Ch 06 - The Parliamentary System: Legislature and Executive8th Social Science
Main Roles: Legislature vs. Executive
What is the primary difference in the constitutional roles of the Legislature versus the Executive?
What is the primary difference in the constitutional roles of the Legislature versus the Executive?
- Legislature: Its primary constitutional role is making and passing laws. It also holds the critical function of overseeing and maintaining checks on the Executive.
- Executive: Its primary role is the enforcement and implementation of the laws passed by the Legislature, alongside managing the day-to-day administrative governance of the country.
Prism Memory Hook
L for Law-making; E for Enforcement.
The Seventh Schedule: The Three Lists
How does the Constitution divide law-making power between the Centre and the States across the three Legislative Lists?
How does the Constitution divide law-making power between the Centre and the States across the three Legislative Lists?
Under the Seventh Schedule, legislative power is divided into:
- Union List: Subjects of national importance where only the Central Parliament can make laws (e.g., Defence, Foreign Affairs, Currency).
- State List: Subjects of local importance where only State Legislatures can make laws (e.g., Police, Public Health, Agriculture).
- Concurrent List: Subjects where BOTH the Centre and States can legislate (e.g., Education, Forests).
Crucial Caveat: If there is a conflict between a Central law and a State law on a Concurrent subject, the Central law prevails.
Prism Memory Hook
Union is Unique (Centre); State is Solo (States); Concurrent is Common.
The Judiciary as Custodian
How does the Judiciary maintain the constitutional balance of power against the Legislature and the Executive?
How does the Judiciary maintain the constitutional balance of power against the Legislature and the Executive?
- The Role: The Supreme Court acts as the ultimate Custodian and Interpreter of the Constitution.
- The Power (Judicial Review): It possesses the power to systematically review laws passed by the Parliament and executive orders issued by the Government.
- The Check: If it determines that any law or action violates the fundamental rights or the basic structure of the Constitution, it can formally strike them down as unconstitutional, ensuring no single organ becomes authoritarian.
Prism Memory Hook
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Also in this chapter
37 more cards to study in Prism
- 4A Living Document
- 5Influences on the Parliamentary System
- 6The Four Core Functions of Parliament
- 7Structure: The Bicameral Parliament
- 8Maximum Strength of the Lok Sabha
- 9Current Composition: The 18th Lok Sabha
- 10Election Mechanisms: LS vs. RS
- 11State Level: Vidhan Sabha vs. Vidhan Parishad
- 12The 6 Bicameral States
- 13Presiding Officers: Speaker vs. Chairman
- 14The Three Sessions of Parliament
- 15The Legislative Process: Bill to Act
- 16Exception: The Money Bill
- 17Parliamentary Standing Committees
- 18Executive Accountability: Question Hour
- 19Language Accessibility in Parliament
- 20Composition of the Union Executive
- 21Authority: President vs. Prime Minister
- 22Situational Discretion of the President
- 23The Permanent Executive
- 24Doctrine of Collective Responsibility
- 25Moral Accountability: Shastri's Precedent
- 26Legislative Evolution: Right to Education (RTE)
- 27Federalism in Practice: The AYUSH Report
- 28The Women's Reservation Act (2023)
- 29Systemic Flaw: Criminalisation of Politics
- 30Data: Decline in Parliamentary Productivity
- 31Visual Analysis: Parliamentary Disruptions
- 32Historical Architecture: Samvidhan Sadan
- 33The New Sansad Bhavan
- 34Symbol of Power: The Sengol
- 35State Architecture: Vidhana Soudha
- 36Parliamentary Discourse: The Tirukkural
- 37Dignified Debate: The Poetic Exchange
- 38The Anti-Defection Law
- 39The Leader of the Opposition (LoP)
- 40Impeachment of the President
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