PARLIAMENTARY FEATURES OF DEMOCRACY

DEMOCRACY: DEFINITION AND MEANING

Democracy is a form of government in which all eligible citizens participate equallyeither
directly or indirectly through elected representativesin the proposal, development, and creation of
laws. It encompasses social, religious, cultural, ethnic and racial equality, justice, and liberty. It can
be defined as government of the people, by the people and for the people.
PARLIAMENTARY FEATURES OF DEMOCRACY
Our constitution provides for parliamentary form of government. We have borrowed the
constitutional features of several democratic countries. But our parliamentary model is
predominantly based on the British system. The Head of Government in our system, the Prime
Minister, can hold office only so long as he commands the confidence of the Lok Sabha. Confidence
of the House is reflected in existence/continuance of majority support - whether it be of a single
party or of a coalition of parties. This feature can, and does, cause instability in governance. In
Presidential democracies, the Head of Government, the President is directly elected by the people
and cannot be removed from office except in circumstances of high crimes and misdemeanour
established through impeachment process. Hence, Presidential democracies provide stable
governance. In our parliamentary system, we have had changes of government through midterm
elections or political realignments. Changes in government undoubtedly bring about disruptions in
implementation of policies, development programmes and schemes.
CENTRAL LEVEL
The Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. The Parliament
of India consists of two houses: The Lok Sabha or House of the People and the Rajya Sabha or
Council of States. Lok means "people" and Sabha means "assembly" in Sanskrit. The Lok Sabha meets
in the Lok Sabha Chambers, Sansad Bhavan, Sansad Marg, New Delhi.
The Lok Sabha is composed of representatives of the people from 543 constituencies, chosen by
direct election on the basis of adult suffrage. A total of 131 seats (18.42%) are reserved for
representatives of Scheduled Castes(84) and Scheduled Tribes(47) only. The maximum strength of
the House envisaged by the Constitution of India is 552, which is made up by election of up to 530
members to represent the States, up to 20 members to represent the Union Territories and not more
than two members of the Anglo-Indian Community to be nominated by the President of India, if, in
his/her opinion, that community is not adequately represented in the House. The total elective
membership is distributed among the States in such a way that the ratio between the number of

seats allotted to each State and the population of the State is, so far as practicable, the same for all
States.[2][3]
STATE LEVEL
The Vidhan Sabha or the 'Legislative Assembly' is the lower house (in states with bicameral) or the
sole house (in unicameral states) of the provincial (state) legislature in the different states of India.
The upper house in the six states with a bicameral legislature is called the Legislative Council, or
Vidhan Parishad. Members of a Vidhan Sabha are direct representatives of the people of the
particular state as they are directly elected by an electorate consisting of all citizens above the age of
18 of that state. Its maximum size as outlined in the Constitution of India is not more than 500
members and not less than 60 members. However, the size of the Vidhan Sabha can be less than 60
members through an Act of Parliament, such is the case in the states of Goa, Sikkim and Mizoram.
The Governor can appoint 1 member to represent minorities, e.g. the Anglo-Indian community, if he
finds that minority to not be adequately represented in the House. Those elected or nominated (by
the Governors) to Vidhan Sabha are referred to as members of Legislative Assembly or MLAs. The
Vidhan Parishad is the upper house.
PANCHAYAT RAJ
Panchayat Raj is a system of governance in which gram panchayats are the basic units of
administration. It has 3 levels: Gram (village, though it can comprise more than one village), Janpad
(taluka or block) and Zilla (district).
Mahatma Gandhi advocated Panchayati Raj, a decentralized form of Government where each village
is responsible for its own affairs, as the foundation of India's political system. The term for such a
vision was Gram Swaraj ("village self-governance").
GRAM PANCHAYAT
Their functions include administrative, social, economic and judicial functions like

Public works, maintenance, repair and construction of village roads, tracks etc.

Sanitation and health

Providing primary education

Arranging agricultural facilities

Registration of births and deaths

Maintaining records of property transactions

Constructions of guest houses, libraries, marriage halls etc.

Organization of regular village melas, fairs, exhibitions etc.

Planting of trees, parks, gardens and playgrounds

Solving of disputes

Block panchayat
A block panchayat (panchayat samiti) is a local government body at the tehsil or taluka level in
India. This body works for the villages of the tehsil or taluka that together are called a Development
Block. The panchayat samiti is the link between the gram panchayat and the district administration.
In general, the block panchayat is a form of the Panchayati raj but at a higher level.
Functions

Implementation schemes for the development of agriculture.

Establishment of primary health centres and primary schools.

Supply of drinking water, drainage and construction/repair of roads.

Development of cottage and small-scale industries, and the opening of cooperative societies.

Establishment of youth organisations.

District level panchayat

The governing system at district level in Panchayat Raj is also popularly known as "Zila Parishad".
Functions:

Provide essential services and facilities to the rural population

Supply improved seeds to farmers. Inform them of new farming techniques

Set up and run schools and libraries in the rural areas

Start Primary Health Centers and hospitals in villages. Start vaccination drives against
epidemics

Execute plans for the development of the scheduled castes and tribes. Run ashramshalas for
adivasi children. Set up free hostels for them

Encourage entrepreneurs to start small-scale industries and implement rural employment

schemes

Construct bridges, roads & other public facilities and their maintenance

Provide employment