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๐Ÿ“– Summaries โ€บ History and Civics

The Union Legislature

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Chapter in a nutshell: India's Union Legislature (Parliament) = the President + Lok Sabha (House of the People) + Rajya Sabha (Council of States). The Lok Sabha is directly elected (5-year term) and controls money and the government; the Rajya Sabha is a permanent house representing the states. Parliament makes laws, controls finances, and oversees the executive.

1. Composition of Parliament

Parliament = President + two Houses:
  • Lok Sabha โ€” the lower house (House of the People).
  • Rajya Sabha โ€” the upper house (Council of States).

2. Lok Sabha (House of the People)

FeatureDetail
Strengthup to 552 (530 states + 20 UTs + earlier 2 nominated Anglo-Indians, now removed)
Electiondirectly elected by the people (universal adult franchise)
Term5 years (can be dissolved earlier)
Presiding officerthe Speaker
Special powerMoney Bills originate here; controls the Council of Ministers
- Minimum age to be a member: 25 years.

3. Rajya Sabha (Council of States)

FeatureDetail
Strengthup to 250 (238 elected by state legislatures + 12 nominated by the President)
Electionindirectly elected; permanent house โ€” 1/3 retire every 2 years (member term 6 years)
Presiding officerthe Vice-President (ex-officio Chairman)
- It is never fully dissolved (a permanent body). Minimum age: 30 years.

4. Functions & Powers of Parliament

  • Legislative: makes laws on Union and Concurrent List subjects.
  • Financial: passes the Budget; Money Bills (taxes, spending) start in the Lok Sabha, which has final say.
  • Executive control: the Council of Ministers is responsible to the Lok Sabha, which can remove it by a no-confidence motion.
  • Electoral/amendment: shares in electing the President/Vice-President and amending the Constitution.

5. How a Bill Becomes Law

  • A bill passes three readings in each House โ†’ agreed by both Houses โ†’ President's assent โ†’ becomes an Act/law.
  • Money Bill: introduced only in the Lok Sabha; the Rajya Sabha can only suggest changes (within 14 days), which the Lok Sabha may reject โ€” showing Lok Sabha financial supremacy.

6. Lok Sabha vs Rajya Sabha

FeatureLok SabhaRajya Sabha
Electiondirectindirect
Term5 years (dissolvable)permanent (1/3 retire every 2 yrs)
HeadSpeakerVice-President
Money Billsoriginate + final sayonly recommend
Min. age2530

7. Worked / Structured Examples (ICSE pattern)

Q1. Name the two Houses of Parliament. Solution: Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Q2. Who presides over the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha? Solution: The Speaker; the Vice-President. Q3. Why is the Rajya Sabha called a permanent house? Solution: It is never fully dissolved โ€” only one-third of its members retire every two years. Q4. Where must a Money Bill be introduced? Solution: Only in the Lok Sabha. Q5. How can the Lok Sabha remove the government? Solution: By passing a no-confidence motion against the Council of Ministers.

8. Key Terms โ€” Quick Glossary

TermOne-line definition
ParliamentPresident + Lok Sabha + Rajya Sabha.
Lok Sabhadirectly-elected lower house.
Rajya Sabhaindirectly-elected, permanent upper house.
Speakerpresiding officer of the Lok Sabha.
Money Billbill on taxes/spending (starts in Lok Sabha).
No-confidence motionvote to remove the government.
Universal adult franchiseevery adult's right to vote.
Quorumminimum members needed to do business.

9. Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Swapping the presiding officers (Speaker = Lok Sabha; Vice-President = Rajya Sabha).
  • Saying the Rajya Sabha can reject a Money Bill โ€” it can only recommend changes.
  • Calling the Rajya Sabha directly elected โ€” it is indirectly elected.
  • Forgetting the Rajya Sabha is permanent (not dissolved).
  • Mixing up the minimum ages (25 for Lok Sabha, 30 for Rajya Sabha).

10. Likely Exam Questions (with crisp answers)

  1. What constitutes the Union Legislature? โ†’ The President plus the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
  2. How are Lok Sabha members chosen? โ†’ By direct election (universal adult franchise).
  3. What is the term of the Lok Sabha? โ†’ Five years (unless dissolved earlier).
  4. Who is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha? โ†’ The Vice-President.
  5. Why is the Rajya Sabha a permanent body? โ†’ One-third of its members retire every two years; it is never fully dissolved.
  6. Where do Money Bills originate? โ†’ In the Lok Sabha.
  7. State two functions of Parliament. โ†’ Making laws and passing the budget.
  8. How does Parliament control the executive? โ†’ The Council of Ministers is responsible to the Lok Sabha (no-confidence motion).
  9. Outline how a bill becomes law. โ†’ Passed by both Houses (three readings) and assented to by the President.
  10. State the minimum age to be a Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha member. โ†’ 25 and 30 years.
  11. Name the presiding officer of the Lok Sabha. โ†’ The Speaker.
  12. Which House has financial supremacy? โ†’ The Lok Sabha.
  13. How many members can the President nominate to the Rajya Sabha? โ†’ Twelve (for art, science, literature, social service).
  14. What is a no-confidence motion? โ†’ A vote that, if passed, forces the government to resign.

11. Powers of the Speaker

The Speaker of the Lok Sabha: presides over sittings, maintains order, decides whether a bill is a Money Bill, allows motions, and casts a deciding vote in a tie. The Speaker is expected to be impartial.

12. Special Powers of the Rajya Sabha

  • Can authorise Parliament to make laws on a State List subject (national interest).
  • Can recommend the creation of new All-India Services.
As the states' house, it gives the federal balance to the Centre.

13. Sessions & Procedure

  • Parliament meets in sessions (Budget, Monsoon, Winter); a quorum (1/10 of members) is needed to do business.
  • Question Hour and Zero Hour let members question the government.

14. More Worked / Structured Examples

Q6. Why does the Lok Sabha have more power than the Rajya Sabha? Solution: It is directly elected and controls money bills and the life of the government. Q7. What does the Speaker decide that the Chairman cannot? Solution: Whether a bill is a Money Bill. Q8. How does the Rajya Sabha represent federalism? Solution: Its members represent the states/UTs in the Union legislature. Q9. What is the quorum of a House? Solution: One-tenth of the total members.

15. More Exam Questions (with crisp answers)

  1. How many members are nominated to the Rajya Sabha and why? โ†’ 12, for distinction in art, science, literature or social service.
  2. Name the three lists that divide law-making powers. โ†’ Union, State and Concurrent Lists.
  3. What is Question Hour? โ†’ The first hour of a sitting when ministers answer members' questions.
  4. Who summons sessions of Parliament? โ†’ The President.
  5. State one electoral power of Parliament. โ†’ It takes part in electing the President and Vice-President.
  6. Name the deciding vote the Speaker can cast. โ†’ The casting vote (in case of a tie).
  7. Can the Rajya Sabha be dissolved? โ†’ No, it is a permanent house.
  8. Who can introduce a no-confidence motion? โ†’ Members of the Lok Sabha.
  9. Which House finally decides a deadlock over an ordinary bill? โ†’ A joint sitting (where the larger Lok Sabha usually prevails).
  10. State the role of the President in law-making. โ†’ To give assent so that a passed bill becomes law.

16. Final Quick-Revision Q&A

  1. What is the lower house of Parliament called? โ†’ The Lok Sabha.
  2. What is the upper house called? โ†’ The Rajya Sabha.
  3. Who is the head of the Council of States? โ†’ The Vice-President (Chairman).
  4. State the normal term of a Rajya Sabha member. โ†’ Six years.
  5. Name the franchise by which the Lok Sabha is elected. โ†’ Universal adult franchise.
  6. Which bill cannot start in the Rajya Sabha? โ†’ A Money Bill.
  7. What happens after both Houses pass a bill? โ†’ It goes to the President for assent.
  8. How often do one-third of Rajya Sabha members retire? โ†’ Every two years.
  9. Name a method of executive accountability to Parliament. โ†’ Question Hour / no-confidence motion.
  10. Why is the Lok Sabha called the House of the People? โ†’ Its members are directly elected by the people.
  11. Maximum strength of the Lok Sabha? โ†’ 552.
  12. Maximum strength of the Rajya Sabha? โ†’ 250.
  13. Who decides if a bill is a Money Bill? โ†’ The Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
  14. Name a session of Parliament. โ†’ The Budget session (also Monsoon, Winter).
  15. What is a joint sitting for? โ†’ To resolve a deadlock between the two Houses over an ordinary bill.
  16. Which house better protects state interests? โ†’ The Rajya Sabha.
  17. State one financial power of Parliament. โ†’ Approving taxation and government spending (the Budget).
  18. Who can dissolve the Lok Sabha? โ†’ The President (on the advice of the Council of Ministers).
  19. Name the three readings a bill passes in a House. โ†’ First, second and third readings.
  20. Within how many days must the Rajya Sabha return a Money Bill? โ†’ 14 days.
  21. Who casts the deciding vote in the Lok Sabha during a tie? โ†’ The Speaker.
  22. Define federalism in one line. โ†’ A system dividing powers between central and state governments.
  23. Name the part of Parliament that is the head of state. โ†’ The President.
  24. Why is the Lok Sabha financially supreme? โ†’ Money Bills start there and it has the final word on them.
  25. Name two presiding officers of Parliament. โ†’ The Speaker (Lok Sabha) and the Vice-President/Chairman (Rajya Sabha).
  26. Summarise the Union Legislature in one line. โ†’ India bicameral Parliament (Lok Sabha + Rajya Sabha + President) that makes laws and controls the executive.