CW Qs & As

15- The Central Government- The Legislature & Executive

LEGISLATURE OF INDIA

A BILL BECOMES A LAW [4]

The steps a bill must go through to become law are:

● Either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha introduce the bill.
● The bill undergoes three stages of reading or discussion and is put to a vote.
● The bill undergoes the same process when it goes to the other house.
●The bill is now awaiting approval from the president. The president can either pass the bill or veto it.
If the president passes the bill, it becomes law. If he doesn’t pass, then he sends it back to the house of
origin for reconsideration.

Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha: [4]

Lok Sabha Rajya Sabha

Election of Members of the Lok Sabha are
members directly elected by eligible voters.
The country is divided into different
constituencies and one member is
elected to the Lok Sabha from each
constituency.
Powers Powers that the Lok Sabha alone has:
Money bills can be introduced only in
the Lok Sabha. The Lok Sabha alone
can grant the money for running the
administration of the country. The
Council of Ministers is answerable
only to the Lok Sabha.
Members of the Rajya Sabha are
indirectly elected by the elected
members of the State Legislative
Assemblies based on proportional
representation.
Powers that the Rajya Sabha alone has:
The Rajya Sabha alone can declare a
subject on the state list to be of national
interest, thereby allowing the
Parliament to make laws on that
subject. The Rajya Sabha can also create
by law one or more all-India services
common to the union and the states.
Executive of India

The legislative powers of the President of India: [3]

 President must give his/her assent before a bill becomes law.
 President may withhold or return any bill sent by the Parliament.
 While the Parliament is not in session, the president has the authority to issue
ordinances.

The Emergency Powers of the President of India: [3]

The president can declare an emergency if:
 A war or internal aggression that threatens the country.
 In case of a breakdown of Constitutional machinery.
 Financial instability threatens the country.

Functions/ Powers of the prime minister of India/ head of the Government of India: [3]
 Selects the Council of Ministers
 Distributes portfolios among the ministers and presides over the Cabinet meetings
 Decides the order of the business to be carried out.
 Coordinates the working of the different departments and is the vital link between the
President and the Cabinet.
 Can expand the Cabinet and also demand the resignation of any minister.

Functions and powers of the Council of Ministers: [3]

 Formulate concrete proposals for legislation.
 Aid and advise the president in his or her functions through the prime minister.
 The Council can amend the Constitution and impeach the President and court
judges.