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🌟 Chapter 3: Parliament and the Making of Laws

(Class 8 – Civics: Social and Political Life – III)

🏛️ 1. Introduction – Why Do We Need a Parliament?

• India is the world’s largest democracy.
• People do not directly govern – they elect representatives.
• These representatives sit together in a body called the Parliament.
• Parliament = House of the People, where debates, discussions, and decision-making take place.
• Laws affect every citizen → Parliament ensures they are fair, just, and people-friendly.

📌 Key Idea: Parliament is the backbone of democracy – without it, democracy cannot survive.

🏛️ 2. Composition of the Indian Parliament

Parliament = Two Houses + President

🔹 (A) Lok Sabha (House of the People)

• Directly elected by people.
• Present strength: 545 members (530 from states, 13 from UTs, 2 nominated Anglo-Indians – earlier provision, now abolished).
• Term: 5 years (can be dissolved earlier).
• Speaker presides.
• Represents the will of the people.

🔹 (B) Rajya Sabha (Council of States)

• Permanent body, cannot be dissolved.
• Strength: 245 members (233 elected by states/UTs, 12 nominated by President – eminent persons).
• Term: 6 years, 1/3rd retire every 2 years.
• Vice President = Ex-officio Chairman.
• Represents the states of India.

🔹 (C) President of India

• Formal head of Parliament.
• Summons, prorogues, and dissolves Lok Sabha.
• No bill becomes a law without the President’s assent.

📌 Key Difference:

• Lok Sabha = directly chosen by people → more powerful.
• Rajya Sabha = indirectly elected, acts as reviewing chamber.

📋 3. Why Do We Need a Parliament?

1. Representation of People’s Voice
   • MPs represent lakhs of voters.
   • Different communities, languages, and cultures get representation.
2. Law-Making
   • Creates new laws (e.g., RTI Act 2005).
   • Amends old laws (e.g., Dowry Prohibition Act).
   • Removes outdated laws (e.g., obsolete British-era laws).
3. Control over Government
   • Government is answerable to Parliament.
   • Opposition checks ruling party.
4. Allocation of Money
   • Only Parliament can grant money to government.
   • Annual Budget passed here.
5. Discussion & Debate
   • Issues of national interest discussed openly.
   • Example: GST debate, Women’s Reservation Bill.
6. Balancing Interests
   • Lok Sabha represents citizens.
   • Rajya Sabha represents states.

🏛️ 4. How Is Parliament Formed?

(A) Elections to Lok Sabha

• Conducted every 5 years.
• People vote in constituencies.
• Each constituency elects 1 MP.

(B) Formation of Government

• Party/coalition with majority = invited to form government.
• Leader of majority = Prime Minister.
• PM chooses Council of Ministers (Cabinet, State Ministers, Deputy Ministers).

(C) Opposition

• Party with second-largest seats = Opposition.
• Plays watchdog role, questions govt. policies.

📌 Example: 2014 & 2019 → BJP majority; Opposition = INC & allies.

📜 5. Functions of Parliament

1. Law-Making
   • New policies → converted into bills → passed into laws.
2. Control over Executive
   • Q&A sessions, debates, motions.
   • Examples: Question Hour, Adjournment Motion, No-Confidence Motion.
3. Financial Powers
   • Budget approval.
   • No tax/loan without Parliament’s consent.
4. Constitutional Functions
   • Amends Constitution when necessary.
   • E.g., 42nd Amendment (1976), 73rd & 74th Amendments (1992).
5. Judicial Role
   • Can impeach President.
   • Can remove judges of Supreme Court/High Courts.

⚖️ 6. Law-Making Process in Parliament

Step 1: Introduction of Bill

• Draft prepared = Bill.
• Two types: Government Bill & Private Member’s Bill.

Step 2: First Reading

• Bill introduced in either House.
• Title & objectives read out.

Step 3: Second Reading

• Detailed discussion.
• Bill referred to a Standing Committee.
• Amendments suggested.

Step 4: Third Reading

• Debate & final voting in first House.

Step 5: Other House

• Same procedure in second House.
• If disagreement → Joint Sitting called.

Step 6: President’s Assent

• Bill sent to President.
• President can:
  1. Give assent → becomes law.
  2. Withhold assent.
  3. Send back for reconsideration (except Money Bill).

Step 7: Law is Enforced

• Law notified in Gazette of India.
• Implemented across nation.

📌 Example:

• Right to Information Act, 2005
• Goods and Services Tax (GST), 2017

🏛️ 7. Control of Parliament Over the Government

1. Question Hour – MPs ask ministers tough questions.
2. Zero Hour – Any issue can be raised without prior notice.
3. No-Confidence Motion – If passed, govt. must resign.
4. Cut Motions – Used during budget discussions.

📌 Significance: Prevents government from becoming dictatorial.

🏛️ 8. Parliament as the Voice of the People

• Debates highlight public issues (farmers’ problems, unemployment, inflation).
• Public opinion influences bills (after Nirbhaya case → Criminal Law Amendment Act, 2013).
• MPs = bridge between citizens and government.

🌍 9. Examples of Laws Made by Parliament

• RTI Act, 2005 – Transparency in governance.
• MNREGA, 2005 – Employment guarantee to rural households.
• RTE Act, 2009 – Free & compulsory education for children (6–14 years).
• GST Act, 2017 – One Nation, One Tax.
• Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 – Citizenship to persecuted minorities.

🏛️ 10. Challenges of the Indian Parliament

1. Disruptions in sessions – shouting, walkouts.
2. Low participation – MPs not attending regularly.
3. Money & Muscle power in elections.
4. Influence of lobby groups & corporates.
5. Slow law-making process.

🌟 11. Importance of Parliament in Democracy

• Protects rights of citizens.
• Ensures accountability of govt.
• Represents diversity of India.
• Balances majority rule with minority rights.
• Strengthens democratic values.

📌 Without Parliament, democracy = only a name.

✨ 12. Recap – Key Points in Short

• Parliament = Lok Sabha + Rajya Sabha + President.
• Law-making = Bill → Debate → Voting → President’s Assent → Law.
• Parliament = law-making + controlling govt. + representing people.
• Examples of laws = RTI, RTE, GST, MNREGA.
• Parliament = symbol of people’s power.

🎯 13. Practice Questions

(A) Very Short Answer

1. Who is the presiding officer of Lok Sabha?
2. How many nominated members are in Rajya Sabha?
3. What is Question Hour?

(B) Short Answer

1. Distinguish between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
2. Explain the role of Opposition in Parliament.

(C) Long Answer

1. Describe the process of law-making in Parliament with an example.
2. Why is Parliament considered the supreme law-making body in India?