 MEANING Bicameralism is the practice of having two legislative or

parliamentary chambers. The relationship between the two chambers of a

bicameral legislature can vary. In some cases, they have equal power, and in
others, one chamber is clearly superior to the other. It is commonplace in most
federal systems to have a bicameral legislature.
 2. BICAMERALISM CENTRAL LEVEL RAJYA SABHA STATE LEVEL
LOK SABHA VIDHAN SABHA VIDHAN PARISHAD
 3. CENTRAL LEVEL
 4. RAJYA SABHA The Rajya Sabha (RS) or Council of States is the upper
house of the Parliament of India. Rajya means "state“ and Sabha means
"assembly" in Sanskrit. Membership is limited to 250 members, 12 of whom
are nominated by the President of India for their contributions to art, literature,
science, and social services. The remainder of body is elected by the state and
territorial legislatures. Members sit for six-year terms, with one third of the
members retiring every two years.
 5. CONT… The Vice President of India (currently, Hamid Ansari) is the ex-
officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, who presides over its sessions. The
Deputy Chairman, who is elected from amongst the RS's members, takes care
of the day-to-day matters of the house in the absence of the Chairman. The
Rajya Sabha held its first sitting on 13 May 1952. The salary and other benefits
for a member of Rajya Sabha are same as for a member of Lok Sabha.
 6. However twelve members are nominated by the President of India having
special knowledge in various areas like Arts, Science etc. However they are not
entitled to vote in Presidential elections as per Article 55 of Indian
Constitution. The candidates are elected by the Legislative Assembly of
States and Union territories by means of Single transferable vote through
Proportional representation.  For anyone to become a member of the Rajya
Sabha, he/she must be at least 30 years of age. Other qualifications are same as
in becoming a member of the Lok Sabha. Elections CONT… Qualifications
 7. LOK SABHA The Lok Sabha (Hindi: ) or House of the People is the lower
house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by
direct election under universal adult franchise. As of 2009, there have been
fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India. The Constitution limits the
Lok Sabha to a maximum of 552 members, including not more than 20
members representing people from the Union Territories, and two appointed
non-partisan members to represent the Anglo-Indian community.
 8. disqualified under Representation of People Act. if he/she is violating
party discipline (as per Tenth schedule of the constitution);  if he/she gives up
as a citizenship of India or under allegiance or adherence to a foreign State; 
if he/she is of unsound mind;  if he/she is an undischarged insolvent;  if
he/she holds office of profit;  However, a member can be disqualified of
 being a member of parliament: As per Article 84 of Indian Constitution, the
qualification for being a member of Lok Sabha is that he/she should be a citizen
of India and has taken an oath given under Third Schedule of the Constitution.
Also he/she must be at least 25 years of Age. CONT… Qualifications
 9. As per Article 93 of Indian Constitution, the Lok Sabha has a Speaker and a
Deputy Speaker. By convention, they are elected by a resolution passed by
simple majority. The 15th Lok Sabha elected Meira Kumar as the speaker on 3
June 2009, which is its first woman speaker to date. The Lok Sabha has also a
separate non-elected Secretariat staff. However, two Anglo-Indians are
nominated to the Lok Sabha, if the President of India feels that there is lack of
representation of Anglo-Indians. But, they are not entitled to vote in
Presidential elections as per Article 55 of the Indian Constitution. Officers 
The members of lok Sabha are directly elected by their constituencies through
direct election by First past the post system. CONT… Election
 10. STATE LEVEL ARTICLES 168 -212
 11. VIDHAN SABHA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY The Vidhan Sabha
(Hindi: ) or the 'Legislative Assembly' is the lower house (in states with
bicameral) or the sole house (in unicameral states) of the provincial (state)
legislature in the different states of India. The same name is also used for the
lower house of the legislatures for two of the union territories, Delhiand
Puducherry. The upper house in the six states with a bicameral legislature is
called the Legislative Council, or Vidhan Parishad. Members of a Vidhan
Sabha are direct representatives of the people of the particular state as they are
directly elected by an electorate consisting of all adult citizens of that state. Its
maximum size as outlined in the Constitution of India is not more than 500
members and not less than 60. However, the size of the Vidhan Sabha can be
less than 60 members through an Act of Parliament, such is the case in the
states of Goa, Sikkim and Mizoram. The Governor can appoint 1 member to
represent minorities, e.g. the Anglo-Indian community.
 12. A Vidhan Sabha holds equal legislative power with the upper house of
state legislature, the Vidhan Parishad ('Legislative Council'), except in the area
of money bills in which case the Vidhan Sabha has the ultimate authority. In
case of conflict regarding ordinary bills, the will of Legislative Assembly
prevails and there is no provision of joint sitting. In such cases, Legislative
council can delay the legislation by maximum 4 months(3months in first visit
and 1 month in the second visit of the bill). To become a member of a Vidhan
Sabha, a person must be a citizen of India, not less than 25 years of age. He
should be mentally sound and should not be bankrupt. He should also state an
affidavit that there are no criminal procedures against him. Speaker of Vidhan
Sabha who is responsible for the conduct of business of the body, and also a
Deputy Speaker to preside during the Speaker's absence. The Speaker acts as a
 neutral judge and manages all debates and discussions in the house. Usually he
is a member of the stronger political party CONT… Qualifications required
to become a member
 13. In matters related to ordinary bills, the will of Legislative Assembly
prevails and there is no provision of joint sitting. In such cases, Legislative
council can delay the legislation by maximum 4 months(3 months in first visit
and 1 month in the second visit of the bill). A money bill can only be
introduced in Vidhan Sabha. In bicameral jurisdictions, after it is passed in the
Vidhan Sabha, it is sent to the Vidhan Parishad, where it can be kept for a
maximum time of 14 days. Unless a by the Finance Minister of the state in the
name of the Governor of that state.  A motion of no confidence against the
government in the state can only be introduced in the Vidhan Sabha. If it is
passed by a majority vote, then the Chief Minister and his Council of Ministers
must collectively resign. CONT… Special powers of the Vidhan Sabha
 14. VIDHAN PARISHAD LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL The Vidhan Parishad
(or Legislative Council) is the upper house in those states of India that have a
bicameral legislature. As of 2011, six (out of twenty-eight) states have a
Legislative Council: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka,
Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh. In 2010 the Parliament of India passed an Act
to re-establish a Legislative Council for a seventh state, Tamil Nadu, but
implementation of the Act has been put on hold pending legal action; the state
government has also expressed its opposition to the council's revival.
 15. The size of the Vidhan Parishad cannot be more than one-third the
membership of the Vidhan Sabha. However, its size cannot be less than 40
members (except in Jammu and Kashmir, where there are 36 by an Act of
Parliament.) MLCs must be citizens of India, at least 30 years' old, mentally
sound, not bankrupt, and on the voters' list of the state for which he or she is
contesting an election. He or she may not be a Member of Parliament at the
same time.  In contrast with a state's Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly),
the Legislative Council is a permanent body and cannot be dissolved.; each
Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) serves for a six-year term, with
terms staggered so that the terms of one-third of a Council's members expire
every two years. This arrangement parallels that for the Rajya Sabha, the upper
house of the Parliament of India. MEMBERSHIP
 16. One-sixth are nominated by the governor from persons having knowledge
or practical experience in fields such as literature, science, arts, the co-operative
movement and social service. One-twelfth are elected by persons engaged for
at least three years in teaching in educational institutions within the state not
lower than secondary schools, including colleges and universities.  One-
twelfth are elected by persons who are graduates of three years' standing
residing in that state.  One-third are elected by members of Legislative
 Assembly from among the persons who are not members of the Assembly. 
One-third are elected by members of local bodies such as corporations,
municipalities, and Zila Parishads. CONT… MLCs are chosen in the
following manner:
 17. Ultimately the views of the Assembly prevail. The Council can only delay
the passage of a bill for 3 months in the first instance and for one month in the
second. In contrast with Parliament, there is no provision for the joint sitting of
state legislatures. Theoretically the powers of the Legislative Council are
coequal with the Assembly; in reality, the Council is the weaker partner.
Ordinary bills can originate in any chamber of the legislature. A bill must be
passed by both chambers, and receive the assent of the state's Governor, before
it becomes law as an Act. The Governor may give his assent or return the bill
back to" legislature with his observations. The legislature while reconsidering
the bill may or may not take note of the views of the Governor on the bill. The
Governor is bound to give his assent to the bill when it is presented to him for
the second time. If the Legislative Council disagrees with a bill passed by the
Legislative Assembly, then the bill must have a second journey, from the
Assembly to the Council.  The Legislative Council elects its Chairman and
Deputy Chairman from amongst its members. POWERS AND
PROCEDURES
 18. The powers given to a Legislative Council by the Constitution of India
have been framed to keep it in a subordinate position to the Assembly, with its
membership of professionals seen as a guiding influence on the latter body,
rather than as its rival. As with the Assembly, the Council can attempt to
control the executive by putting questions to ministers, raising debates, and
discussing adjournment motions to highlight alleged lapses by the state
government. However, the Council cannot remove a government from office,
lacking the Assembly's power to move a vote of no confidence.  As with the
Rajya Sabha, a Legislative Council has almost no powers in relation to finance,
being subordinate to the Assembly; the latter chamber is the only place where
Money Bills can originate. After a Money Bill has been passed by the
Assembly it is sent to the Council, which can keep it for a maximum of 14
days; if it does not pass it within that period, the bill is deemed to have been
passed by it. CONT…
 19. ON “INDIAN PARLIAMENT ”