OUR PARLIAMENT

Parliament is the supreme legislative body of a country. Our Parliament comprises of

the President and the two HousesLok 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.
LOK SABHA
Lok Sabha, as the name itself signifies, is the body of representatives of the people.
The Constitution limits the Lok Sabha to a maximum of 552 members, including no
more than 20 members representing people from the Union Territories, and two
appointed non-partisan members to represent the Anglo-Indian community. Its
members are directly elected, normally once in every five years by the adult
population who are eligible to vote.It is automatically dissolved after the 5 year
term ,unless extended by a proclamation of emergency. In such cases, the term may
be extended by one-year increments. The 15th Lok Sabha was formed in May 2009.
The minimum qualifying age for membership of the House is 25 years. Today, the
Lok Sabha has its own TV channel, Lok Sabha TV, head-quartered within the
premises of Parliament.
Leadership
Speaker Meira Kumar, (INC)
since 3 June 2009
[1]

Deputy Speaker Kariya Munda, (BJP)
since 8 June 2009
[2]

Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee, (INC)
since 26 May 2009
[3]

Leader of Opposition (Lok Sushma Swaraj, (BJP)
since 21 December
Sabha) 2009
[4]


RAJYA SABHA
Rajya Sabha is the Upper House of Parliament. Membership is limited to 250
members, 12 of whom are chosen by the President of India for their expertise in
specific fields of art, literature, science, and social services. These members are
known as nominated members. The remainder of the body is elected by the state
and territorial legislatures. Members of Rajya Sabha are not elected by the people
directly but indirectly by the Legislative Assemblies of the various States. Every State
is allotted a certain number of members. No member of Rajya Sabha can be under
30 years of age. The Rajya Sabha has equal footing in all areas of legislation with
Lok Sabha, except in the area of supply, where the Lok Sabha has overriding
powers.
Rajya Sabha is a permanent body. Terms of office are six years. It is not subject to
dissolution but one-third of its members retire every two years. Rajya Sabha was
duly constituted for the first time on April 3, 1952 and it held its first sitting on May 13,
that year.
Leadership
The Chairman Mohammad Hamid
Ansari, I
since 11 August 2007
Deputy Chairman of the Rajya
Sabha
K. Rahman Khan, INC
since 3 January 2007
Leader of the House Dr Manmohan
Singh,INC
since 22 May 2004
Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley, BJP
since 3 June 2009
Presiding Officers
Lok Sabha elects one of its own members as its Presiding Officer and he is called
the Speaker. He is assisted by the Deputy Speaker who is also elected by Lok
Sabha. The conduct of business in Lok Sabha is the responsibility of the Speaker.
The Vice-President of India is the ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha. He is elected
by the members of an electoral college consisting of members of both Houses of
Parliament. Rajya Sabha also elects one of its members to be the Deputy Chairman.

Functions of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
The main function of both the Houses is to pass laws. Every Bill has to be passed by
both the Houses and assented to by the President before it becomes law. The
subjects over which Parliament can legislate are the subjects mentioned under the
Union List in the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. Broadly speaking,
Union subjects are those important subjects which for reasons of convenience,
efficiency and security are administered on all-India basis. The principal Union
subjects are Defence, Foreign Affairs, Railways, Transport and Communications,
Currency and Coinage, Banking, Customs and Excise Duties. There are numerous
other subjects on which both Parliament and State Legislatures can legislate.
Under this category mention may be made of economic and social planning, social
security and insurance, labour welfare, price control and vital statistics.
Besides passing laws, Parliament can by means of resolutions, motions for
adjournment, discussions and questions addressed by members to Ministers
exercise control over the administration of the country and safeguard peoples
liberties.
Difference between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
(1) 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.
(2) The normal life of every Lok Sabha is 5 years only while Rajya Sabha is a
permanent body.
(3) 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.
(4) 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.
Powers of the lok sabha and the rajya sabha
Motions of no confidence against the government can only be introduced and
passed in the Lok Sabha. If passed by a majority vote, the Prime Minister and the
Council of Ministers resigns collectively. The Rajya Sabha has no power over
such a motion, and hence no real power over the executive.
Money bills can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha, and upon being passed,
are sent to the Rajya Sabha, where it can be deliberated on for up to 14 days.
The budget is presented in the Lok Sabha by the Finance Minister in the name of
the President of India.
In matters pertaining to non-financial (ordinary) bills, after the bill has been
passed by the House where it was originally tabled (Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha),
it is sent to the other house, where it may be kept for a maximum period of 6
months. If no decision is taken in 6 months, it results in a deadlock. This is
resolved by a joint session of both Houses, presided over by the Speaker of the
Lok Sabha and decided by a simple majority.
The Lok sabha has equal powers with the Rajya Sabha in initiating and passing
any Bill for Constitutional Amendment .
The Lok sabha has equal powers with the Rajya Sabha in initiating and passing a
motion for the impeachment of the President (by two-thirds of the membership of
the House).
The Lok sabha has equal powers with the Rajya Sabha in initiating and passing a
motion for the impeachment of the judges of the Supreme Court and the state
High Courts.
The Lok sabha has equal powers with the Rajya Sabha in initiating and passing a
resolution declaring war or national emergency or constitutional emergency in a
state.
If the Lok Sabha is dissolved before or after the declaration of a National
Emergency, the Rajya Sabha becomes the sole Parliament. It cannot be
dissolved. This is a limitation on the Lok Sabha.



ANSARI, SHRI MOHAMMAD HAMID


Hon'ble Deputy Chairman
K. Rahman Khan


WebPage of
Dr. Manmohan Singh
Member Of Parliament & Leader Of House
(RAJYA SABHA)


WebPage of
Shri Arun Jaitley
Member Of Parliament & Leader Of Opposition
(RAJYA SABHA)











speaker
Meira kumar


deputy speaker
Kariya munda

leader of the house
Pranab mukherjee

leader of the opposition
Sushma swaraj