Parliament: Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and presiding officers
Parliament is the President plus two Houses: the directly elected Lok Sabha and the permanent Rajya Sabha. The Lok Sabha is the more powerful House.
Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha at a glance
| Point | Lok Sabha | Rajya Sabha |
|---|---|---|
| Other name | House of the People (lower house) | Council of States (upper house) |
| Maximum strength | 550 elected: 530 from the States, 20 from the Union Territories | 250: 238 from the States and Union Territories, 12 nominated by the President |
| How chosen | Directly by citizens aged 18 and above; one member from each parliamentary constituency | Indirectly, by the members of the State Legislative Assemblies, by proportional representation (single transferable vote) |
| Term | Five years; can be dissolved earlier; can be extended by one year during an emergency | Permanent, never dissolved; members serve six years and one-third retire every two years |
| Minimum age | 25 years | 30 years |
| Presiding officer | Speaker, and the Deputy Speaker in the Speaker's absence | Vice President as ex-officio Chairman, and the Deputy Chairman in the Chairman's absence |
Key points on membership
- Lok Sabha seats are shared among the States by population. Each State is divided into parliamentary constituencies, and each elects one member.
- To join the Lok Sabha, a person must be a citizen of India and at least 25 years old. The person must hold no office of profit under any government.
- A Rajya Sabha member must be a citizen and at least 30 years old. The other qualifications are the same.
- The 12 nominated members of the Rajya Sabha are distinguished people in literature, art, science and social service.
- Each State's share of Rajya Sabha seats also depends on its population.
- Your NIOS lesson also says the President could nominate two Anglo-Indian members to the Lok Sabha. This provision ended in 2020.
The presiding officers
- Speaker: elected by Lok Sabha members from among themselves. Keeps order, decides who speaks and for how long, and guards members' rights and privileges.
- The Speaker decides whether a bill is a money bill, and this decision is final.
- The Speaker presides over a joint sitting of both Houses.
- Chairman of the Rajya Sabha: the Vice President, by virtue of office (ex-officio). The Chairman is not a member of the Rajya Sabha.
- The Vice President is elected by an electoral college of the members of both Houses, by proportional representation (single transferable vote) and secret ballot.
- Both the Speaker and the Chairman normally do not vote, but can cast a vote to break a tie (a casting vote).
The two Houses compared
| Matter | Position |
|---|---|
| Representation | The Lok Sabha is directly elected, the true voice of the people; the Rajya Sabha is indirectly elected |
| Ordinary bills | Equal powers; but in a joint sitting the Lok Sabha wins, as it has more than double the members |
| Control over ministers | Only the Lok Sabha can pass a no-confidence motion; the Rajya Sabha can only debate and criticise |
| Money bills | The Lok Sabha has the upper hand; the Rajya Sabha can only recommend changes, within 14 days |
| Amendments, and electing or removing the President, Vice President and judges | Both Houses have almost equal powers |
| Special powers | Only the Rajya Sabha can create a new All India Service and declare a State List subject to be of national importance |
Second chamber, not a secondary chamber
The Lok Sabha is clearly the more powerful House. Yet it is not fair to call the Rajya Sabha a secondary chamber. It is permanent, so it gives continuity. It represents the States, which suits a federation. It has an equal say on constitutional amendments and on removing top office holders. And only the Rajya Sabha can create a new All India Service or let Parliament make laws on a State List subject in the national interest.
Your vote in a Lok Sabha election chooses one member for your parliamentary constituency. Your MLA's vote, in turn, helps elect the Rajya Sabha members from your State.
1 marks: “Who presides over a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament?” The Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
2 marks: “Why is the Rajya Sabha called a permanent House?” It is never dissolved. Its members serve six years, and one-third of them retire every two years, so the House always continues.
6 marks: “Compare the powers of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Is the Rajya Sabha merely a secondary chamber?” Lok Sabha directly elected, Rajya Sabha permanent and indirect; equal on ordinary bills but Lok Sabha wins joint sittings; money bills and no-confidence only in the Lok Sabha; equal on amendments and removals; Rajya Sabha alone on All India Services and State List subjects; so second, not secondary.
Lok Sabha 5-25-550 (term, age, seats). Rajya Sabha 6-30-250 (member's term, age, seats).