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Ch 05 - Legislature11th Indian Constitution at Work

Why We Need a Parliament

Is the Parliament primarily just a 'law-making' body?

CONCEPT

More than a Law Factory

Misconception: Legislatures are often viewed merely as law factories whose only job is to pass bills.
Reality: Parliament is the center of all democratic political processes, serving as a dynamic site for walkouts, protests, demonstrations, and intense national debate.
Core Value: It is the most representative organ of government, crucial for holding the executive deeply accountable to the people.

Prism Memory Hook

A premium mnemonic for this topic is available in the Prism App.

Functions of Parliament

What are the seven major categories of functions performed by the Indian Parliament?

MEMORY

A Multifaceted Institution

Legislative (Drafting and making laws)
Financial (Controlling the budget and taxation)
Control of Executive (Ensuring strict accountability)
Representation (Articulating diverse regional and social views)
Constituent (Amending the Constitution)
Electoral (Electing the President and Vice-President)
Judicial (Impeaching the President, removing High/Supreme Court judges)

Prism Memory Hook

LF-CRC-EJ

Bicameral Legislature

What is a 'Bicameral Legislature', and what are its two main advantages in the Indian context?

DEFINITION

The Two-Chamber System

Definition: A legislature consisting of two houses (or chambers).
Indian Parliament: Comprises the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the Lok Sabha (House of the People).
Advantages:
1. Representation: It gives adequate representation to all geographical regions and diverse sections of a highly populated country.
2. Double Check: It ensures that every policy or legislation is reconsidered twice, acting as a structural safeguard against hasty or flawed decisions.

Prism Memory Hook

Bi = Two; Cameral = Chamber

Also in this chapter

38 more cards to study in Prism

4States with Bicameral Legislature
5Lok Sabha: Composition & Tenure
6Rajya Sabha: The Principle of Representation
7Rajya Sabha: Nominated Members
8Rajya Sabha: The Permanent House
9Election to the Rajya Sabha
10Quorum of Parliament
11Parliamentary Privilege
12Self-Regulation of Parliament
13Types of Bills: Government vs. Private Member
14Stages of a Bill: The Three Readings
15Law Making: The First Stage (Introduction)
16Law Making: The Committee Stage
17Article 109: The Money Bill Procedure
18Ordinary vs. Constitutional Amendment Bill
19Parliamentary Control: Deliberation
20Joint Session of Parliament (Article 108)
21President's Assent (Article 111)
22Lapsing of Bills on Lok Sabha Dissolution
23Anti-Defection Law
24Delegated Legislation
25The Decline of Parliament
26Financial Powers: Lok Sabha vs. Rajya Sabha
27Cartoon Analysis: The Dominant Prime Minister
28Executive Control: Lok Sabha vs. Rajya Sabha
29Cartoon Analysis: The 'Walkout'
30Special Powers of the Rajya Sabha (Article 249)
31Parliamentary Committees: The Workhorses
32Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs)
33Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC)
34The Party Whip
35Anti-Defection: 91st Amendment (2003)
36Speaker's Role in Defection
37Instruments of Control: No Confidence Motion
38Censure Motion vs. No Confidence Motion
39Ministerial Eligibility (Six Months Rule)
40Equal Powers: LS and RS
41Public Accounts Committee (PAC)

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11th Indian Constitution at Work

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