Introduction to the Topic

In a democratic country like India, the Parliament is not just a building; it is the heartbeat of our nation's governance. This chapter, 'Why Do We Need a Parliament?', explores the relationship between the ideas of participation in decision-making and the need for all democratic governments to have the consent of their citizens. In India, we pride ourselves on being a democracy, and the Parliament (Sansad) is the supreme representative body that enables citizens to participate in decision-making and control the government. It is the most important symbol of Indian democracy and a key feature of the Constitution.

Understanding the Parliament is essential because it helps us see how we, as ordinary citizens, have a voice in how our country is run. From the laws that govern us to the way our national budget is spent, the Parliament is the forum where these critical decisions are debated and finalized. For a Class VIII student, this chapter lays the foundation for understanding the pillars of the Indian state and the power of the vote.

Key Concepts Explained

1. Why Should People Decide?

To understand why we have a Parliament, we must look back at our history. Before 1947, India was under British rule. Under the colonial government, people lived in fear and did not agree with many of the decisions that the British took. However, they faced grave danger if they tried to criticize these decisions. The Indian National Movement changed this situation. The freedom fighters began to openly criticize the British government and make demands.

The experience of colonial rule, as well as the participation of different people in the struggle for freedom, left little doubt in the minds of the nationalists that all persons in independent India would be able to participate in making decisions. With the coming of independence, we were going to be citizens of a free country. This did not mean that the government could do whatever it felt like; it meant that the government had to be sensitive to people's needs and demands.

The dreams and aspirations of the freedom struggle were made concrete in the Constitution of independent India, which laid down the principle of Universal Adult Franchise. This means that all adult citizens of the country have the right to vote. This right to vote is the fundamental way in which people give their 'consent' to the government.

2. People and Their Representatives

In a democracy, the individual or the citizen is the most important person. In principle, the government, as well as other public institutions, need to have the trust of these citizens. How does the individual give consent to the government? One way is through elections.

People elect their representatives to the Parliament. Then, one group from among these elected representatives forms the government. The Parliament, which is made up of all representatives together, controls and guides the government. In this sense, people, through their chosen representatives, form the government and also control it. The act of voting is not just a duty; it is the mechanism of power transfer from the individual to the institution.

3. The Role of the Parliament

Created after 1947, the Indian Parliament is an expression of the faith that the people of India have in principles of democracy. These are participation by people in the decision-making process and government by consent. The Parliament in our system has immense powers because it is the representative of the people.

The Parliament of India consists of the President and two Houses:

  • Rajya Sabha (Council of States): This house represents the states of India. It has a total of 245 members. The Vice-President of India is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. It plays an important role in reviewing and altering the laws initiated by the Lok Sabha.
  • Lok Sabha (House of the People): This house represents the people of India directly. It has 543 elected members (plus two nominated members from the Anglo-Indian community, though this was recently phased out). The Lok Sabha is presided over by the Speaker.

4. Functions of the Parliament

The Parliament performs several vital functions that keep the democracy healthy and functioning. Let's look at the three main functions:

A. To Select the National Government

After the Lok Sabha elections, a list is prepared showing how many MPs (Members of Parliament) belong to each political party. For a political party to form the government, they must have a majority of elected MPs. Since there are 543 elected members in Lok Sabha, to have a majority, a party should have at least half the number, i.e., 272 members or more.

The Opposition in Parliament is formed by all the political parties that oppose the majority party or coalition formed. The largest among these parties is called the Opposition party. One of the most important functions of the Lok Sabha is to select the Executive. The Executive is a group of persons who work together to implement the laws made by the Parliament. This Executive is what we usually have in mind when we use the term 'government'.

The Prime Minister of India is the leader of the ruling party in the Lok Sabha. From the MPs who belong to her party, the Prime Minister selects ministers to work with her to implement decisions, such as the Health Minister, Education Minister, and Finance Minister.

B. To Guide, Inform, and Control the Government

The Parliament, while in session, begins with a Question Hour. This is a very important mechanism through which MPs can elicit information about the working of the government. This is a very important way through which the Parliament controls the executive. By asking questions, the government is alerted to its shortcomings and also comes to know the opinion of the people through their representatives, the MPs.

Asking questions of the government is a crucial responsibility of every MP. The Opposition parties play a critical role in the healthy functioning of a democracy. They highlight drawbacks in various policies and programs of the government and mobilize popular support for their own policies. The government also gets valuable feedback and is kept on its toes by the questions asked by the MPs.

C. Law-Making

Law-making is a significant function of the Parliament. All major policies and legal changes must be debated and passed in the Parliament before they become the law of the land. We will study the details of the law-making process in the next chapter, but it is important to know that no law can be enacted without the approval of the representatives of the people.

5. Who are the People in Parliament?

Parliament now has more and more people from different backgrounds. For example, there are more rural members as also members from many regional parties. Groups and peoples that were till now unrepresented are beginning to get elected to Parliament. There has also been an increase in political participation from the Dalits and backward castes.

It has been observed that representative democracy cannot produce a perfect reflection of society. There is a realization that when interests and experiences differ, then one group cannot represent everybody. With this in mind, some seats are reserved in Parliament for SCs and STs. This has been done so that the MPs elected from these constituencies will be familiar with and can represent Dalit and Adivasi interests in Parliament.

Similarly, there has more recently been a suggestion that there should be reservation of seats for women. This issue is still being debated. Sixty years ago, only four percent of MPs were women and today it is just above eleven percent. This is a small share when you consider the fact that half the population are women. It is decisions of this kind that force the country to ask certain difficult and often unresolved questions about whether our democratic system is representative enough.

Summary & Key Takeaways

  • Consent of the People: Democracy is based on the idea of consent—the desire, approval, and participation of the people.
  • The Role of Voting: Citizens use their vote to elect representatives, which is the primary way they participate in government.
  • Bicameral Legislature: The Indian Parliament consists of two houses: the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States), along with the President.
  • Accountability: Through the Question Hour and debates, the Parliament ensures the government (Executive) remains accountable to the people.
  • Diversity: Efforts are made to ensure the Parliament is inclusive, including reserved seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to ensure fair representation.
  • Supreme Authority: The Parliament is the ultimate law-making body in India and reflects the collective will of the Indian people.