CHAPTER NO: 3

TOPIC: Parliament and the Making of Laws

CONTENT Role of parliament

➢ Law making
➢ People and representatives
➢ People in parliament
➢ Formation of new laws
➢ Case study
➢ Unpopular and Controversial laws
➢ Domestic Violence
OBJECTIVE To enable students to:
➢ develop an understanding of the rule of law and our
involvement with the law
➢ understand the Constitution as the primary source of all our laws
➢ understand laws as evolving and subject to change.
TEACHING AIDS Textbook NCERT, Green board, Smart class module

Level 1
I. Answer the following in one word:
1. A system in which division of power is there between the state and the central government.
Federal system

2. Law making organ of the government.

Legislature
3. Charges on the President levied by the legislature.
Impeachment
4. Write full form of EVM, NDA, PMO
EVM: Electronic Voting Machine , PMO : Prime Minister OFFICE , NDA : National
Democ
ratic Alliance
 5. When EVMs were used in India for the first time.
2004
6. Name two buildings of the Central Secretariat.
The South Block and The North Block

7. Name the block in which the Ministry of Home affairs is located.

The North Block
8. Alliance formed by political parties after election.
Coalition
9. How many members are nominated by President in Rajya Sabha?
12
10. What is the nature of the Indian government?
India is a Sovereign ,Socialist ,Secular and Democratic Republic with a Parliamentary form of
government which is federal in structure with unitary features. There is a Council of Ministers
with the Prime Minster as its head to advice the President who is the constitutional head of the
country
11. What is the tenure of Rajya Sabha and Lok sabha?
6 years for Rajya Sabha and 5years for Lok sabha.
12. How many members are there in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha?
The Lok Sabha at present consists of 545 members.
The Rajya Sabha should consist of not more than 250 members
13. The injury or harm or threat of injury caused by an adult male.
Domestic violence
14. Name the act that protected women from domestic violence.
The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005

15. Name the Indian state that has a uniform civil code in place, in which all religions have a
common law regarding marriages, divorces and adoption.
The uniform civil code in Goa applies to matters related to marriages, divorces, and adoption
for people of all religions

16. Process through which President of India can be removed.

Impeachment
17. Name the system of law which presently operates in India.
• Law of India refers to the system of law which presently operates in India. It is largely based on
English
• common law because of the long period of British colonial influence during the period of the
British Raj.
• Much of contemporary Indian law shows substantial European and American influence.
Q18. Number of subjects in Concurrent list, central list and State list.
India follows the federal system where in the constitution distributes power between state
and centre. There are three lists of subjects: CENTRAL/ UNION LIST (97 subjects), STATE LIST
(66 subjects), CONCURRENT LIST (47 subjects). The centre has power to make laws on both the
union list and the concurrent list
Know and learn:
Parliamentary form: The form of government which is answerable to the parliament or the union
legislature.
Federal system: In this system there is a written constitution, a division of power between
the state and the central government and a supreme court to decide the
disputes
Impeachment: The legislature can levy charges on the President and if they are proved,
the chief Executive has to resign.
Legislature: An organ of the government that makes the law.
Executive: An organ of the government that executes the law.
Judiciary: An organ of the government that settles disputes and imparts justice

1. Mention the features of the following:

a. Lok Sabha-
• Members of Lok Sabha are directly elected eligible voters who are known as the members of the
Parliament.
• The tenure for Lok Sabha is 5 years.
• Money bills can only be introduced here.
• The total number of seats in Lok Sabha is 545 and it is presided over by the speakers.
b. Rajya Sabha

• It is the permanent body of the Parliament and the tenure is for 6 years.
• One third of the members retire every year and are replaced by the newly elected members.
• Members are elected by the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of various states .
• There are 233 elected members and 12 members are nominated by the president.

2. Explain the three functions of the parliament in India.

• To select the National Government: After the Lok Sabha elections, a list is prepared showing
how many MPs belong to each party. They select the executive. The Executive is a group of
people who work together to implement the laws made by Parliament.
• To control guide and inform the government: - The Parliament, while in session, begins with
question hour. The question hour is an important mechanism through which MPs can elicit
information about the working of the government. This is a very important way through which the
Parliament controls the executive.
• Law making: - Law making is a significant function of Parliament.
Q3. Describe the three categories of ministers that assist the Prime Minister.
• Cabinet Ministers: - They are the important ministers who are the core of Executives.
• Minister of State: - Ministers of state have independent charges of some ministers or are placed
under cabinet ministers.
• Deputy Minister: - They assist the cabinet ministers and ministers of state.

Q4. ‘Question hour is a very important way through which parliament controls the executive’.
Comment.
• The question hour is an important function through which MP’s can elicit information a working
about the working of the government.
 • This is a very important way through which the parliament controls the executives.
• By asking questions the government is alerted to its shortcomings and comes to know the people
through their representatives in the parliament that is MP’s.
• Asking questions from the government is a crucial task for every MP. The opposition parties play
a critical role in the healthy functioning of the democracy.
Level-2
1. Make a flow chart on the process that helps form the government.

CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

EXECUTIVE LEGISLATURE

PRESIDENT
Lok Sabha Rajya Sabha

VICE-PRESIDENT

PRIME MINISTER

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

Cabinet Ministers Ministers of State Deputy Ministers

2. Describe the process that helps in formulating new laws.

• The Parliament has an important role in making laws.
• There are many ways through which this takes place, and it is often different groups in society
that raise the need for a particular law.
• An important role of Parliament is to be sensitive to the problems faced by people.
3. Discuss the role of citizens in a situation where parliament passes unpopular laws.
• Sometimes a law can be constitutionally valid and hence legal, but it can continue to
• be unpopular and unacceptable to people because they feel that the intention behind it is unfair
and harmful.
• Hence, people might criticise this law, hold public meetings, write about it in
• newspapers, report to TV news channels etc.
• In a democracy like ours, citizens can express their unwillingness to accept repressive laws
framed by the Parliament.
• When many people begin to feel that a wrong law has been passed, then there is pressure on
the Parliament to change this.
4. List the various options the citizens must opt to voice their opinion in public.
• Voting: Voting in elections is one of the most fundamental and direct ways for citizens to
voice their opinion in a democracy.
• Freedom of Speech: Freedom of speech is a fundamental right in a democratic society.
 Citizens can express their opinions, ideas, and concerns freely through public speeches,
protests, demonstrations, or by writing articles, blogs, or social media posts.
• Participating in Public Meetings: Citizens can actively participate in public meetings, town
halls, or public hearings organized by government authorities or elected representatives to
discuss issues of public interest.
• Petitions: Citizens can create and sign petitions to express their views on specific matters and
advocate for change.
• Joining Political Parties: Citizens can actively engage in the democratic process by joining
political parties that represent their views and aspirations.
5. Make a chart on the process of Law making.
Proposal for New Legislation

Introduction of the Bill in Parliament

Passage of the Bill in one House of Parliament

Passage of the Bill in the Other House of Parliament │

President's Assent (Bill becomes a Law)

6. State the difference between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

Difference between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha

• Members of Lok Sabha are directly elected by eligible voters. Members of Rajya Sabha are
elected by the elected members of State Legislative Assemblies in accordance with the system
of proportional representation by means of single transferable vote.
• The normal tenure of every Lok Sabha is 5 years only while Rajya Sabha is a permanent body.
• Money Bills can only be introduced in Lok Sabha. Money bill cannot be introduced in Rajya
sabha
Level-3

1. How the Lok Sabha does control a government.

2. State two benefits of EVMs

MIND MAPPING
Bill: Draft of the proposed law
Act: Any bill passed by the Parliament to be enforced as a law
Money Bill: A bill related to income or expenditure or the tax policy of the government.
Ordinary Bill: A bill dealing with the general welfare of the people.