Parliament: Composition and Duration

Constitutional Provision for Parliament

• Articles 79 to 122 in Part V of the Constitution deal with the organisation, composition, duration, officers, procedures, privileges, powers and so on of the Parliament.

Composition of Parliament

• President
• Rajya Sabha / Council of States/ Upper House – Represents the states and union territories of Indian Union.
• Lok Sabha/House of People/Lower House – Represents the people of India as a whole.

Composition of Rajya Sabha

• Strength: The maximum strength of the Rajya Sabha is fixed at 250, out of which, 238 are to be the representatives of the states and union territories and 12 are nominated by the president.
• Constitution Provision: The Fourth Schedule of the Constitution deals with the allocation of seats in the Rajya Sabha to the states and union territories
• Representation of States
  • The representatives of states in the Rajya Sabha are elected by the elected members of state legislative assemblies. 
  • The election is held in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote. 
  • The seats are allotted to the states in the Rajya Sabha on the basis of population.
• Representation of Union Territories
  • The representatives of each union territory in the Rajya Sabha are indirectly elected by members of an electoral college specially constituted for the purpose. 
  • This election is also held in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote.
• Nominated Members
  • The president nominates 12 members to the Rajya Sabha from people who have special knowledge or practical experience in art, literature, science and social service. 

Composition of Lok Sabha

• Strength:
  • The maximum strength of the Lok Sabha is fixed at 552. 
  • Out of this, 530 members are to be the representatives of the states, 20 members are to be the representatives of the union territories.

• Representation of States
  • The people from the territorial constituencies in the states directly elect the representatives of states in the Lok Sabha. 
  • The election is based on the principle of universal adult franchise. 
  • The voting age was reduced from 21 to 18 years by the 61st Constitutional Amendment Act, 1988.
• Representation of Union Territories
  • The Constitution has empowered the Parliament to prescribe the manner of choosing the representatives of the union territories in the Lok Sabha.

Duration of Houses

• Rajya Sabha
  • It is a continuing chamber even though it has 6 year term
    • Every 2 years .  ⅓  members  vacate the seats
    • In the beginning of the third year election and presidential nomination is carried out.
    • Members who vacate earlier can be re – elected.
• Lok Sabha
  • Not a permanent house and dissolves every 5 years.
  • Exception – During emergency.