Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are two houses of the Indian Parliament that are responsible for creating laws and overseeing the government. The two houses have overlapping and distinct powers, and each house must pass laws before they are approved. This article will explain the differences between the two houses and their respective roles in the Indian legislative process.
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha is the lower house of Parliament and is sometimes referred to as the House of the People. It is composed of 545 elected members representing the people of India. The term of the Lok Sabha is five years, unless dissolved sooner. The majority of the Lok Sabha’s powers involve passing legislation, and the decisions of this house are binding on the government.
Rajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha is the upper house of Parliament, also known as the Council of States. It is composed of 250 members, of which 233 are elected by the state and union territories legislatures, and the remaining 12 are nominated by the President of India. The Rajya Sabha has a permanent tenure, and one-third of its members retire every two years. The Rajya Sabha’s main function is to review and revise the legislation passed by the Lok Sabha.
Process of Passing Legislation
The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha both have the power to pass laws. For a law to be approved, it must first be passed in the Lok Sabha and then approved by the Rajya Sabha. Once both houses have passed the legislation, the President must sign it before it becomes a law. In certain cases, the Rajya Sabha may reject the legislation passed by the Lok Sabha. In such cases, the Lok Sabha can pass the legislation again with a two-thirds majority, which will override the Rajya Sabha’s decision.
Powers of the Two Houses
The Lok Sabha has the power to pass legislation, approve the government’s budget, and initiate impeachment proceedings against the President. The Rajya Sabha, on the other hand, has the power to approve treaties and international agreements, initiate impeachment proceedings against the Vice-President, and approve constitutional amendments. The Rajya Sabha also has the power to review and revise the bills passed by the Lok Sabha.
Voting in the Two Houses
The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have different voting systems. The Lok Sabha has a simple majority voting system, where the majority of members present and voting are needed for the passage of a bill. The Rajya Sabha, on the other hand, has a weighted voting system, where the members from each state have a different number of votes based on the population of the state.
Size of the Two Houses
The Lok Sabha is the larger of the two houses, with 545 members, while the Rajya Sabha has 250 members. As a result, the Lok Sabha has more power than the Rajya Sabha, as the majority of the power to pass laws lies with the Lok Sabha.
Qualifications for Membership
The members of the Lok Sabha must be at least 25 years of age, while the members of the Rajya Sabha must be at least 30 years of age. The members of both houses also must be citizens of India and not hold any other office of profit.
Qualifications for Voting
To be eligible to vote in the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha elections, a person must be at least 18 years of age and an Indian citizen. The person must also be registered as a voter in their respective constituency.
Selection Process for Rajya Sabha
The selection process for the Rajya Sabha is different from that of the Lok Sabha. The members of the Rajya Sabha are elected by the state and union territories legislatures. The members are selected by the state assemblies and the union territories legislatures through a single transferable vote system. This system allows the members to vote for multiple candidates and allows for preferential voting.
Role of the Prime Minister
The Prime Minister is the leader of the government and is a member of the Lok Sabha. The Prime Minister is responsible for proposing and introducing legislation and is the leader of the majority party in the Lok Sabha. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President, and is usually the leader of the party that has the majority in the Lok Sabha.
Role of the Vice-President
The Vice-President is the head of the Rajya Sabha and is elected by an electoral college consisting of the members of both houses of Parliament. The Vice-President is the ex-officio chairman of the Rajya Sabha and is responsible for overseeing the functioning of the house. The Vice-President also has the power to initiate impeachment proceedings against the President.
Powers of the President
The President is the head of state and is elected by an electoral college consisting of the members of both houses of Parliament. The President is the ex-officio chairman of the Rajya Sabha and has the power to summon and prorogue both houses of Parliament. The President also has the power to nominate 12 members to the Rajya Sabha and has the power to assent to bills passed by both houses of Parliament.
Powers of the Speaker
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is elected by the members of the house and is responsible for overseeing the functioning of the house. The Speaker has the power to maintain order in the house, to adjourn or suspend sittings of the house, and to decide on the admissibility of amendments proposed to bills. The Speaker also has the power to interpret the rules of the house and to appoint committees.
Role of the Deputy Speaker
The Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha is elected by the members of the house and is responsible for assisting the Speaker in the functioning of the house. The Deputy Speaker also presides over the house in the absence of the Speaker and has the power to adjourn or suspend sittings of the house. The Deputy Speaker also has the power to decide on the admissibility of amendments proposed to bills.
Conclusion
The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are the two houses of the Indian Parliament, and each house has distinct powers and responsibilities. The Lok Sabha has the majority of the power, as it is responsible for passing legislation, while the Rajya Sabha is responsible for reviewing and revising the legislation passed by the Lok Sabha. The two houses have different voting systems and qualifications for membership, and the President, Prime Minister, and Speaker of the Lok Sabha all play important roles in the functioning of the two houses.
