Important Differences Between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha

Lok Sabha

Lok Sabha is the lower house of the Indian Parliament, consisting of representatives elected by the people of India. The Lok Sabha is one of the two houses of the Indian Parliament, the other being the Rajya Sabha or the upper house. The Lok Sabha represents the people of India and is responsible for making laws, scrutinizing the work of the government, and holding the executive accountable for its actions.

History of Lok Sabha:

The Lok Sabha was established under the Government of India Act, 1935, and was first convened in 1952, after India gained independence from British rule. The first Lok Sabha had 489 members, with two nominated members representing the Anglo-Indian community. Over the years, the number of members has increased, and the current strength of the Lok Sabha is 545 members, with 543 elected members and 2 nominated members.

Composition of Lok Sabha:

The members of the Lok Sabha are elected by the people of India through a process of universal adult suffrage. The term of the Lok Sabha is five years, unless it is dissolved earlier by the President of India. The members of the Lok Sabha are chosen through direct elections, where the people of India vote for the candidate of their choice in their respective constituencies.

The seats in the Lok Sabha are allocated to each state and union territory based on their population. The allocation of seats is done through a process called delimitation, which is carried out by a commission appointed by the President of India. The delimitation process is done periodically to ensure that the allocation of seats is in proportion to the population of each state and union territory.

Powers and Functions of Lok Sabha:

The Lok Sabha has several powers and functions, which include:

  1. Law-making: The Lok Sabha is responsible for making laws that govern the country. Any bill introduced in the Lok Sabha must be passed by a majority of its members before it can become a law. The Lok Sabha has the power to introduce bills, and it can also consider bills passed by the Rajya Sabha.
  2. Financial Control: The Lok Sabha has the power to approve or reject any budget presented by the government. The Lok Sabha also has the power to scrutinize the expenditure of the government and hold it accountable for its financial decisions.
  3. Executive Oversight: The Lok Sabha can question the government on its policies and decisions. The members of the Lok Sabha can ask questions and seek clarifications from the government on any issue related to its functioning.
  4. Impeachment: The Lok Sabha has the power to impeach the President of India, the Vice President of India, and other high officials of the government.
  5. Representation: The Lok Sabha represents the people of India and is responsible for ensuring that their voices are heard. The members of the Lok Sabha are expected to raise issues that concern their constituents and work towards resolving them.

Role of Speaker:

The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is the presiding officer of the House and is responsible for maintaining order and decorum during the proceedings of the House. The Speaker is elected by the members of the Lok Sabha and holds office for the duration of the House. The Speaker is assisted by the Deputy Speaker, who is also elected by the members of the Lok Sabha.

Rajya Sabha

Rajya Sabha is the upper house of the Indian Parliament, consisting of representatives from the states and union territories of India. The Rajya Sabha is one of the two houses of the Indian Parliament, the other being the Lok Sabha or the lower house. The Rajya Sabha represents the states and union territories of India and is responsible for making laws, scrutinizing the work of the government, and holding the executive accountable for its actions.

History of Rajya Sabha:

The Rajya Sabha was established under the Constitution of India, which was adopted in 1950. The first session of the Rajya Sabha was held on 13 May 1952. The Rajya Sabha was created to give representation to the states and union territories of India in the Parliament, and to act as a check on the Lok Sabha.

Composition of Rajya Sabha:

The members of the Rajya Sabha are elected by the members of the Legislative Assemblies of the states and union territories of India. The members of the Rajya Sabha are elected for a term of six years, with one-third of the members retiring every two years. The Rajya Sabha has a total strength of 245 members, out of which 233 members are elected by the Legislative Assemblies of the states and union territories, and 12 members are nominated by the President of India.

The allocation of seats in the Rajya Sabha is based on the population of each state and union territory, and it is done through a process called proportional representation. The allocation of seats ensures that the smaller states and union territories have adequate representation in the Rajya Sabha.

Powers and Functions of Rajya Sabha:

The Rajya Sabha has several powers and functions, which include:

  1. Law-making: The Rajya Sabha is responsible for making laws, and any bill introduced in the Rajya Sabha must be passed by a majority of its members before it can become a law. The Rajya Sabha can also consider bills passed by the Lok Sabha.
  2. Financial Control: The Rajya Sabha has the power to approve or reject any budget presented by the government. The Rajya Sabha can also scrutinize the expenditure of the government and hold it accountable for its financial decisions.
  3. Executive Oversight: The Rajya Sabha can question the government on its policies and decisions. The members of the Rajya Sabha can ask questions and seek clarifications from the government on any issue related to its functioning.
  4. Representation: The Rajya Sabha represents the states and union territories of India and is responsible for ensuring that their voices are heard. The members of the Rajya Sabha are expected to raise issues that concern their states and work towards resolving them.
  5. Impeachment: The Rajya Sabha has the power to impeach the President of India, the Vice President of India, and other high officials of the government.

Role of Chairman:

The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is the presiding officer of the House and is responsible for maintaining order and decorum during the proceedings of the House. The Chairman is elected by the members of the Rajya Sabha and holds office for the duration of the House. The Chairman is assisted by the Deputy Chairman, who is also elected by the members of the Rajya Sabha.

Key Differences Between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha

Feature Lok Sabha Rajya Sabha
Number of members 545 245
Method of election Direct election Indirect election by MLAs
Term of members 5 years 6 years
Presiding officer Speaker Vice-President of India
Quorum 1/10th of the members 1/10th of the members
Power to pass money bills Yes No
Power to initiate impeachment proceedings Yes Yes
Role in no-confidence motion Can move and pass Cannot move or pass
Representation Based on population States and Union Territories
Eligibility criteria Indian citizenship and 25 years of age Indian citizenship and 30 years of age

Similarities Between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha

The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are the two houses of the Indian Parliament, and while they have some differences in their functions and powers, there are also several similarities between them:

  1. Both are legislative houses: Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are legislative houses that have the power to make laws for the country.
  2. Members of both houses are elected: Members of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are elected by the people of India, although the methods of election are different.
  3. The tenure of both houses is fixed: The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha both have a fixed term of five years, unless dissolved earlier.
  4. Both houses have the power to impeach: Both houses have the power to initiate the process of impeachment of the President of India, the Vice-President of India, and judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts.
  5. Both houses have committees: Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have various committees to carry out detailed study and analysis of bills and other issues, and to make recommendations to the house.
  6. Both houses have the power to amend the Constitution: Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have the power to amend the Constitution of India, subject to certain conditions.
  7. Both houses have the power to initiate money bills: Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have the power to initiate money bills, although only the Lok Sabha can pass them.

Laws governing Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha

The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are the two houses of the Indian Parliament. The laws governing these two houses include:

  1. Constitution of India: The Indian Constitution lays down the framework for the functioning of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The Constitution defines the powers and duties of the Parliament, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, and the members of both the houses.
  2. Representation of the People Act, 1951: This act defines the qualifications and disqualifications for membership of both the houses of Parliament. It also provides for the conduct of elections to the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
  3. Rules of Procedure: Each house has its own rules of procedure that govern the conduct of its business. These rules are made by the respective houses and are subject to the provisions of the Constitution.
  4. Anti-Defection Law: The Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, popularly known as the Anti-Defection Law, sets out the provisions for disqualification of members of Parliament on the grounds of defection.
  5. Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament Act, 1954: This act provides for the salaries, allowances, and pensions of the members of both houses of Parliament.
  6. Privileges of Parliament: The Constitution and other laws also provide certain privileges to the members of Parliament, such as freedom of speech and immunity from legal proceedings in respect of their speeches and votes in the house.
  7. Other laws: Various other laws, such as the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, and the Official Secrets Act, 1923, also apply to the functioning of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

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