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UNIT – I (6 Hours)
Indian Constitution: basic features, debates on Fundamental Rights, Directive
Principles and Federalism
UNIT – II (6 Hours)
State formation and nation building: Integration of princely states, linguistic
reorganisation of states
UNIT – III (6 Hours)
Political institutions at the Centre and State levels: Parliament, Judiciary, Prime
Minister, Chief Minister
UNIT – IV (4.5 Hours)
Social structure and political power: caste, class, gender
UNIT – V (4.5 Hours)
Religion and politics: debates on secularism and communalism
UNIT – VI (4.5 Hours)
Political parties and party systems
UNIT – VII (4.5 Hours)
Development strategies: planned economy, neo-liberal restructuring
UNIT – VIII (4.5 Hours)
Social movements: workers, farmers, environmental, and women’s movements
UNIT – IX (4.5 Hours)
The nature of state in India: developmental, welfare, regulatory
COMPOSITION OF PARLIAMENT
• Under the provision of Article 79, the Parliament of India consists of
the President and the two Houses - the Lower House or Lok Sabha
(House of the People) and the Upper House or Rajya Sabha (Council of
States).
• While the Lok Sabha is subject to dissolution, the Rajya is a
permanent chamber which cannot be dissolved.
• The office of the President also never remains vacant
PARLIAMENT
PRESIDENT
LOKSABHA
RAJYASABHA
THE PRESIDENT
• While the American President
is not a part of the Legislature
(Congress), the President of
India is an integral part of the
Indian Parliament.
• However, he cannot sit and
participate in the
deliberations in any of the
two Houses.
• the power to dissolve the Lok Sabha. No bill passed by both the
Houses can become a law without the President's assent.
• Further certain bills can be introduced only after the
recommendation of the President has been obtained.
• The President also has the power to promulgate Ordinances when
both the Houses are not in session. These Ordinances, though
temporary in nature, have the same force and power as a law passed
by Parliament.
LEGISLATIVE POWERS
(a) He can summon or prorogue the Parliament and dissolve the Lok
Sabha. He can also summon a joint sitting of both the Houses of
Parliament, which is presided over by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
(b) He can address the Parliament at the commencement of the first
session after each general election and the first session of each year.
(c) He can send messages to the Houses of Parliament, whether with
respect to a bill pending in the Parliament or otherwise.
(d) He can appoint any member of the Lok Sabha to preside over its
proceedings when the offices of both the Speaker and the Deputy
Speaker fall vacant. Similarly, he can also appoint any member of the
Rajya Sabha to preside over its proceedings when the offices of both the
Chairman and the Deputy Chairman fall vacant.
(e) He nominates 12 members of the Rajya Sabha from amongst
persons having special knowledge or practical experience in literature,
science, art and social service.
(f) He can nominate two members to the Lok Sabha from the Anglo-
Indian Community.
When a bill is sent to the President after it has been passed by the
Parliament, he can:
(1) give his assent to the bill, or
(2) with hold his assent to the bill, or
(3) return the bill (if it is not a money bill) for reconsideration of the
Parliament.
However, if the bill is passed again by the Parliament, with or without
amendments, the President has to give his assent to the bill.
He lays the reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General, Union Public
Service Commission, Finance Commission, and others, before the
Parliament.
- He can make regulations for the peace, progress and good
government of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep,
Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
- In the case of Puducherry also, the President can legislate by making
regulations but only when the assembly is suspended or dissolved.
LOKSABHA
• The Lower House or the House of the
People is popularly known as Lok
Sabha.
• Its members are directly elected by
the people. The maximum strength of
the Lok Sabha is fixed at 552.
• Out of this, 530 members are to be the
representatives of the states, 20
members are to be the
representatives of the union
territories and 2 members are to be
nominated by the president from the
Anglo-Indian community.
System of Elections to Lok Sabha The various aspects related to
the system of elections to the Lok Sabha are as follows:
Territorial Constituencies–For the purpose of holding direct
elections to the Lok Sabha, each state is divided into territorial
constituencies. In this respect, the Constitution makes the
following two provisions:
1. Each state is allotted a number of seats in the Lok Sabha in
such a manner that the ratio between that number and its
population is the same for all states.
2. This provision does not apply to a state having a population
of less than six million.
2. Each state is divided into territorial constituencies in such a manner
that the ratio between the population of each constituency and the
number of seats allotted to it is the same throughout the state.
• Reservation of Seats for SCs and STs–
• Though the Constitution has abandoned the system of communal
representation, it provides for the reservation of seats for scheduled
castes and scheduled tribes in the Lok Sabha on the basis of
population ratios.
• He must be a member of a scheduled caste or scheduled tribe in any
state or union territory, if he wants to contest a seat reserved for
them
Qualifications
The Constitution lays down the following qualifications for a person to
be elected as a member of Lok Sabha:
1. A person must be a citizen of India.
2. A person must be not less than 25 years of age.
3. A person must possess other qualifications prescribed by Parliament
SPEAKER OF LOKSABHA
• The Speaker is elected by the Lok Sabha from amongst its members.
Whenever the office of the Speaker falls vacant, the Lok Sabha elects
another member to fill the vacancy.
• The date of election of the Speaker is fixed by the President.
• The Speaker is the head of the Lok Sabha, and its representative. He is
the guardian of powers and privileges of the members, the House as
a whole and its committees.
• He is the principal spokesman of the House, and his decision in all
Parliamentary matters is final.
Decision on Parliamentary Procedures: The Speaker decides on matters
related to the parliamentary procedures, including the admissibility of
questions, motions, and amendments.
Casting Vote: In case of a tie on any matter being voted upon, the
Speaker exercises a casting vote to break the tie. The Speaker's decision
is final in such cases.
Granting or Withholding Permission to Speak: The Speaker has the
authority to grant or withhold permission to Members of Parliament
(MPs) who wish to speak in the House. The Speaker can also ask a
member to discontinue their speech if it is deemed irrelevant or against
the rules.
• Maintaining Discipline: The Speaker ensures discipline in the
House and can take disciplinary action against MPs who
engage in unruly behavior or breach parliamentary
[Link] on Parliamentary Procedures: The Speaker
decides on matters related to the parliamentary procedures,
including the admissibility of questions, motions, and
amendments.
• Appointment of Committees: The Speaker appoints various
parliamentary committees and designates their
chairpersons and members.
• Representing the House: The Speaker represents the Lok
Sabha in its relations with the President, the Council of
Ministers, and other authorities. They also represent the Lok
Sabha in its official dealings with foreign dignitaries and
delegations.
• Administrative Powers: The Speaker exercises administrative powers
over the Lok Sabha Secretariat, which provides support services to
the members and assists in the smooth functioning of the House.
RAJYA SABHA
The maximum strength of the
Rajya Sabha is fixed at 250, out of
which, 238 are to be the
representatives of the states and
union territories (elected
indirectly) and 12 are nominated
by the president.
At present, the Rajya Sabha has
245 members. Of these, 229
members represent the states, 4
members represent the union
territories and 12 members are
nominated by the president.
Representation of States–The representatives of states in the
Rajya Sabha are elected by the elected members of state
legislative assemblies.
The election is held in accordance with the system of
proportional representation by means of the single transferable
vote.
• The presiding officer of the Rajya Sabha is
known as the Chairman. The vice-
president of India is the ex-officio
Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
• During any period when the Vice President
acts as President or discharges the
functions of the President, he does not
perform the duties of the office of the
Chairman of Rajya Sabha.
• The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha can be
removed from his office only if he is
removed from the office of the Vice-
President.
Jagdeep Dhankhar
As a presiding officer, the powers and functions of the Chairman in the
Rajya Sabha are similar to those of the Speaker in the Lok Sabha.
However, the Speaker has two special powers which are not enjoyed by
the Chairman:
1. The Speaker decides whether a bill is a money bill or not and his
decision on this question is final.
2. The Speaker presides over a joint sitting of two Houses of Parliament.
LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURE
➢ Law making is the primary function of the Parliament
➢ The first stage of legislation is introduction of a bill which embodies
the proposed law and is
LEGISLATIVE accompanied by the "Statement of Objects
PROCEDURE
and Reasons".
➢ The introduction of the bill is also called the first reading of the bill.
TYPES OF BILLS
ORDINARY BILLS MONEY BILLS
A bill other than money or financial bill
may be introduced in either House of
Parliament and requires passage in both
the Houses before it can be presented
for the President's assent.
A bill may be introduced either by a
Minister or a private member.
➢ Every bill that is introduced in the House has to be published in the
Gazette. Normally, there is no debate at the time of introduction of a
bill.
➢ The member who introduces the bill may make a brief statement
indicating broadly the aims and objects of the bill.
In the second stage, there are four alternative courses. After its
introduction, a bill
(I) may be taken into consideration
(II) may be referred to a Select Committee of the House
(III) may be referred to a Joint Committee of both the Houses
(IV) may be circulated for the purpose of soliciting public opinion.
While the first three options are generally adopted in case of routine
legislation, the last option is resorted to only when the proposed
legislation is likely to arouse public controversy and agitation
• The day one of these motions is carried out, the principles of the
bill and its general provisions may be discussed. If the bill is taken
into consideration, Amendments to the bill and clause by clause
consideration of the provisions of the bill is undertaken.
• If the bill is referred to the Select Committee of the House, it
considers the bill and submits its report to the House. Then the
clauses of the bill are open to consideration and amendments are
admissible.
• This is the most time-consuming stage. Once the clause by clause
consideration is over and every clause is voted, the second reading
of the bill comes to an end.
In the third stage the member in charge moves that "the bill be passed".
At the third reading, the progress of the bill is quick as normally only
verbal or purely formal amendments are moved and discussion is very
brief. Once all the amendments are disposed off, the bill is finally
passed in the House where it was introduced.
Thereafter, it is transmitted to the other House for its consideration.
When the bill comes up for considered by the other House, it has to
undergo all the stages as in the originating House. There are three
options before the House
(I) it may finally pass the bill as sent by the originating House;
(II) it may reject the bill altogether or amend it and return to the
originating House
(III) it may not take any action on the bill and if more than six months
pass after the date of receipt of the bill, this means rejection.
• In case both the Houses do not come to an agreement, the President
convenes a joint-sitting of the two Houses.
• The disputed provision is finally adopted or rejected by a simple
majority of vote of those who are present and voting
➢ A bill that is finally passed by both the Houses is presented with the
signature of the Speaker to the President for his assent.
➢ This is normally the last stage. If the President gives the assent, the
bill becomes an Act and is placed in the Statute Book.
➢ If the President withholds his assent, there is an end to the bill.
➢ The President may also return the bill for the reconsideration of the
Houses with a message requesting them to reconsider it
PARLIAMENT DEVICES TO CONTROL THE EXECUTIVE
one of the important functions of the Parliament is to control the executive.
every sitting begins with the Question Hour, which is available for asking and
answering questions.
Asking of questions is an inherent parliamentary right of all the members,
irrespective of their party affiliations
In case the answer given to a question does not satisfy the member who
raised it and if he feels the need for detailed ‘explanation in public interest’ he
may request the presiding officer for a discussion. The presiding office can
allow discussion, usually in the last half an hour of a sitting.
• Members can, with the prior permission of the presiding officer, call
the attention of a Minister to any matter of public importance and
request the Minister to make a statement on the subject.
• The Minister may either make a brief statement immediately or may
ask for time to make the statement at a later hour or date.
PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES
• Parliament has solved the problem by establishing a series of
committees with necessary powers to scrutinise the working of the
different departments of the government.
• Among the important Committees, which scrutinise the
government's works, particularly in the area of public finances, two
committees need special mention: Public Accounts Committee and
Estimates Committee.
• These and other Committees are expected to keep the executive on
its toes
