ICSE CLASS 10 CIVICS - UNION PARLIAMENT (DETAILED NOTES)
🔢 1. STRUCTURE OF THE PARLIAMENT
• Indian Parliament consists of three parts:
• The President of India
• The Rajya Sabha (Upper House)
• The Lok Sabha (Lower House)
• Parliament is the supreme legislative body of India.
• Bicameral Legislature: Two Houses with a President
🔢 2. LOK SABHA (HOUSE OF THE PEOPLE)
• Maximum Strength: 552 members
• 530 from States
• 20 from Union Territories
• 2 nominated from Anglo-Indian community (abolished by 104th Amendment Act, 2020)
• Current Strength: 543 elected members
• Tenure: 5 years (unless dissolved earlier)
• Minimum Age: 25 years
• Qualification:
• Citizen of India
• Mentally sound
• Not convicted
• Not holding an office of profit
Presiding Officers:
• Speaker:
• Elected by Lok Sabha members
• Decides if a Bill is a Money Bill
• Maintains discipline
• Can disqualify members under Anti-Defection Law
• Deputy Speaker: Acts in absence of the Speaker
Quorum:
• Minimum 1/10th of total members required to conduct business
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🔢 3. RAJYA SABHA (COUNCIL OF STATES)
• Maximum Strength: 250 members
• 238 elected by States and UTs
• 12 nominated by the President (fields of literature, science, art, social service)
• Current Strength: ~245
• Tenure: Permanent body; 1/3 members retire every 2 years
• Minimum Age: 30 years
Election:
• Elected by elected members of State Legislative Assemblies using proportional representation and
single transferable vote
Presiding Officers:
• Chairman: Vice-President of India
• Deputy Chairman: Elected from Rajya Sabha members
🔢 4. SESSIONS OF PARLIAMENT
• Summoned by: The President
• Must meet at least twice a year, gap not more than 6 months
Types of Sessions:
1. Budget Session (Feb-May)
2. Monsoon Session (July-Sept)
3. Winter Session (Nov-Dec)
Joint Session:
• Called by President
• Presided over by Speaker of Lok Sabha
• Happens in case of deadlock on Ordinary Bill
🔢 5. TYPES OF BILLS
1. Ordinary Bill:
2. Any subject except money
3. Introduced in either House
4. Requires passage by both Houses and President's assent
5. Money Bill:
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6. Defined in Article 110
7. Introduced only in Lok Sabha
8. Rajya Sabha cannot amend, only recommend (must respond in 14 days)
9. Speaker certifies if it's a Money Bill
10. Financial Bill:
11. Similar to Money Bill but includes non-financial clauses
12. Can be amended by Rajya Sabha
13. Constitution Amendment Bill:
14. Can be introduced in either House
15. Requires special majority
16. Some amendments require state ratification
🔢 6. PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES
Question Hour:
• First hour of every sitting
• MPs ask questions to ministers
• Ensures transparency
Types of Questions: - Starred: Oral + supplementary allowed - Unstarred: Written only - Short Notice:
Urgent matters
Zero Hour:
• Immediately after Question Hour
• Not in Rules of Procedure
• For raising urgent public issues
Calling Attention Motion:
• A member calls attention to a minister about a serious matter
• Requires ministerial statement
Adjournment Motion:
• Suspends normal business
• For discussing a matter of urgent public importance
• Needs Speaker's permission
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No-Confidence Motion:
• Only in Lok Sabha
• If passed, the Council of Ministers must resign
• Requires minimum 50 members to support its introduction
Censure Motion:
• Expresses disapproval of government policy
• Does not require resignation if passed
🔢 7. POWERS OF PARLIAMENT
Legislative Powers:
• Can legislate on:
• Union List
• Concurrent List
• State List (under special situations like Rajya Sabha resolution or Emergency)
Financial Powers:
• Controls taxation and public expenditure
• Passes the Union Budget
• Money Bills introduced only in Lok Sabha
Executive Powers:
• Controls the Executive through:
• Question Hour
• No-confidence motions
• Debates
• Adjournment/Censure Motions
Electoral Powers:
• Elects:
• President (with State Assemblies)
• Vice-President (by MPs only)
Judicial Powers:
• Can impeach:
• President
• Vice-President
• Judges of SC and HCs
• CAG, CEC, UPSC Chairman
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Amending Power:
• Can amend the Constitution (Article 368)
• Special majority needed
• Some amendments need half of states' ratification
🔢 8. COMPARISON: LOK SABHA VS RAJYA SABHA
Feature Lok Sabha Rajya Sabha
Max Strength 552 250
Tenure 5 years Permanent (6 years per member)
Minimum Age 25 years 30 years
Presiding Officer Speaker Vice-President (Chairman)
Introduces Money Bills Yes No
Controls Executive Yes (can pass no-confidence) No
Greater Power Financial & Executive control Deliberative & Federal authority
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