---LEGISLATURE--Parliament: Consists of peoples elected representatives; make laws- on behalf of people, for the people.

UNION PARLIAMENT LOK SABHA [Lower house] RAJYA SABHA [Upper House]

LOK SABHA Composition: 545 members- 543 elected (by Voters) - 543 constituencies* 2 nominated (by Prez) - Anglo Indian Committee *Constituency: Territorial Areas set up for the purpose of an election. On basis of population. One MP chosen from each- any number of people can contest. Reservation: 49 seats reserved for ST and SC- only they can contest in Reserved Constituencies.(To ensure representation of the weaker sections of society.) Election: Direct Election Universal Adult Franchise: Every citizen, above age 18 can vote; regardless of caste, creed, colour, race (No Bias) Secret Ballot: Vote cast secretly; to ensure voters are not threatened by powerful candidates. Qualifications: Citizen of India 25 years of age Name should be in electoral roles Not hold office of profit under govt. Not be a proclaimed criminal Of Sound Mind Term: 5 years Can be dissolved, by PM Prez. National Emergency- Extend upto 1 year; not past 6 months after emergency is over.

Speaker: Presiding Officer- elected after house meets for the 1st time; will continue till new speaker elected. Deputy Speaker: Officiates in absence of Speaker. Removal of Speaker: Write a letter to Dept. Speaker; resolution- majority of house. Powers of the Speaker: Regulatory PowersMaintains order, decorum Interprets Rules Makes an Agenda Recognizes members- allows them to talk Asks members to yield the floor- stops them from talking Supervisory PowersCommittees work under him + appoint chairman Can expels members- spoiling decorum Can adjourn house Can accept/ not accept resignation of MP- if he thinks it is forced on MP Miscellaneous PowersDecides whether bill is money/ not Has casting vote in case of deadlock Is the Chief Spokesperson RAJYA SABHA Upper House- to do with regional interests

Composition: 250 members- 238 elected 12 nominated by Prez- People who have excelled in their fields. Election: By elected members of State Legislatures; as per system of Proportional Representation; by a Single Transferable Vote. Qualifications: 30 years of age Rest is same as in Lok Sabha Term: 6 years- 1/3 of house retires every 2 years. (Not subject to dissolution as a whole) Presiding Officer: Vice President- Ex- Officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha (Cannot vote) Dept. Chairman- Officiates in absence PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES Sessions: Summoned by Prez; at least once in 6 months (Twice a year) Oath: For elected members- (bear true faith to constitution, uphold sovereignty, faithfully discharge duty) Quorum: 1/10th the total membership- min members reqd to transact business, else Presiding OfficerAdjourns Question Hour: 1st hour of every day- ask questions to draw govt. attention to public grievances Starred: Oral answers required Unstarred: Written answers Supplementary: Additional question to clarify- may be disallowed Short- Notice: Question with a notice < 10 days (concerning matters of public dept.) Motion: A matter urgently sought to be discussed in the house Adjournment motion: Meant to compel govt. to take proper action to solve a problem. Done: when a member dies; when there is too much disorder; when there is a matter of urgent interest; whenever the speaker wants to No- Confidence motion: For MPs to express their no-confidence in the ministry. 2/3rd members passentire ministry would be dissolved. Resolution: A motion in which the members of the house express a majority opinion on a matter of public interest POWERS OF THE PARLIAMENT Legislative Powers: 97 subjects under Union List 47 subjects under Concurrent List 66 subject in State List; if- Rajya Sabha says issue in of national importance; there is a national emergency; if 2+ states request centre to pass a law Residuary List Amend Constitution- If ratified by majority of states Ordinances need to be approved Emergency proclamations need to be approved Financial Powers: Controls union finances: Nothing can be spent or collected without parliament approval Annual Budget: Can approve, reject or cut the budget- as presented by Finance Minister Consolidated Fund of India: Salaries of top ranking officials decided by this fund (Parliament cannot control) to regard dignity. Money Bill originates in Lok Sabha; Rajya Sabha can only send recommendation. Control over Executive: Cabinet responsible to the Lok Sabha (No- Confidence) Right of interpellation: Can ask questions in Question Hour inefficiency of govt. can be shown/ ministers can be censured.

Adjournment Motions: Depict govt. inefficiency Monetary Control: Can cut budget, cut salaries of officials. Judicial Powers: Can impeach Prez- 2/3rd of both Houses Can remove Judges of SC, Election Commissioner, Auditor General- 2/3rd of Both Houses Can condemn any person, irrespective of his status Electoral Functions: Elect- Prez; V Prez; Presiding Officers. Can make electoral laws Constituent Powers: Amend Constitution- Simple/ 2/3rd majority Change name/ boundary of states.

RAJYA SABHA vs LOK SABHA SUBJECT General Ordinary Bills Money Bills Control over Executive Election Impeachment State List Emergency COMMENTS Lok Sabha has the upper hand Both houses at par; but Lok Sabha has double the strength Lok Sabha is all powerful; Rajya Sabha has virtually no powers, referring is a formality only Cabinet responsible only to Lok Sabha; Rajya Sabha has no powers Both houses at par; but Lok Sabha has double the strength Both houses at par. Rajya Sabha has the privilege to decide whether it is of national importance Rajya Sabha looks over all the responsibilities

ANTI DEFECTION ACT The member of a party would be disqualified (he wont remain a MP) if: He joins another party He gives up membership of his party He votes against the direction of his party to maintain a healthy parliamentary democracy

---STATE LEGISLATURE--VIDHAN SABHA (Legislative Assembly) Composition: Between 60- 500 members- 1 nominated by Governor from Anglo-Indian community Number of members based on census Continually changing Qualifications: Citizen of India 25 years of age Name should be in electoral roles Not hold office of profit under govt. Not be a proclaimed criminal Of Sound Mind Elections: Directly Elected- One member per constituency Universal Adult Franchise & Secret Ballot followed Term: 5 years Can be dissolved, by CM Governor. National Emergency- Extend up to 1 year; not past 6 months after emergency is over Sessions: Summoned by Governor; at least once in 6 months (Twice a year)

Quorum: 1/10th the total membership / 10 members- min. members reqd. to transact business Speaker: Presiding Officer- elected after house meets for the 1st time; will continue till new speaker elected. Deputy Speaker: Officiates in absence of Speaker. Removal of Speaker: Write a letter to Dept. Speaker; resolution- majority of house. Powers of the Speaker: (Similar to Union Speaker) Maintains order, decorum Makes an Agenda Can adjourn house Decides whether bill is money/ not Controls visitors Can ask a member to leave VIDHAN PARISHAD (Legislative Council) Composition: 40 members 1/3rd Vidhan Sabha 1/3rd: Electoral College (formed from local bodies) 1/3rd: Vidhan Sabha 1/12th: Electorates that have been graduates for 3yrs 1/12th: Teachers 1/6th: People who excelled in their fields Governor nominates Qualifications: Same as Rajya Sabha Term: Same as Rajya Sabha Sessions: Same as Vidhan Sabha Presiding Officers: Chairman : Speaker Dept. Chairman : Dept. Speaker

As in Vidhan Sabha

POWERS OF STATE LEGISLATURE Legislative Powers 66 subjects on State List 47 subjects on Concurrent List Financial Powers Full control over state finances V Sabha Control over Executive State council responsible to the Legislative Assembly (No- Confidence) If assembly rejects govt. bill, or passes a cut- motion in ministers salaries, ministry has to resign. Sabha Right of interpellation: Can ask questions in Question Hour powerful.. Adjournment Motions: Depict govt. inefficiency Constituent Powers Cannot amend constitution, but centre needs state ratification V Sabha members form- Rajya Sabha & Electoral College for Prez V Sabha elects V Parishad members VIDHAN SABHA vs VIDHAN PARISHAD SUBJECT Ordinary Bill Money Bill Control Executive They can hold it for 3months; or can reject, but have to agree the 2nd time

COMMENTS Can be introduced in both houses; but council has no veto power i.e it cannot reject a bill Have to pass within 14 days, else deemed approved over Executive responsible only to Vidhan Sabha, council can only ask questions