Parliament and the Making of Laws Class 8 Civics Notes - Ch. 3

Chapter 3: Parliament and the Making of Laws

Why Should People Decide?

India became independent on 15 August 1947. The nationalist movement had fought for an India where all citizens would be treated as equals and would be free to participate in governance. The Constitution of independent India laid down the principle of universal adult franchise, i.e., that all adult citizens of the country have the right to vote. This right empowers the people to be the ultimate source of authority.

People and their Representatives

A democracy is the idea of consent, i.e. the desire, approval and participation of people. The basic idea in a democracy is that the individual or the citizen is the most important person and that in principle the government as well as other public institutions need to have the trust of these citizens. People elect their representatives to the Parliament, who then form the government and make decisions on behalf of the people.

The Role of the Parliament

Created after 1947, the Indian Parliament is an expression of the faith that the people of India have in the principles of democracy. The Parliament in our system has immense powers because it is the representative of the people. It consists of the President and two Houses - the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the Lok Sabha (House of the People).

The Parliament performs three main functions:

1. To Select the National Government: After the Lok Sabha elections, the political party which gets a majority of seats forms the government. The leader of the majority party becomes the Prime Minister, who then selects other ministers.
2. To Control, Guide and Inform the Government: The Parliament, while in session, holds the executive accountable. Through mechanisms like the Question Hour, MPs can ask questions about the government's policies and actions. The opposition parties play a critical role in this function.
3. Law-Making: The most significant function of the Parliament is to make laws for the country. There is a well-defined procedure for this, involving debates and approvals in both Houses.

Who are the People in Parliament?

Representation in Parliament has diversified over the decades. There are now more members from rural areas and from regional parties. To ensure fair representation for all sections of society, the Constitution has provided for reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). There is an ongoing debate about providing similar reservation for women and other backward classes (OBCs) to make our democracy even more representative.

Exercise Questions and Answers

1. Why do you think our national movement supported the idea that all adults have a right to vote?

The leaders of the national movement were deeply committed to the principles of equality and democracy. They had witnessed discrimination under British rule and believed that in a truly free and democratic India, every adult citizen must have an equal right to choose their government, regardless of their gender, caste, class, or religion. This principle, known as universal adult franchise, ensures that the government is representative of all sections of society and that power ultimately rests with the people.

2. Why do you think there are so few women in Parliament? Discuss.

There are several deep-rooted reasons for the under-representation of women in Parliament. Historically, politics has been a male-dominated field. Societal attitudes, lack of family support, and the burden of household responsibilities often discourage women from entering the demanding field of politics. The high cost of elections, the aggressive nature of political campaigns, and the lack of political will within parties to field female candidates are also significant barriers. To address this, there have been long-standing demands for a reservation of seats for women in Parliament, which would ensure more equitable representation.