Class 8 Civics Chapter 3: Parliament and the Making of Laws

1. Why Parliament? Democratic Foundations

• Expression of People's Will: Parliament represents the democratic ideals of India, where citizens elect their representatives.
• Principle of Consent: Laws gain legitimacy through universal adult suffrage as per Article 326.
• Accountability Mechanism: Parliament ensures government accountability using methods like Question Hour and no-confidence motions.

2. Structure of Parliament

Component	Composition & Role	Unique Powers
Lok Sabha	543 directly elected members; 5-year term. Represents citizens.	- Exclusive authority over Money Bills (Art. 110). - Initiates no-confidence motions.
Rajya Sabha	245 members (233 elected by states + 12 nominated); permanent body.	- Authorizes Parliament to legislate on State List (Art. 249). - Reviews/amends non-money bills.
President	Not a member but an integral constitutional part of Parliament.	- Grants assent to bills. - Can return non-money bills for reconsideration.

3. Key Functions of Parliament

• Law-Making: Drafting, debating, and passing bills through structured procedures.
• Executive Control:
  • Question Hour: Ministers are questioned on policies.
  • No-Confidence Motion: Example - 1979 Morarji Desai government collapse.
• Financial Oversight: Lok Sabha passes budget; Money Bills limited to Lok Sabha.
• Representation: Reserved seats for SC/ST; growing inclusion of women & minorities.

4. How Laws Are Made: Step-by-Step Process

1. Bill Introduction:
   • Introduced by ministers (Government Bill) or non-ministers (Private Member’s Bill).
   • Money Bills can only originate in Lok Sabha.
2. Committee Review: Detailed scrutiny by 24 Departmental Standing Committees.
3. Debate and Voting:
   • Three readings per House: general, detailed (clause-wise), and final voting.
   • Joint sitting under Article 108 resolves disputes.
4. Presidential Assent:
   • President may grant, withhold, or return (except Money Bills).
   • Upon assent, a bill becomes an Act.

Example: The 2024 Wildlife Protection Amendment Act was amended 200+ times before enactment.

5. Citizen-Parliament Interface

• Formal Channels:
  • MyGov Platform: Citizens contribute to policymaking (ex: Clean India proposals).
  • Public Interest Litigation (PIL): Judiciary enables people to challenge unjust laws (eg: 2024 Ganga pollution PIL).
• Informal Influence: Protests, social media & activism shape legislative decisions (e.g., repeal of 2020 Farm Laws).

6. Addressing Unpopular Laws

• Legal Challenges:
  • Court reviews constitutionality (e.g., Kesavananda Bharati Case created "Basic Structure Doctrine").
• Public Mobilization:
  • Activism led to 2024 ruling in Ajay Gupta vs. ECI for paper trail voting system.

7. Recent Developments (2023–2025)

• Anti-Defection Law Reform: MPs disqualified for unjustified party switching.
• Electoral Reforms: Criminal records of candidates must be disclosed (e.g., Abhinav Verma vs. Union of India, 2024).
• Digital Democracy: MyGov reaches 20M users; over 100 policies crowdsourced.

Key Terms & Concepts

Term	Definition
Coalition Government	Formed when no party wins clear Lok Sabha majority (e.g., NDA/UPA alliances).
Money Bill	Deals with taxation/budget; can only be passed by Lok Sabha.
Veto Power	President can return bills (except Money Bills) once for reconsideration.
Basic Structure Doctrine	Judicial principle protecting key constitutional features from amendment.

Why Parliament Matters: Summary

• Democracy in Action: Parliament reflects people’s voice in governance.
• Federal Balance: Rajya Sabha safeguards state interests.
• Inclusive Lawmaking: Diverse voices including SC/STs and women contribute.
• Adaptive Governance: Responds to dynamic social & digital challenges.

Case Study: The Right to Education Act (2009) followed 15 years of public mobilization, reflecting participatory democracy.