one become MP or Member of Parliament?
a) Elections to the Parliament or the Lok Sabha is held once every five years.
b) The country is divided into numerous constituencies.
c) Several national parties nominate their candidates from these constituencies.
d) After elections one person gets elected to the parliament from each of these constituencies.
e) Once elected, these candidates become Members of Parliament or MPs.
Parliament Performs the Following Functions:
1. Legislative Functions:
The Parliament makes laws on all subjects listed in the Union List. It can also make laws on subjects listed under the
Concurrent [Link] case there is any conflict or overlapping in the provisions existing in the Union and State enactment,
the Union law prevails.
2. Financial Control:
Union Parliament has exclusive powers to provide ways and means through which revenue has to be raised for public
services. To that end it imposes taxes and also ensures that the money sanctioned for expenditure to various
departments of the government has been spent for the authorized purposes.
3. Providing and exercising control over Cabinet:
Our Parliamentary system blends the legislative and the executive organs of the State in as much as the executive
power is wielded by a group of Members of the Legislature who command majority in the Lok Sabha.
4. Parliament controls and guides the government
It is one of the most important functions of the Parliament to bring about discussions and critical assessments of the
performance of the government departments. The Parliament can ask questions, advise and inform the government so
that they can function in the best interest of the people.
5. Role of opposition party:
The party with the second highest seat is the opposition in the Lok Sabha. They perform the function of highlighting the
problems, mistakes and drawbacks of the government. By asking questions it keeps the government on its toes. The
opposition is important for the functioning of Democracy.
6. Constitutional Functions:
The power to amend the Constitution vests with the [Link] amendments have to be passed by each
house by a majority of total membership as well as by two-third majority of members present in voting.
7. Judicial Functions:
Parliament has the exclusive powers to impeach the President and remove judges of the Supreme Court and the High
Court’s through a prescribed procedure.
comparison between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
Difference Lok Sabha Rajya Sabha
What it is House of People Council of States
called?
What is House of People, where people who Council of States, where the
the are qualified to vote can elect their representatives are indirectly elected
meaning representative by way of direct by the elected representative of the
of the elections Assemblies of States and Union
name? Territories
What is It continues for 5 years It is a permanent body.
the tenure Note: It can be dissolved earlier by
of the passing no-confidence motion
house?
Who Speaker Vice President of India as the
heads the Chairman of the house
house?
Age to 25 years 30 years
become a
member?
What is 552 members 250 members
the
strength
of the
house?
What are All bills originate in Lok Sabha mostly Rajya Sabha has special powers to
the and after passing through Rajya protect the states’ rights against the
functions Sabha, they are returned for Lok Union.
of the Sabha approval. It plays a major role
house? in legislation.
Maximum 552 250
Strength –
Current 545 245
Strength
12 are nominated by President
How is the Lok Sabha more powerful than the Rajya Sabha?
1. The Lok Sabha is more powerful as the members are directly elected by the people, whereas in the case of the Rajya the
members are elected indirectly(nominated).
2. The strength of Lok Sabha is more than Rajya Sabha.
3. Any ordinary law needs to be passed by both the Houses. But if there is a difference between the two Houses, the final decision is
taken in a joint session in which members of the Houses sit together. Since the Lok Sabha has a larger number of members, their view
is likely to prevail in such a meeting.
(ii) The Lok Sabha exercises more powers in money matters. Once the Lok Sabha passes the budget of the government or any other
money-related law, the Rajya Sabha cannot reject it. The Rajya Sabha can only delay it by 14 days or suggest changes in it. The Lok
Sabha may or may not accept these changes.
Assignment
1. The following questions are to be done in Notebook.
2. The Answers should only be hand written and in your own words.
3. Try and explain the answers or give examples where ever it might be required.
4. If students are not able to print the assignment then they should copy the questions .
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Q1. Give the full form of EVM. When were they used in India for the first time?
Q2. What are the benefits of using EVM?
Q3. Name the supreme law making body in India.
Q4. What is the composition of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha?
Q5. Which house of the Indian parliament is more powerful and why?
Q6. Who is the present speaker in the Lok Sabha?
Q7. Who is the present chairman of Rajya Sabha?
Q8. When and why is a coalition government formed?
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