Governance and Democracy: The Parliamentary System Notes

Constitutional Spirit: The Constitution is viewed as a "vehicle of life" rather than just a legal document, as stated by Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar in November $1949$ .
Universal Adult Franchise: Guarantees all adult citizens the right to vote regardless of background, ensuring government by consent.
Parliaments to Date: There have been $17$ Lok Sabhas since $1952$ ; the $18^{th}$ Lok Sabha was constituted in June $2024$ .
Structural Inspiration: While inspired by Britain, the system also draws on India's historical experiences like ancient republics (mahājanapadas) and village panchayats.

Bicameral Structure: India follows a bicameral system consisting of two houses:
- Lok Sabha (House of the People): The Lower House with a maximum of $550$ members elected directly by the people.
- Rajya Sabha (Council of States): The Upper House where members are elected indirectly by an electoral college.
Presiding Officers: The Lok Sabha is led by the Speaker; the Rajya Sabha is presided over by the Vice President of India as Chairperson.
The Sengol: A gold-plated silver sceptre from the Chola period placed near the Speaker's chair, symbolizing righteous rule and the transfer of power (dharma).

Constitutional: Upholding core values, electing the President and Vice President, and amending the Constitution.
Lawmaking: Laws originate as Bills (drafts). The process involves readings, standing committee scrutiny, clause-by-clause discussion, voting, and finally, Presidential assent to become an Act.
- Money Bills: Specific financial bills that can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha with prior recommendation from the President.
Executive Accountability: The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. Mechanisms like the Question Hour (the first hour of a session) hold the executive accountable.
Financial Accountability: The Parliament approves the annual budget and monitors government expenditure.

The President: The Head of State and nominal head of the Executive; appoints the Prime Minister and gives assent to bills.
The Prime Minister: The de facto executive authority and leader of the majority party; coordinates ministries and shapes national policies.
State Level Parallel: States have a similar structure with a Governor (Nominal Head), Chief Minister (De facto Head), and a Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly). Some states also have a Vidhan Parishad (Legislative Council).
Division of Powers: Jurisdictions are divided into the Union List, State List, and Concurrent List to maintain federalism.

Role: Acts as the custodian of the Constitution, interpreting laws and resolving disputes.
Checks and Balances: The Judiciary ensures the Legislature and Executive operate within the Constitutional framework, preventing any single organ from becoming too powerful.

Productivity: Rajya Sabha productivity declined from $78\%$ ( $2004-2014$ ) to about $65\%$ , with a record low of $35.75\%$ in $2018$ due to disruptions.
Concerns: Issues include regular absenteeism, uncooperative conduct, disruptions of the Question Hour, and the presence of representatives with criminal cases.
Electorate Engagement: Strengthening democracy requires informed citizens, public debate, and constructive engagement with political representatives.

Voice of the People: How does the Parliament ensure different opinions are heard and act as the representative voice of the citizens?
System Choice: Why did the Constitution makers choose a bicameral legislature at the Union level and make the Executive responsible to the Legislature?
Women's Reservation Bill, 2023: Discussion on why this bill took over $25$ years to pass despite wide support.
Impact of Disruptions: Evaluation of how parliamentary disruptions affect the quality of laws and public trust in representatives.
Independent Judiciary: Consideration of the consequences of not having an independent judicial branch to check other government organs.