| Parliament
Parliament is the supreme legislative body of India. The Indian
Parliament comprises of the President and the two Houses-Lok Sabha
(House of the People) and Rajya Sabha (Council of States). The President
has the power to summon and prorogue either House of Parliament
or to dissolve Lok Sabha.
The Constitution of India came into force on January 26, 1950.
The first general elections under the new Constitution were held
during the year 1951-52 and the first elected Parliament came into
being in April, 1952, the Second Lok Sabha in April, 1957, the Third
Lok Sabha in April, 1962, the Fourth Lok Sabha in March, 1967, the
Fifth Lok Sabha in March, 1971, the Sixth Lok Sabha in March, 1977,
the Seventh Lok Sabha in January, 1980, the Eighth Lok Sabha in
December, 1984, the Ninth Lok Sabha in December, 1989, the Tenth
Lok Sabha in June, 1991, the Eleventh Lok Sabha in May, 1996, the
Twelfth Lok Sabha in March, 1998, Thirteenth Lok Sabha in October,
1999, Fourteenth Lok Sabha in May, 2004 and Fifteenth Lok Sabha
in April, 2009.
Search Acts of Indian Parliament
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Difference between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
Members of Lok Sabha are directly elected by the eligible voters.
Members of Rajya Sabha are elected by the elected members of State
Legislative Assemblies in accordance with the system of proportional
representation by means of single transferable vote.
The normal life of every Lok Sabha is 5 years only while Rajya Sabha
is a permanent body.
Lok Sabha is the House to which the Council of Ministers is responsible
under the Constitution. Money Bills can only be introduced in Lok
Sabha. Also it is Lok Sabha, which grants the money for running
the administration of the country.
Rajya Sabha has special powers to declare that it is necessary and
expedient in the national interest that Parliament may make laws
with respect to a matter in the State List or to create by law one
or more all-India services common to the Union and the States.
Functions and Powers
The cardinal functions of the Legislature include overseeing of
administration, passing of budget, ventilation of public grievances,
and discussing various subjects like development plans, international
relations, and national policies. The Parliament can, under certain
circumstances, assume legislative power with respect to a subject
falling within the sphere, exclusively reserved for the states.
The Parliament is also vested with powers to impeach the President,
remove judges of Supreme and High Courts, the Chief Election Commissioner,
and Comptroller and Auditor General in accordance with the procedure
laid down in the Constitution. All legislation requires the consent
of both Houses of Parliament. In the case of Money Bills, the will
of the Lok Sabha prevails. The Parliament is also vested with the
power to initiate amendments in the Constitution.
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