What is the Legislature?
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Interactive Audio Lesson
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Introduction to the Legislature
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Today, we’re going to explore the concept of the Legislature. Can anyone tell me what the Legislature does in our government?
Isn't it the part of the government that makes laws?
Exactly! The Legislature makes laws for the country. In India, we call it the Parliament, which consists of two houses: the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
What does 'bicameral' mean?
Bicameral means there are two separate chambers or houses. In our case, it refers to the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Can you remember that easily? Think of it as having two 'chambers' like a heart!
That's a good way to remember it!
Great! So, what is the role of these two houses in making laws?
I think the Lok Sabha directly makes laws because its members are elected by the people!
Correct! Lok Sabha is indeed elected by the people. And what about Rajya Sabha?
The members are elected by state legislatures, right?
Exactly! And it reviews laws passed by the Lok Sabha. Let’s remember ‘RRS’ - Rajya reviews the laws made by Lok Sabha.
RRS is a great way to recall that!
To summarize, the Legislature consists of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, with the former directly elected and tasked with law-making, while the latter reviews and represents states. Remember that separation of powers keeps these roles distinct!
Roles and Functions of the Lok Sabha
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Let’s focus on the Lok Sabha now. What can you tell me about its main functions?
I remember it makes laws and controls the budget.
Correct! It indeed makes laws, but can anyone explain how it controls the budget?
Is it by approving expenditures and taxation measures?
Exactly! The Lok Sabha’s approval is crucial for any financial matters. So, let’s remember 'M²C', where M stands for making laws and managing budgets.
That’s an easy way to recall it!
Good! Additionally, the Lok Sabha keeps a check on the Executive through debates and question hours. Why do you think this is important?
So the Executive doesn’t abuse its power?
Precisely! It ensures accountability in governance. Overall, remember that Lok Sabha makes laws, controls budgets, and ensures Executive accountability!
Roles and Functions of the Rajya Sabha
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Now let’s turn our attention to the Rajya Sabha. What do you know about its role in law-making?
Doesn’t it suggest changes to laws made by the Lok Sabha?
Yes, it reviews and suggests changes to those laws. Additionally, being a permanent house, it keeps the continuity of governance. Can someone tell me about its membership?
Members are indirectly elected by state legislatures, right?
Correct! And what does that mean for representation?
It means the states have a voice in national legislation.
Exactly! To remember Rajya Sabha’s key function, think 'R’ for Representation and Review. Can we summarize its role in one sentence?
Rajya Sabha represents states and reviews laws made by Lok Sabha.
Perfect! That’s a concise way to remember its functions. Great teamwork!
Introduction & Overview
Read summaries of the section's main ideas at different levels of detail.
Quick Overview
Standard
In India, the Legislature or Parliament comprises two houses—the Lok Sabha, which is directly elected, and the Rajya Sabha, which is indirectly elected. It is responsible for law-making, budgeting, and keeping the Executive accountable.
Detailed
What is the Legislature?
The Legislature is one of the three main organs of the Indian Government, responsible for law-making. In India, it is referred to as the Parliament, which is bicameral in structure, meaning it consists of two houses: the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States).
Lok Sabha (House of the People)
- Lower House: Members of the Lok Sabha are directly elected by the people of India.
- Strength: The maximum strength is 552 members, and it has a term of five years.
- Majority Party: The leader of the majority party becomes the Prime Minister.
Main Functions:
1. Makes and passes laws.
2. Controls the budget.
3. Oversees the Executive through debates and question hours.
Rajya Sabha (Council of States)
- Upper House: Members are elected by state legislatures indirectly.
- Strength: The house has a maximum of 250 members and is a permanent house, with one-third of its members retiring every two years.
- Presiding Officer: The Vice President of India presides over it.
Main Functions:
1. Reviews and suggests amendments to laws passed by the Lok Sabha.
2. Represents the states of India in the Parliament.
The Separation of Powers principle ensures that the Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary operate independently yet cooperatively, safeguarding against the misuse of power.
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Definition of the Legislature
Chapter 1 of 5
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Chapter Content
The Legislature is the organ of the government that makes laws for the country. In India, the legislature is called the Parliament, which consists of:
• Lok Sabha (House of the People)
• Rajya Sabha (Council of States)
India has a bicameral legislature, meaning it has two houses.
Detailed Explanation
The Legislature is a crucial part of the government's structure, responsible for creating laws that govern the nation. In India, this legislative body is known as Parliament, which is divided into two houses: Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The term 'bicameral' means that there are two separate chambers in the legislature, each with specific roles and functions.
Examples & Analogies
Think of the Legislature like a kitchen in a restaurant where dishes (laws) are prepared. Just as chefs in a kitchen must work with different tools and ingredients to create a meal, lawmakers in the Legislature debate and decide on various laws that impact the country.
Lok Sabha
Chapter 2 of 5
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Chapter Content
• Also known as the Lower House.
• Members are directly elected by the people of India.
• Has a maximum strength of 552 members.
• The term of the Lok Sabha is 5 years.
• The leader of the majority party becomes the Prime Minister.
Detailed Explanation
The Lok Sabha, or House of the People, is the lower house of India's Parliament. Members of the Lok Sabha are directly elected by citizens during elections, which allows the electorate to choose their representatives. This house can have up to 552 members and operates for a term of five years unless dissolved sooner. The political party with the majority of members in the Lok Sabha appoints its leader as the Prime Minister, who is responsible for running the government.
Examples & Analogies
Imagine a sports team where each player is chosen by the fans. The Lok Sabha works similarly, as citizens vote for their favorite candidates to represent them. The leader of the team (majority party) then becomes the captain (Prime Minister), guiding the team (government) towards its goals.
Functions of the Lok Sabha
Chapter 3 of 5
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Chapter Content
• Makes and passes laws.
• Controls the budget.
• Keeps a check on the Executive through debates and question hours.
Detailed Explanation
The Lok Sabha plays several vital roles in governance. It is primarily responsible for making and passing laws, which regulate various aspects of life in the country. Additionally, it has the authority to manage the national budget, including taxation and public expenditure. Moreover, the Lok Sabha serves as a watchdog over the Executive branch, allowing members to hold debates and question government officials, thus ensuring accountability.
Examples & Analogies
Think of the Lok Sabha as a school council that gets to set the rules, decide how to spend the school's budget, and check if the school administration is doing their job properly. They hold discussions (debates) and ask tough questions during meetings to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Rajya Sabha
Chapter 4 of 5
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Chapter Content
• Also known as the Upper House.
• Members are indirectly elected by state legislatures.
• Has a maximum of 250 members.
• It is a permanent house (never dissolved); one-third of its members retire every 2 years.
• Presided over by the Vice President of India.
Detailed Explanation
The Rajya Sabha, known as the Upper House, complements the Lok Sabha in Indian Parliament. Unlike the Lok Sabha, its members are not directly elected by the public; instead, they are elected by state legislatures, representing the states in the Parliament. The Rajya Sabha has a maximum strength of 250, and it is permanent in nature, meaning it is not dissolved like the Lok Sabha. Instead, one-third of its members retire every two years to allow for continuous operation. The Vice President of India oversees its proceedings.
Examples & Analogies
You can compare the Rajya Sabha to a advisory board of experts. These experts (members) offer advice and suggestions for policies just as the Rajya Sabha reviews and recommends changes to the laws made by the Lok Sabha, ensuring that the interests of different states are considered.
Functions of the Rajya Sabha
Chapter 5 of 5
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Chapter Content
• Reviews and suggests changes to laws passed by the Lok Sabha.
• Represents the states of India in the Parliament.
Detailed Explanation
One of the main functions of the Rajya Sabha is to review and suggest amendments to laws that have been passed by the Lok Sabha. This provides an additional layer of scrutiny and helps ensure that legislation is well-rounded and considers the needs of various regions. As representatives of the states, members of the Rajya Sabha also advocate for state interests at the national level.
Examples & Analogies
Consider the Rajya Sabha as the quality control department in a manufacturing company. They inspect and evaluate the products (laws) designed by the production team (Lok Sabha) and ensure that what comes out meets the standards and is beneficial to all the 'customers' (citizens of India).
Key Concepts
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Legislature: The law-making body of the government.
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Bicameral System: India has two houses in its Parliament, the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
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Lok Sabha: Directly elected house responsible for making laws.
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Rajya Sabha: Indirectly elected house that reviews laws and represents the states.
Examples & Applications
Example of Lok Sabha: When the Prime Minister and council introduce a finance bill to raise taxes, it is discussed and voted on in Lok Sabha before becoming law.
Example of Rajya Sabha: If Lok Sabha passes a bill, Rajya Sabha may suggest amendments before the bill is sent back to Lok Sabha.
Memory Aids
Interactive tools to help you remember key concepts
Rhymes
In the Parliament, two houses stand, Laws and budget in a helping hand.
Stories
Imagine a town where laws need to be made. In this town, there are two councils—one that listens to the people's voices directly, and another that represents the regions. They work together to create fair rules for everyone.
Memory Tools
To remember the functions of Lok Sabha: M²C - Make laws, Manage budget, Control Executive.
Acronyms
RRS - Rajya Reviews the laws from Lok Sabha.
Flash Cards
Glossary
- Legislature
The organ of government responsible for making laws.
- Parliament
The bicameral legislative body of India consisting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
- Lok Sabha
The Lower House of Parliament, directly elected by the people.
- Rajya Sabha
The Upper House of Parliament, indirectly elected by state legislatures.
- Bicameral
A legislative body with two chambers or houses.
- Separation of Powers
The division of government responsibilities into distinct branches.
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