India’s Dual Chambers in Houses of Parliament

Houses of Parliament Overview: Indian parliaments consist of two houses, the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States).  The Lok Sabha is the lower house, consisting of directly elected members who represent various constituencies across the country. Its members are elected by the people in general elections. The Rajya Sabha is the upper house, comprising members who are not directly elected by the public but are chosen by the elected members of various State Legislative Assemblies. 

Houses of Parliament – Ensuring Representation, Checks, and Quality in Indian Governance

• Better Representation: Two Houses enable better representation of various societal sections and geographical regions. 
• Houses of Parliament: Addressing Concerns – This system ensures that the concerns and interests of different groups are adequately addressed. 
• Act as Check and Balance: Another benefit of a bicameral system is reconsideration.
  • Decisions from one House are reviewed by the other House, ensuring that proposed bills are discussed and examined twice. 
• Check and Balance: This creates a built-in checks and balances system. 
  • Houses of Parliament: Even hasty decisions get a second look, leading to better decision-making.
• Enhance Quality: This system ultimately enhances the quality and depth of legislative deliberations.

Exploring the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha in India’s Houses of Parliament

• Rajya Sabha: The Rajya Sabha is one of the two Houses of Parliament or upper House in India and represents the states of the country. 
• • Its members are indirectly elected through a two-step process. 
  • Indirect Election: Residents of each state elect members to their respective State Legislative Assemblies, and then these Assembly members elect representatives to the Rajya Sabha. 
  • Population of the States: Unlike the symmetrical representation in the US Senate, where every state has equal representation, the Rajya Sabha’s representation in the Houses of Parliament is based on the population of the states. 
    • This facilitates States with larger populations to have more representatives than States with smaller populations.
  • Tenure: Members of the Rajya Sabha serve six-year terms and they can get re-elected, with one-third of the members facing re-election every two years. 
  • Never Dissolved: This staggered system ensures that the Rajya Sabha is never fully dissolved and can handle urgent matters even when the Lok Sabha is dissolved. 
  • Nominated Members: The Rajya Sabha includes twelve nominated members nominated by the President, who excel in fields such as literature, science, art, and social service.
• Lok Sabha: The Lok Sabha is the lower House of Parliament in India and, along with State Legislative Assemblies, is directly elected by the people. 
• Electoral Constituencies: The entire country (or the respective state for State Legislative Assemblies) is divided into constituencies with roughly equal populations. 
  • Each constituency elects one representative through universal adult suffrage. 
• Constituencies: The Lok Sabha has a fixed number of constituencies (543 in total) with a maximum strength of 552. 
• Note: Currently, the maximum strength of Lok Sabha is 550 as the 104th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2019 abolished the two seats reserved for Anglo-Indians in the Indian Parliament and State Legislatures
• Tenure: Members of the Lok Sabha, one of the Houses of Parliament in India, serve a term of five years, but the term can be cut short if no party or coalition can form a government or if the Prime Minister advises the President to dissolve the Lok Sabha and call for fresh elections before the completion of five years.

Understanding the Roles of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in the Houses of Parliament:

How Rajya Sabha Represents States and Protects Interests in the Houses of Parliament

• Representing States: The Rajya Sabha serves as a representation mechanism for the States and aims to safeguard their powers. 
• Protecting Interest: When matters affecting the States arise, they must be referred to the Rajya Sabha for approval, showcasing its role in protecting the interests of the States within the Houses of Parliament. 
• Example: If the Union Parliament intends to shift a subject from the State List to either the Union List or Concurrent List for the nation’s benefit, Rajya Sabha’s consent is necessary. 
  • This provision strengthens Rajya Sabha’s influence.
• Party Affiliations: However, it’s observed that Rajya Sabha members often prioritize their party affiliations over representing their respective States.

Houses of Parliament Authority: Lok Sabha’s Exclusive Powers in Money Bills and Government Accountability

• Money Bills: It can only be initiated, rejected, or amended by the Lok Sabha. 
• Accountability: The Council of Ministers is accountable to the Lok Sabha, one of the Houses of Parliament, and not to the Rajya Sabha. 

Conclusion

The Houses of Parliament, specifically Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, play a crucial role in shaping India’s legislative landscape. Their distinct powers, from handling money bills to ensuring accountability, contribute to a robust system of governance and decision-making within the parliamentary framework.

DOWNLOAD PDF