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Two Houses of P Ouses of P Ouses of Parliament a C T I V I

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Two Houses of P Ouses of P Ouses of Parliament a C T I V I 4 Parliament is the highest forum of Which of the two Houses is more discussion and debate on public powerful? It might appear that the issues and national policy in any Rajya Sabha is more powerful, for country. Parliament can seek sometimes it is called the ‘Upper information about any matter. Chamber’ and the Lok Sabha the ‘Lower Chamber’. But this does not TTTwwwo HHo ouses of PPouses arararliamenliamenliamenttt mean that Rajya Sabha is more What is the point in Since the Parliament plays a central powerful than Lok Sabha. This is having so much role in modern democracies, most just an old style of speaking and not debate and large countries divide the role and the language used in our discussion in the powers of the Parliament in two Constitution. Parliament when parts. They are called Chambers or Our Constitution does give the we know that the Houses. One House is usually Rajya Sabha some special powers view of the ruling directly elected by the people and over the states. But on most matters, party is going to exercises the real power on behalf the Lok Sabha exercises supreme prevail? of the people. The second House is power. Let us see how: usually elected indirectly and 1 Any ordinary law needs to be performs some special functions. passed by both the Houses. But if The most common work for the there is a difference between the second House is to look after the two Houses, the final decision is interests of various states, regions taken in a joint session in which or federal units. members of both the Houses sit In our country, the Parliament together. Because of the larger consists of two Houses. The two number of members, the view of Houses are known as the Council of the Lok Sabha is likely to prevail States (Rajya Sabha) and the House of the People (Lok Sabha). The in such a meeting. President of India is a part of the 2 Lok Sabha exercises more powers Parliament, although she is not a in money matters. Once the Lok member of either House. That is why Sabha passes the budget of the all laws made in the Houses come government or any other money into force only after they receive the related law, the Rajya Sabha assent of the President. cannot reject it. The Rajya Sabha You have read about the Indian can only delay it by 14 days or Parliament in earlier classes. From suggest changes in it. The Lok the Chapter Four you know how Lok Sabha may or may not accept Sabha elections take place. Let us these changes. recall some key differences between the composition of these two Houses of Parliament. Answer the following ACTIVITY for the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha: When the Parliament is in session, there is a spe- What is the total number of cial programme everyday on Doordarshan about members? … the proceedings in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Who elects the members? … Watch the proceedings or read about it in the What is the length of the term (in newspapers and note the following: years)? … Powers of the two Houses of Parliament. Can the House be dissolved or is Role of the Speaker. it permanent? … Role of the Opposition. 84 DEMOCRATIC POLITICS 3 Most importantly, the Lok Sabha majority of the Lok Sabha members controls the Council of Ministers. say they have ‘no confidence’ in the Only a person who enjoys the Council of Ministers, all ministers support of the majority of the including the Prime Minister, have members in the Lok Sabha is to quit. The Rajya Sabha does not appointed the Prime Minister. If the have this power. A day in the life of the Lok Sabha 7 December 2004 was an ordinary day in the life of Railways in addition to that sanctioned in the the Fourteenth Lok Sabha. Let us take a look at what Railway Budget. happened in the course of that day. Identify the role The Minister of Human Resource Development and powers of the parliament on the basis of the introduced the National Commission for Minority proceedings for the day as given below. You can Educational Institutions Bill, 2004. He also gave also enact this day in your classroom. a statement explaining why the government had to bring an ordinance for this. 11:00 Various ministries gave written answers to about 250 12:14 Several members highlighted questions that were asked by some issues, including: members. These included: What is the government’s policy on talking to The vindictiveness of the Central Bureau of militant groups in Kashmir? Investigation (CBI) in registering cases against What are the figures of atrocities against some leaders in the Tehelka case. Scheduled Tribes, including those inflicted by Need to include Rajasthani as an official the police? language in the Constitution. What is the government doing about over- Need to renew the insurance policies of pricing of medicines by big companies? farmers and agricultural workers of Andhra Pradesh. 12:00 A large number of official documents were presented and were 2:26 Two bills proposed by the available for discussion. These government were considered and included: passed. These were: Recruitment rules for the Indo-Tibetan Border The Securities Laws (Amendment) Bill Police Force The Enforcement of Security Interest and Annual Report of the Indian Institute of Recovery of Debts Laws (Amendment) Bill Technology, Kharagpur Report and accounts of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam 4:00 Finally, there was a long Limited, Visakhapatnam discussion regarding the foreign policy of the government and the 12:02 The Minister of Development need to continue an independent of North Eastern Region made a foreign policy in the context of the statement regarding Revitalisation of situation in Iraq. the North Eastern Council. The Minister of State for Railways presented a 7:17 Discussion concluded. House statement showing the grant needed by the adjourned for next day. WORKING OF INSTITUTIONS 85 5.3 POLITICAL EXECUTIVE Do you remember the story of the executive in the case of the Office Office Memorandum with which we Memorandum? started this chapter? We found out You might ask: Why does the that the person who signed the political executive have more power document did not take this decision. than the non-political executive? He was only executing the policy Why is the minister more powerful decision taken by someone else. We than the civil servant? The civil noted the role of the Prime Minister servant is usually more educated in taking that decision. But we also and has more expert knowledge of know that he could not have taken the subject. The advisors working in that decision if he did not have the Finance Ministry know more support from the Lok Sabha. In that about economics than the Finance sense he was only executing the Minister. Sometimes the ministers wishes of the Parliament. may know very little about the Thus, at different levels of any technical matters that come under government we find functionaries their ministry. This could easily who take day-to-day decisions but happen in ministries like Defence, do not exercise supreme power on Industry, Health, Science and behalf of the people. All those Technology, Mining, etc. Why should functionaries are collectively known the minister have the final say on as the executive. They are called these matters? executive because they are in charge The reason is very simple. In a of the ‘execution’ of the policies of democracy the will of the people is the government. Thus, when we talk supreme. The minister is elected by about ‘the government’ we usually the people and thus empowered to mean the executive. exercise the will of the people on their behalf. She is finally PPPolitical and PPolitical ererermanenmanenmanenttt answerable to the people for all the EEExxxeeecccutivutivutiveee consequences of her decision. That In a democratic country, two is why the minister takes all the final categories make up the executive. decisions. The minister decides the One that is elected by the people for overall framework and objectives in a specific period, is called the which decisions on policy should be political executive. Political leaders made. The minister is not, and is not who take the big decisions fall in this expected to be, an expert in the category. In the second category, matters of her ministry. The minister people are appointed on a long-term takes the advice of experts on all basis. This is called the permanent technical matters. But very often executive or civil services. Persons experts hold different opinions or working in civil services are called place before her more than one civil servants. They remain in office option. Depending on what the even when the ruling party changes. overall objective is, the minister These officers work under political decides. executive and assist them in Actually this happens in any large carrying out the day-to-day organisation. Those who understand administration. Can you recall the the overall picture take the most role of political and non-political important decisions, not the experts. 86 DEMOCRATIC POLITICS The experts can tell the route, but After the appointment of the Prime someone with a larger view decides Minister, the President appoints the destination. In a democracy other ministers on the advice of the elected ministers perform this role. Prime Minister. The Ministers are usually from the party or the PPPrrrime MMime inistinistinister and CCer ouncilouncilouncil coalition that has the majority in the of MMof inistinistinistersersers Lok Sabha. The Prime Minister is Prime Minister is the most important free to choose ministers, as long as political institution in the country.
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