WHY DO WE NEED PARLIAMENT? CLASS 8 WHY DO WE NEED PARLIAMENT?

Under colonial rule Indian people had lived in fear of the British Government. Indians did not agree with many of the decisions that they took With high pressure of Indian National Congress ,British Government allowed to discuss the budget and ask questions.

The Government of India Act 1909 allowed for indirect election to the Legislative Assembly.But,National leaders were not satisfied with this.

At last India became independent on August 1947 through a process of long and difficult struggle in which many sections of the society participated.

Reasons for opting Parliamentary System of Government in India Being a British colony,India was influenced by the British Parliamentary system . To give equal representation to all. To reduce the chances of dictatorship.

INDIAN PARLIAMENT

What does Parliament consist of?

The Parliament of India consists of The President Lok Sabha Rajya Sabha

Two Houses of the Parliament 1. Rajya Sabha 2. Lok Sabha

Presided by the chairman (Vice President) Lok Sabha Rajya Sabha : Lower House: House of the People: Maximum strength- 552 530 members from states 20 members from Union Territories 2 members from Anglo-Indian community (nominated by President) Presided by the Speaker Members are elected for 5 years Upper House: Council of States:Permanent House Maximum-250 seats 238 seats selected by states&Union Territories and 12 members nominated by President Presided by the chairman (Vice President) Members are elected for six years

Qualifications of the Member of the Two Houses Lok Sabha Rajya Sabha Should be an Indian citizen Not less than 25 years of age . Should not hold any salaried government job Should not acquired the citizenship of another country Should be mentally sound Should not be bankrupt No criminal procedures against him Should be an Indian citizen Not less than 30 years of age . Should not hold any salaried government job Should not acquired the citizenship of another country Should be mentally sound Should not be bankrupt No criminal procedures against him Qualifications of the Member of the Two Houses

The Role of the Parliament 1.To Select the National Government 2.To Control,Guide and Inform the Government 3.Law-Making

1.To Select the National Government The country is divided into different constituencies. conduct an election. Count the number of elected members belong to each political party and then a list is prepared . The party which gets an absolute majority(more than half the seats in the Parliament) is invited by the President to form the government. The government is formed by the party with majority of elected members(more than half the seats in the Parliament)

The next majority party form the opposition . The speaker is elected from the ruling party The Prime Minister is the leader of ruling party. He selects the ministers to work with him to implement the laws.

At present the single party did not get a chance to form the government. Why? Because the single party did not get a proper majority to form a government. So ,they join together with different political parties to form a government.Such government is known as Coalition government

The Rajya Sabha is a Permanent House . Its members are elected for term of six years in accordance with the system of proportional representation One-third of its members are retire in every second year The Vice-President is the chairman of the House

All the states do not send equal number of members to Rajya Sabha. The representation is decided on the basis of population of representative states

2.To Control,Guide and Inform the Government Generally, the first hour of a sitting of Lok Sabha is devoted to Questions and that hour is called the Question Hour. It has a special significance in the proceedings of Parliament. MPs of Parliament are free to ask questions to ministers of the government to get information on public concern matters. The period after ‘Question Hour’ and before the beginning of the rest of the day’s work is ‘zero hour’.

3.Law-Making First reading - introduction stage Second reading - discussion stage Third reading - voting stage President's assent

The Parliament can introduce new laws and change the old ones. A law is first introduced in the form of a bill. A bill is the draft of a proposed law.

Three Categories of Bills: Money Bill Ordinary Bill Constitutional Bill

Money Bill Money bill can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha and only by the ruling party. Lok Sabha is more powerful on the issue of money bill. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha has to certify it as a money bill. After three readings in the Lok Sabha ,the bill is sent to the Rajya Sabha. The Rajya Sabha can only make suggestions.

Ordinary Bills Any member may introduce an ordinary bill. It can be intoduced either in the Lok Sabha or in the Rajya Sabha. Once the bill is passed in one House after their readings , it goes to the other House. If the second House wants to change the bill,it may send to the House where it originated.

If the House of origin refuses to make change ,up to six month a deadlock is created. Then the President will call for a joint session of both the Houses. After discussion, the bill will be passed. Then it goes to the President . If the President signs the bill, then it becomes a law. This law is then called an Act.

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