Parliament of India

Parliament of India
Name	Parliament of India
Established	1952
Predecessor	Constituent Assembly of India
House type	Bicameral

Contents

Parliament of India is the federal bicameral legislature established by the Constitution of India, situated in New Delhi near the Rashtrapati Bhavan, India Gate, and Sansad Marg. It functions as the supreme lawmaking body created by the Constituent Assembly of India and shaped by landmark documents such as the Constitution of India and statutes including the Representation of the People Act, 1951, drawing institutional continuity from the Imperial Legislative Council and the Council of India.

History

The legislative tradition evolved from the Indian Councils Act 1861 and the Indian Councils Act 1909 through reform measures like the Government of India Act 1919 and the Government of India Act 1935 to the post‑independence framing by the Constituent Assembly of India and debates attended by leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru, B. R. Ambedkar, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. Early sessions drew on precedents from the British Parliament, parliamentary practice influenced by the Westminster system and adaptations reflecting the federal compromises exemplified in the States Reorganisation Act, 1956. Constitutional amendments such as the Constitution (42nd Amendment) Act, 1976 and judgements from the Supreme Court of India including the Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala case reshaped parliamentary sovereignty and limits during events like the Emergency (India).

Parliament consists of two houses: the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha, plus the President of India as head of the legislature for certain powers. The Rajya Sabha includes representatives elected by state legislatures under systems outlined in the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and nominated members appointed for contributions to fields such as literature, science, art, and social service—figures comparable to R. K. Narayan or C. Rajagopalachari in historical context. The Lok Sabha membership is determined through direct elections overseen by the Election Commission of India, with constituencies like Kolkata North and Amethi reflecting diverse regions including Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. Leadership posts include the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Leader of the Opposition (India), Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, and party roles linked to organizations such as the Indian National Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist), and regional parties like the Trinamool Congress and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

Parliament's constitutional powers encompass legislation, budgetary approval, oversight, and impeachment procedures deriving authority from the Constitution of India, clauses concerning Article 79 of the Constitution of India, and financial provisions tied to the Union Budget and Finance Act. It enacts laws under heads in the Union List and exercises control over subjects sometimes shared with states in the Concurrent List; judicial review by the Supreme Court of India affects limits established in cases like Minerva Mills Ltd. v. Union of India. Parliamentary privileges and codes draw on precedents from the British Parliament and decisions such as those concerning contempt explored in litigation before the High Court of Delhi.

Bills originate as Government bills or Private Member's Bills introduced in either house except Money Bills which begin in the Lok Sabha under provisions like Article 110 of the Constitution of India. A bill's passage requires readings, committee scrutiny, and assent by the President of India; in cases of disagreement a joint sitting under rules influenced by the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha may be convened, invoking political negotiation among parties including the Nationalist Congress Party and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. Money Bills trigger review by the Rajya Sabha with limited amendment powers, and landmark legislation such as the Goods and Services Tax Act, 2016 exemplifies complex intergovernmental negotiation involving the Finance Commission of India and state governments like Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

Parliament employs departmental and ad hoc committees—examples include the Public Accounts Committee, Estimates Committee, and Select Committees—to scrutinize policy, administration, and expenditure; members often include veterans who served in institutions such as the Indian Audit and Accounts Service or who have legal backgrounds from the Bar Council of India. Procedural oversight is guided by the Lok Sabha Secretariat and Rajya Sabha Secretariat, with practices like Zero Hour and Question Hour developed alongside interparliamentary bodies such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union. Committee reports have influenced reforms in institutions including the Reserve Bank of India, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, and regulatory frameworks like the Companies Act, 2013.

Parliament interacts with the Union Council of Ministers led by the Prime Minister of India through mechanisms of confidence, question, and legislative agenda setting; cabinet ministers such as those from the Union Cabinet are typically members drawn from the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha. Judicial review by the Supreme Court of India and constitutional interpretation in cases like S. R. Bommai v. Union of India and A. K. Gopalan v. State of Madras delineate boundaries between legislative action and fundamental rights, while conventions derived from the Westminster system guide executive accountability, impeachment procedures, and the role of the President of India in assent, prorogation, and dissolution.