6.2 The Structure of Parliament
At the centre of India’s government sits Parliament, the supreme law-making body of the country. But Parliament is not a single chamber, it has three parts working together. Understanding its structure is the key to understanding how India is governed.
The three parts of Parliament
President + Two Houses At the Union (national) level, Parliament consists of three parts:
- the President of India,
- the Lok Sabha (House of the People), and
- the Rajya Sabha (Council of States).
Because it has two houses, India’s Parliament is called bicameral (“two chambers”).
A law made by Parliament normally needs the agreement of both houses and the assent of the President. So all three parts have a role in law-making.
The Lok Sabha: the House of the People
The Lower House The Lok Sabha, the House of the People (or Lower House), is made up of members (MPs) directly elected by the people of the country. It represents the population. Its members are elected for a term of up to five years, and the Lok Sabha can be dissolved for a fresh general election. Because it is directly elected and controls money matters, the Lok Sabha is the more powerful of the two houses, and the government must keep its confidence to stay in power.
The Rajya Sabha: the Council of States
The Upper House The Rajya Sabha, the Council of States (or Upper House), represents the states of India. Its members are indirectly elected, chiefly by the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies. As you learned in Chapter 5, it is a permanent house: it is never fully dissolved, and one-third of its members retire every two years, ensuring continuity.
A quick comparison
| Feature | Lok Sabha | Rajya Sabha |
|---|---|---|
| Name | House of the People (Lower) | Council of States (Upper) |
| Represents | The people / population | The states |
| Elected | Directly by the people | Indirectly, by state assemblies |
| Term | Up to 5 years; can be dissolved | Permanent; 1/3 retire every 2 years |
| Money matters | Has the final say | Limited powers over money bills |
The role of the President
The President of India is the constitutional head of state and a part of Parliament. The President’s assent is needed for a bill to become law, summons and addresses Parliament, and formally appoints the Prime Minister. Importantly, the President usually acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers, the President is the formal, ceremonial head, while real executive power rests with the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, an idea we explore next.
Think About It Why might a country want two houses of Parliament instead of one? Think about how a second house (representing the states, and never fully dissolved) can add review, balance and continuity to law-making.
Let’s Explore Draw a simple diagram of Parliament with three boxes, President, Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and label each: who is in it, and how they get there (directly elected / indirectly elected / head of state). Keep it for revision.
We have the structure. Now we look at what Parliament actually does, its functions as the Legislature.