Indian Federalism: Unit 5 (A) Legislature

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the fundamental concepts, institutional structures, and constitutional provisions related to the Indian Legislature (Parliament) as detailed in the lecture notes.

Legislature

A general term for law-making bodies which subsumes specific names like Parliament, Congress, and National Assembly; known as ‘Diet’ in Japan, ‘Cortes’ in Spain, and ‘Jatiya Sangshad’ in Bangladesh.

Parliament

The name of the legislature at the Union level in India, which upholds the sovereignty of the nation in a Parliamentary democracy.

January 26th 1950

The date the Indian Constitution came into effect and the country became a Republic.

May, 1952

The month and year when the first elected Parliament of India came into being following the first general election.

Articles 79 to 123

The specific articles in the Constitution of India that provide for the composition, qualifications, tenure, sessions, officials, and procedures of the Parliamentary democracy.

Bicameral Parliament

The Indian legislative structure consisting of an Executive Head (the President of India) and two Houses: the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha.

Rajya Sabha

The upper house of the Indian Parliament, which represents the federal units (States and Union Territories).

Lok Sabha

The lower house of the Indian Parliament, also known as the House of People, which represents the people of India as a whole.

Art. 80

The Constitutional article governing the composition of the Rajya Sabha, limiting it to a maximum of $250$ members.

Single transferable vote system

A proportional voting system used for Rajya Sabha elections where voters rank candidates to achieve proportional representation in multi-seat constituencies.

Adult Suffrage

The basis for direct elections to the Lok Sabha, where every citizen not less than $18$ years of age is entitled to vote unless disqualified by law.

Rajya Sabha Membership Age Qualification

The constitutional requirement that a person must be at least $30$ years of age to be a member of the upper house.

Lok Sabha Membership Age Qualification

The constitutional requirement that a person must be at least $25$ years of age to be a member of the lower house.

Office of Profit

A ground for disqualification from Parliament if a member holds a position under the Government of India or any State that is not exempted by law.

Prorogation

The act of terminating a session of a House of Parliament, as opposed to an adjournment or dissolution.

Dissolution

The act that brings the term of the Lok Sabha to an end and calls for a fresh election.

Speaker

The presiding officer of the Lok Sabha, chosen by its members, responsible for maintaining order and interpreting the Rules of Procedure.

Quorum

The minimum number of members required to be present for a meeting of the House; in its absence, the Speaker must adjourn or suspend the meeting.

Casting Vote

The vote exercised by the Speaker or Chairperson only in the case of a tie, used to resolve an impasse while maintaining an otherwise impartial position.

Ex-officio Chairperson

The position held by the Vice President of India as the presiding officer of the Rajya Sabha.

Money Bill

A specific type of bill that can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha and must be certified by the Speaker before being sent to the Rajya Sabha.

Collective Responsibility

The constitutional principle under which the Council of Ministers is accountable to the Lok Sabha.

Article 249

A constitutional provision empowering the Rajya Sabha to make laws on matters in the state list if it is in the national interest.

Article 312

A constitutional provision empowering the Rajya Sabha to pass a resolution for the creation of an All India Service.

Art. 265

The article specifying that no tax shall be levied or collected except by authority of law, ensuring executive fiscal accountability.

Consolidated Fund of India

The reservoir of all revenues and loans of the Government of India from which no money can be appropriated except in accordance with law.

Estimates Committee

The annual parliamentary committee that examines budget estimates to suggest economies and check governmental extravagance.

Public Accounts Committee (PAC)

A committee consisting of $15$ members from the Lok Sabha and $7$ from the Rajya Sabha that examines the audit reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General.

Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG)

The guardian of the public purse whose duty is to ensure no money is spent without Parliamentary authority.