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Unit 3: Union Government and Executive6 min read
Learning objective: Compare the constitutional composition, duration and basic roles of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
This lesson is part of Unit 3: Union Government and Executive. This unit explains how the Union executive and Parliament obtain authority, how their offices are constituted, and how legislation, accountability, public finance, and constitutional amendment operate.
Official-text basis: The lesson has been checked against the supplied Constitution of India compilation, Government of India, Ministry of Law and Justice, as on 1 May 2024. The PDF is a scanned official text, so Article numbers, qualifications, provisos, explanations, and amendment footnotes must be read together.
Parliament is constitutionally tripartite, and its two Houses embody different patterns of representation and continuity. Understanding this topic helps connect the Constitution's institutional design with the precise powers, limits, procedures, or protections stated in its text.
The Vice-President brought us to the Council of States. Article 79 now widens the frame: Parliament consists of the President and two Houses. Article 80 governs the Council of States, commonly called Rajya Sabha. Article 81 governs the House of the People, Lok Sabha. Their composition is different because their constitutional positions are different. Article 83 makes Rajya Sabha a continuing chamber, with members retiring according to law, while Lok Sabha has a constitutional duration and may be dissolved. Qualifications, sessions and presidential addresses follow in Articles 84 to 88. The Fourth Schedule adds the allocation of Council of States seats. Bicameralism is therefore not duplication. It creates two constitutional forms of representation inside one Parliament.
Article 79 constitutes Parliament with the President and two Houses: the Council of States and the House of the People.
Article 80 provides 12 members nominated by the President and not more than 238 representatives of States and Union territories. State representatives are elected by elected Legislative Assembly members through proportional representation by the single transferable vote; Union-territory representation is prescribed by Parliament.
Article 81 provides not more than 530 representatives of States and not more than 20 representatives of Union territories, with State representatives directly elected from territorial constituencies and Union-territory representation provided by parliamentary law.
Article 82 concerns readjustment after each census; Articles 83-85 address duration, qualifications, sessions, prorogation and dissolution.
The Rajya Sabha is a continuing chamber under Article 83, while Lok Sabha is subject to dissolution under the constitutional rule.
The Fourth Schedule allocates seats in the Council of States and should be read as a constitutional allocation table.
The supplied official compilation places this lesson within PDF Part V, Articles 79-88; Fourth Schedule cross-reference. Use the following guide to revise how the provisions fit together:
| Provision group | What to study | | --- | --- | | Article 79 | Article 79 constitutes Parliament with the President and two Houses: the Council of States and the House of the People. | | Article 80 | Article 80 provides 12 members nominated by the President and not more than 238 representatives of States and Union territories. State representatives are elected by elected Legislative Assembly members through proportional representation by the single transferable vote; Union-territory representation is prescribed by Parliament. | | Article 81 | Article 81 provides not more than 530 representatives of States and not more than 20 representatives of Union territories, with State representatives directly elected from territorial constituencies and Union-territory representation provided by parliamentary law. | | Article 82 | Article 82 concerns readjustment after each census; Articles 83-85 address duration, qualifications, sessions, prorogation and dissolution. | | Constitutional point 5 | The Rajya Sabha is a continuing chamber under Article 83, while Lok Sabha is subject to dissolution under the constitutional rule. | | The Fourth Schedule | The Fourth Schedule allocates seats in the Council of States and should be read as a constitutional allocation table. |
When reading the official text, do not stop at an Article heading. Check every clause, proviso, explanation, cross-reference, and amendment footnote because these can qualify the apparent rule.
| Term | Meaning | | --- | --- | | Parliament | The President, Council of States and House of the People together under Article 79. | | Rajya Sabha | The Council of States constituted under Article 80. | | Lok Sabha | The House of the People constituted under Article 81. | | Dissolution | The constitutional ending of the Lok Sabha's life before or at the end of its term; Rajya Sabha is not subject to dissolution. |
Illustration: Represent the Houses as two lenses: one reflects the people through territorial constituencies, the other the States and Union territories through Article 80 arrangements.
The application is a study aid. It helps test the constitutional structure, but it does not replace the wording of the relevant Articles or amount to legal advice.
Parliament: The President, Council of States and House of the People together under Article 79.
Rajya Sabha: The Council of States constituted under Article 80.
Lok Sabha: The House of the People constituted under Article 81.
Dissolution: The constitutional ending of the Lok Sabha's life before or at the end of its term; Rajya Sabha is not subject to dissolution.
Begin with the constitutional location of the topic, define the central terms, explain the relevant powers or protections in their procedural order, mention important limits or qualifications, and close by stating the constitutional purpose. Avoid unsupported political examples or invented case law.
Parliament is constitutionally tripartite, and its two Houses embody different patterns of representation and continuity.
Remember: Parliament is constitutionally tripartite, and its two Houses embody different patterns of representation and continuity.
The President, Council of States and House of the People together under Article 79.
The Council of States constituted under Article 80.
The House of the People constituted under Article 81.
The constitutional ending of the Lok Sabha's life before or at the end of its term; Rajya Sabha is not subject to dissolution.
Test your understanding with 5 questions
Which description best defines “Parliament” in this lesson?
Which description best defines “Rajya Sabha” in this lesson?
Which description best defines “Lok Sabha” in this lesson?
Which description best defines “Dissolution” in this lesson?
Which statement best summarizes “Two Houses, One Parliament”?
6 Modules
6 Modules