The Parliamentary System: Legislature and Executive

1. Chapter at a Glance

India is a parliamentary democracy: the people elect representatives to the Lok Sabha, the majority among them forms the government, and that government stays in office only as long as it has the Lok Sabha's support. This chapter explains how Parliament is made up, its four main functions (constitutional, law-making, executive accountability, financial accountability), how the executive (President, Prime Minister, Council of Ministers) works, how the judiciary checks both, how States mirror this structure, and what challenges legislatures face.

2. Parliament of India

The new Parliament building (Sansad Bhavan), inaugurated in 2023, has a triangular design, green features to save electricity, and art from across India — peacocks, lotuses, tribal art and freedom fighters — showing that democracy looks ahead without forgetting its roots. The old circular building (1927), where the Constituent Assembly met, is now called Samvidhan Sadan. The 18th Lok Sabha was formed in June 2024; the first was in 1952.

Having two houses is called a bicameral system. The Constituent Assembly chose it in the spirit of federalism — power shared between the Union, States and local governments — so that the States have their own voice. India's model drew on Britain's Westminster system, on Indians' limited experience of colonial legislatures, and on memories of ancient republics and village assemblies.

Members can speak in many Indian languages; simultaneous interpretation now covers 18 languages, including recent additions such as Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Manipuri, Urdu and Sanskrit.

3. Functions of Parliament

(1) Constitutional functions

Electing the President and Vice President, amending the Constitution, and upholding universal adult franchise, separation of powers, federalism, Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles through laws and policies.

(2) Law-making — how a bill becomes an Act

A bill is a draft law. After passing both Houses and receiving the President's assent, it becomes an Act.

1. Bill introduced in either House (a Money Bill — on taxes, borrowing and spending — only in the Lok Sabha, with the President's recommendation).
2. Reading and general discussion.
3. Often sent to a Standing Committee — a permanent committee of MPs from different parties — for detailed study.
4. Clause-by-clause discussion; amendments voted.
5. Vote in the House; the same process in the other House.
6. President's assent.
7. Published in the official Gazette — it becomes law.

(3) Executive accountability

Ministers must answer to Parliament. In Question Hour (usually the first hour of a sitting) MPs question ministers on policies and actions. Parliamentary committees review ministries' work — for example, a health committee may recommend steps and the ministry must report the “action taken”.

(4) Financial accountability

Parliament approves the annual Budget and monitors spending, because the government spends the people's money. In the 2025–26 Budget speech, the Finance Minister quoted the Tirukkural's idea that people look to good governance as living beings look to rain.

4. The Union Executive

5. Legislature vs Executive, and the Judiciary's Check

The judiciary interprets laws, settles disputes, protects Fundamental Rights and checks that laws and government actions stay within the Constitution. This separation of powers with checks and balances prevents any one organ from becoming too powerful. Although ministers sit in Parliament, separation remains because their executive actions are questioned by Parliament and reviewed by courts.

6. The Same Pattern in the States

The Constitution's Seventh Schedule lists subjects in three lists: Union List (Parliament), State List (State legislatures) and Concurrent List (both; if they conflict, the Union law prevails — e.g. RTE applies across India though education is concurrent).

Six States have a Legislative Council (bicameral): Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh. Karnataka's legislature meets in the grand Vidhana Soudha.

7. Challenges and Citizens' Role

• Parliament usually meets in three sessions — Budget, Monsoon and Winter. Disruptions, absenteeism and walkouts reduce productivity (hours actually worked versus hours scheduled); a former Rajya Sabha Chairman noted sessions with very low productivity due to disruptions.
• Fewer sittings over the decades, rushed or delayed bills (the Women's Reservation law took more than 25 years before it was passed in 2023), and many members facing criminal cases are public concerns.
• Remedies: informed, engaged citizens; public consultations on draft policies; constructive engagement with MPs and MLAs; young and diverse leaders.
• Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee reminded the Lok Sabha that governments and parties come and go, but the nation and its democracy must endure.

8. Master Table: Key Terms

9. Master Summary Table

Chart — number of States with each type of legislature (28 States):

10. Mind Map

11. Tips and Tricks

12. Important One-liners

• Parliament consists of the President and two Houses.
• The old Parliament building is now called Samvidhan Sadan.
• The Sengol stands near the Speaker's chair.
• A bill becomes an Act after the President's assent.
• Money Bills can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha.
• Question Hour holds ministers accountable.
• The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha.
• Article 21A guarantees education for ages 6–14.
• Lal Bahadur Shastri resigned in 1956 taking moral responsibility.
• Six States have Legislative Councils.
• If Union and State laws on a Concurrent subject conflict, the Union law prevails.

13. Exam-pattern Questions with Detailed Answers

14. Quick Revision Summary