THE LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCTION
 Government is one of the essential elements of
state.
 Generally usage of word ‘Government’ with
reference to executive.
 The term however includes all three agencieslegislature, executive, and judiciary.
 Legislature makes laws, Executive enforces
them and the judiciary administers, interprets
and applies the law.
INTRODUCTION
Legislature occupies an important place in
modern state
The functions of legislature vary country to
country.
Legislature occupies a place of pride in
democratic system.
The primary work of legislature is law
making./
In practice to describe the political bodies
with very similar functions i.e.
 congress in USA
national assembly in France
house of representatives in Japan
parliament in Singapore
Congress of deputies in Spain
Sansad in India
An assembly or legislature is seen as the
representative of the people.
Regardless of their legislative powers and
representative features parliament above
all are debating chambers; that is the
forum in which policies and political issues
can be openly discussed and scrutinized.
The role of the legislature differ from one
country to the other.
It provides a link between government and
the people.
A channel of communication that can both
support the government and help to
uphold the regime.
Functions of legislature
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Legislation
Representation
Scrutiny
Political recruitment
Legitimacy
STRUCTURE OF LEGISLATION
Unicameralthe practice of having one legislative or
parliamentary chamber.a unicameral parliament
or unicameral legislature is a legislature which
consists of one chamber or house. Some countries
with unicameral legislatures are often small and
homogeneous unitary states and consider an
upper house or second chamber unnecessary.
Bicameral-the practice of having two
legislative or parliamentary chambers.
Thus, a bicameral parliament or bicameral
legislature is a legislature which consists
of two chambers or houses.
The legislature
bicameral Parliament
Rajya Sabha (Council of States)
Lok Sabha (House of the People)
Rajya Sabha (Council of States)
The Upper House
Upper House
Rajya Sabha (Council of States)
not more than 250 members
12 are nominated by the President of India
the rest are indirectly elected
by state Legislative Assemblies
The Council of States can not be dissolved
members have terms of 6 years
1/3 members retire at end of every 2nd year
Lok Sabha
House of the
People
Lower House
Lok Sabha (House of the People)
545 members
2 are appointed by the President of India
the rest are directly elected from single-member
districts
5-year terms unless dissolved
Lok Sabha elects its presiding officer
the Speaker
Lok Sabha
Elections held at least every 5 years
Prime Minister may call elections earlier
543 single-member districts of roughly
equal population
party nomination
1st-past-the-post
winner-take-all
women’s share