Parliamentary System of Government in India

Study Notes

Forms of Government

There are various forms of government present in the world, including absolute monarchy, presidential, parliamentary, and others.
Examples of parliamentary systems of government include the United Kingdom, Japan, and Germany.

Parliamentary System of Government

A parliamentary system of government is a form of government where there are two executives as the head: a nominal head and a real head.
The President acts as a nominal head (de jure head) and the Prime Minister acts as a real head (de facto head) of the government.
India adopted a parliamentary system of government as per the Constitution of the country at both the union and state levels.

Union Parliament

The Union Parliament is the highest law-making body in the country.
It is made up of three components: the President, Lok Sabha (People's House), and Rajya Sabha (upper house).
The government of India has three spheres: the Union Parliament, the state government, and the local government.

Functions of Union Parliament

The Union Parliament has various functions, including:
- Law-making
- Approving the budget
- Oversight of the executive
- Representation of the people
Part V of the Constitution of India deals with the functions of the Union Parliament.

History of the Parliament

The Parliament of India was designed by British architects Sir E.Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker in 1912-13, but construction started in 1921 and was completed in 1927.
The French philosopher Montesquieu introduced the idea of a separation of powers in his book The Spirit of the Law.

Features of Parliament

The parliamentary system is based on the principle of cooperation and coordination between the legislature and the executive.
The characteristics of a parliamentary government in India include:
- Presence of nominal and real executives (President and Prime Minister)
- Party system
- Collective responsibility of the executive
- Membership of ministers in the legislature
The Constitution of India deals with the parliamentary process at the center and in the provinces.

Description

Learn about the Union Parliament of India and its various functions, within the context of the parliamentary system of government. Explore the basics of the Parliamentary System and understand how it functions in the Indian democracy.