Ch. 16.

The Union Legislature

Sub: Civics Grade 8

Answer the following. (to be marked in the textbook)

1) Why do we say India has a parliamentary form of government?
India has a parliamentary form of government as the power is distributed
between both the centre as well as in the states.
2) Why is the President a nominal head? Justify.
a) The President of India who is the Head of State or Chief Executive is only a
nominal head.
b) He/She carries out the functions of a President on the advice of the Prime
Minister and his/her Council of Ministers.
c) Under normal circumstances, the President does not have the power to act
independently.
3)Who is the real executive? Justify.
a) The power to govern the country is actually in the hands of the Prime
Minister.
b) He/ She is the most important and powerful political leader in India.
c) The Prime Minister is the head of the government in India or the real chief
executive. He/she appoints all the important Ministers/ Council of Ministers.
4) What are the three organs of the government?
The three organs of the government are: the Legislature, the Executive and the
Judiciary.
5) How is the Prime Minister elected?
a) After the general elections, the elected representatives of the people form the
Lok Sabha.
b) The President appoints the leader of the majority party or the single largest
party or group of parties within the Lok Sabha as the Prime Minister.

Civics. Ch. 16. The Union LegislaturePage 1

c) Generally, the Prime Minister chooses his/her Council of Ministers from
among the elected members of the Lok Sabha.
6) How does the parliament execute?
a) The Lok Sabha exercises control over the executive which is responsible and
answerable to the Lok Sabha for all its policies, decisions and actions.
b) This makes the Parliament the supreme authority in the government because
it has the final authority to accept or reject the decisions of the executive.
7) State the two houses of the Parliament OR
Why do we say India has a bicameral legislature?
The Parliament has two houses- the Lok Sabha or the House of the People and
the Rajya Sabha or the Council of States. Thus, it is a bicameral legislature.
8) What is the Universal Adult Franchise?
All Indian citizens, 18 years of age or above, have the right to vote.
9) What is the term of the Lok Sabha?
The Lok Sabha is elected for a 5- year term. However, the President may dissolve
it before the expiry of its term.
10) State the basic qualifications of the members of the Lok Sabha.
A member of the Lok Sabha:
● Should be a citizen of India.
● Should be at least 25 years of age.
● Should be a registered voter.
● Should be of sound mind.
11) State the composition of the Lok Sabha.
The composition of Lok Sabha is as follows:
● The maximum strength of the Lok Sabha can be 552 members.
● A maximum of 530 members can be elected directly by the people of India
from different territorial constituencies.
● A maximum of 20 members can be elected from the union territories.
● The President can nominate two members from the Anglo- Indian
community.

Civics. Ch. 16. The Union LegislaturePage 2

 ● At present, the Lok Sabha consists of 545 members.
12) Who is the Speaker? State his/her functions?
The Speaker is the presiding officer of the Lok Sabha.
● He /She conducts the meetings of the Lok Sabha, maintains discipline and
supervises the work of the House.
● He/ She summons the house.
13) State the composition of Rajya Sabha.
The composition of the Rajya Sabha is as follows.
● The maximum strength of the Rajya Sabha can be 250 members.
● 238 members represent the states and the union territories.
● Twelve members are nominated by the President.
14) Who is the Chairman?
The Vice- President is the presiding officer of the Rajya Sabha.
15) State the basic qualifications of the members of the Rajya Sabha.
Members of the Rajya Sabha:
● Should be citizens of India.
● Should be at least 30 years of age.
● Should be registered voters.
● Should be sound mind.
16) What is the term of Rajya Sabha? OR
Why is Rajya Sabha considered as permanent houses?
a) The Rajya Sabha is a permanent house. It cannot be dissolved by the
President.
b) Each member is elected for a period of 6 years.
c) One third of its members retire every 2 years.
d) Members can be re- elected.

17) What are the judicial functions of the Parliament?

Civics. Ch. 16. The Union LegislaturePage 3

 The Parliament can impeach or remove the President, the Vice-President and
judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts if any of them violate the
Constitution or misuse their authority.
18) When does the Parliament meet?
The Parliament meets at least twice a year.
19) What is quorum?
For a session to take place, at least 10 percent of the total membership has to
be present. This is called the quorum.
20) What happens if a vote of no confidence is passed against the Minister?
The Council of Ministers has to resign immediately if a vote of no- confidence is
passed against it by the Lok Sabha.
21) What is an adjournment motion?
The Parliament can move an adjournment motion to discuss and focus on any
matter of public importance which requires immediate and urgent attention
from the government, for instance, the natural disasters such as earthquakes
and unforeseen situations such as police firing or terrorist attacks etc.
22) What is budget?
The budget is an estimate of annual income and expenditure of the government
of India.

(10 marks Question) To be written in the notepad

Q1. With reference to the Union Parliament, answer the following in details:
a. The Law- making functions
b. The Budget
c. Control over the Executive

a. The Law – making functions of the Parliament:

● The Parliament can frame new laws or modify existing ones on any subject
in the Union or Concurrent lists.
● No money can be raised or spent by the government without the approval
of the Lok Sabha. A money bill can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha.
Civics. Ch. 16. The Union LegislaturePage 4
 ● Only the Parliament can introduce a bill to amend the Constitution.

b. The Budget
● The budget is an estimate of the annual income and expenditure of the
government of India.
● The government presents the budget to the Lok Sabha every year. The
budget has to be passed by the Parliament.
● The Lok Sabha has the power to suggest a cut to the budget or even reject
it altogether.

c. Control over the Executive

● The Parliament keeps a watch over the government. The Council of
Ministers is directly responsible and answerable to the Lok Sabha for its
policies and actions.
● The Council of Ministers has to resign immediately if a vote of
no-confidence is passed against it by the Lok Sabha.
● The Members of Parliament can discuss government policies and question
the ministers. Hence, they can exercise a check on the working of the
government.
● The Parliament can move an adjournment motion to discuss and focus on
any matter of public importance which requires immediate and urgent
attention from the government, for instance, the natural disasters such as
earthquakes and unforeseen situations such as police firing or terrorist
attacks etc.

Q2. With the reference to the Distribution of Power between Union and State
Legislatures, write about:
a) UNION LIST
b) CONCURRENT LIST
c) STATE LIST

Union List (97) Concurrent List (47) State List (66)

Civics. Ch. 16. The Union LegislaturePage 5

 Defence Education Law and order
Foreign affairs Forests Police
Communication Marriage Public health and
Banking Electricity sanitation
Railways Wildlife Hospitals
Currency and Labour State transport
Coinage Roads
Citizenship Agriculture
Land revenue

Matters of national Matters of national and Matters of regional

importance regional importance importance
Only the Union Both central and state The state legislatures can
Parliament can make legislatures can make make laws on these
laws on these subjects. laws on these subjects. subjects.

Civics. Ch. 16. The Union LegislaturePage 6