Question

Name the law-making body of the Union Government.

Answer 1

Hint: In the course of the freedom struggle, a broad consensus emerged that the legislature or the law-making arm of the government would be the most important institution in the nation. Today, it serves as the central institution in our constitutional democracy. The framers of the constitution picked a parliamentary form of government over a presidential form because they believed that it could better accommodate and represent India’s diversities.

Complete Step by Step answer:
The Parliament is the law-making body of the Union Government. The Indian legislative system is a bicameral one which means that there are two houses at the centre responsible for making laws and other deliberative functions—the Lok Sabha or the House of People and the Rajya Sabha or the Council of States. Members of the Lok Sabha (Lower House) are elected directly by the people from 543 constituencies around the country. Two members are nominated by the President from among the members of the Anglo-Indian community.

The term of the Lok Sabha is five years upon the completion of which it is dissolved in its entirety. The members of Rajya Sabha (Upper House) are elected by the elected members of the legislative assemblies of the respective states under proportional representation. It is a permanent chamber which means that it does not dissolve all at once. Each member is effectively elected for six years as a third of the members retire every two years. The Rajya Sabha has a total of 250 members, 238 elected members and 12 members nominated by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.

Note: At the state level, the legislative bodies are—the Vidhan Sabha or the State Legislative Assembly and the Vidhan Parishad in some states. Members are elected to the State Legislative Assembly directly by voting, from amongst the candidates that stand in each respective constituency. Candidates who win said seats to the Legislative Assembly become Member of Legislative Assembly (or MLA) and hold it for a term of five years.