{"id":3502,"date":"2026-08-11T22:11:28","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T16:41:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/psir\/notes\/union-legislature\/"},"modified":"2026-08-12T02:57:54","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T21:27:54","slug":"union-legislature","status":"publish","type":"psir_note","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/psir\/notes\/union-legislature\/","title":{"rendered":"Union Legislature"},"content":{"rendered":"
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PSIR Notes<\/a>\u203a<\/span>I-B Indian Government and Politics<\/a>\u203a<\/span>Union Legislature<\/span><\/div>\n
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Paper I \u00b7 Indian Government and Politics<\/div>\n

Union Legislature<\/h1>\n
Syllabus \u00b7 Paper I-B \u00b7 4<\/b> \u2014 (a) Principal Organs of the Union Government : Envisaged role and actual working of the Executive, Legislature and Supreme Court. (b) Principal Organs of the State Government : Envisaged role and actual working of the Executive, Legislature and High Courts.<\/div>\n<\/header>\n
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The Two Houses & Their Powers<\/h3>\n

Composition \u2014 Article 79<\/span><\/h4>\n

Parliament = President<\/span> + Lok Sabha<\/span> + Rajya Sabha<\/span>. It is the supreme Union legislature, the national forum of opinion, the institution of executive accountability, a symbol of unity and a forum of transformation.<\/p>\n

Unlike the British Parliament, the Indian Parliament is not legally sovereign<\/span> \u2014 it is limited by the written Constitution, Fundamental Rights, the federal division of powers, judicial review and the basic structure doctrine.<\/p>\n

Lok Sabha \u2014 House of the People<\/h4>\n

Directly elected on universal adult franchise; five-year tenure unless dissolved; representation roughly proportionate to population; controls the executive through confidence\/no-confidence; primacy in finance. Special position:<\/span> Money Bills can originate only here; the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to it; a no-confidence motion can remove the government only through it.<\/p>\n

Rajya Sabha \u2014 Council of States<\/h4>\n

Purpose: federal representation, continuity in legislation, a forum for “second thought”, a check on hasty legislation, space for experienced and nominated members. Composition:<\/span> indirectly elected by state assemblies; 12 nominated<\/span> members (art, literature, science, social service); a permanent House, not subject to dissolution. Special powers: Article 249<\/span><\/span> (legislate on the State List in national interest), Article 312<\/span><\/span> (initiate All-India Services), participation in amendments, and functioning during emergency when the Lok Sabha may be dissolved.<\/p>\n

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The Upper House’s justification has often been more about “second thought” than firm “state rights”.<\/p>\n

W.H. Morris-Jones<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

N. Gopalaswamy Ayyangar<\/span> supported it as a chamber of sober reflection.<\/p>\n

For Rajya Sabha<\/span><\/p>\n