Why Do We Need a Parliament?
Introduction
- Parliament is the supreme law-making body in a democracy.
- It represents the people, makes laws, and controls the government.
Why Should People Decide?
- Before independence, the British ruled without consulting Indians.
- After independence, Indians gained the right to choose their representatives who make decisions on their behalf.
People and Their Representatives
- People in a democracy elect representatives to Parliament through elections.
- These representatives voice the concerns and needs of their constituents.
The Role of the Parliament
To Select the National Government:
- The Parliament plays a crucial role in selecting the national government.
- The party or coalition with a majority in Lok Sabha forms the government.
- The Prime Minister is the leader of the majority party.
- The government is accountable to the Parliament.
To Control, Guide, and Inform the Government:
- The Parliament controls the government by asking questions and holding discussions.
- It guides the government on various issues by debating policies.
- MPs can ask questions to ministers about their departments.
- Parliament ensures that the government is transparent and accountable.
Law-Making:
- Parliament makes new laws and amends existing ones.
- A proposed law, called a bill, is debated in Parliament before becoming a law.
- Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha must approve the bill before it becomes a law.
Who are the People in Parliament?
- Lok Sabha (House of the People):
- Members are directly elected by the people.
- Lok Sabha has a larger number of members compared to Rajya Sabha.
- The government is formed by the party or coalition with a majority in Lok Sabha.
- Rajya Sabha (Council of States):
- Members are elected by the elected members of State Legislative Assemblies.
- Rajya Sabha represents the states and has fewer members than Lok Sabha.
- It reviews and suggests changes to bills passed by Lok Sabha.
