Parliamentary System, Legislature and Executive – Class 8 Notes (Chapter 6)

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Many Class 8 students find it hard to keep the Parliament, the Legislature, and the Executive straight — who does what, and how they connect. This chapter builds that picture step by step, starting from how India got its Constitution and ending with how ordinary citizens can stay involved in governance.

This guide walks through the chapter exactly as it's structured — the organs of Parliament, why India chose a two-house system, how a bill actually becomes a law, and how the executive and judiciary check each other's work.

Let's start with how India's Parliamentary system came into being.

What Is the Parliamentary System? 

India's independence was achieved through the sacrifice of many people after years of struggle against colonial rule, during which the British ruled India for close to 200 years. After independence in 1947, India's Constitution was drafted and enforced on 26 January 1950, giving citizens of the newly free country the ability to make decisions about their own governance for the first time.

The first major step in this new chapter of the nation's life was drafting the Constitution of independent India. The Constituent Assembly took 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days — close to three years — to complete this comprehensive document, which laid the foundational principles for the nation, including universal adult franchise.

When the Constitution was framed, the voting age was originally set at 21 years. This was later lowered to 18 years through a constitutional amendment in 1988. Today, every adult citizen of India above 18 has the right to vote, irrespective of their social and economic background, gender, race, religion, caste, or creed.

What Are the Three Organs of the Indian Parliament? 

The people of India directly elect their representatives, who become members of the Lok Sabha. India currently has 543 Lok Sabha seats, each representing a geographical area called a constituency. For example, Kota in Rajasthan has one Lok Sabha seat; whichever candidate wins the most votes in that constituency represents Kota in the Lok Sabha.

A majority group formed from among these elected representatives forms the government. The Parliament is the supreme legislative body of the government — it comprises all elected representatives of the people and controls and guides the work of the government.

The Parliament consists of three organs:

1. The President
2. The Lok Sabha (House of the People)
3. The Rajya Sabha (Council of States)

When a bill is passed by both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, it goes to the President. Once the President signs it, the bill is considered converted into an Act and can be enforced across India.

There have been 17 Lok Sabhas since the first one in 1952. The 18th Lok Sabha was constituted in June 2024. Lok Sabha members are directly elected, and the majority party forms the government, with the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers being responsible to Parliament.

💡 Expert Tip by Ajay Sir: As a quick recall exercise, try to find out who were India's first Lok Sabha Speaker and first Rajya Sabha Chairman — it's a good way to connect the chapter to real history.

Why Is the Indian Parliament Bicameral? 

A structure with two houses is called bicameral — "bi" means two, and "cameral" refers to the house. It was felt that a single, directly elected house would be inadequate to meet the challenges of independent India. In the spirit of federalism, it was felt that a Council of States — the Rajya Sabha — was needed.

Federalism is a system of government in which power is divided between the central government and its constituent units. India functions across three tiers of government: central, state, and local — power is distributed between these levels so that governance runs smoothly and local issues (like garbage collection or road cleaning) are handled at the local level rather than needing to go all the way up to the Prime Minister.

Because Rajya Sabha members are indirectly elected by MLAs representing different states, no single party's government can pass legislation purely on its own strength through the Lok Sabha — it also needs support in the Rajya Sabha, where different states and parties are represented. This has historically ensured that laws are passed with broader consensus — examples include the GST, the Women's Reservation Bill, and the creation of the EWS (Economically Weaker Sections) 10% reservation category.

What Are the Functions of Parliament?

Each house of Parliament has a Presiding Officer to ensure that debates and discussions are conducted in an orderly manner:

• Lok Sabha: presided over by the Speaker
• Rajya Sabha: presided over by the Chairman, a role automatically held by the Vice President of India

Parliament does not sit through the entire year. It typically meets in three sessions: the Budget session, the Monsoon session, and the Winter session (remembered using the mnemonic BMW). Parliament typically sits for six hours a day during a session, though this can be extended for special occasions or urgent business. State Assemblies follow similar schedules. Even outside of scheduled sessions, urgent matters can still be discussed through mechanisms like an extra session.

The Sengol

A notable feature discussed in the chapter is the Sengol — a gold-plated silver sceptre that was symbolically handed to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, on 14 August, on the occasion of India's independence, as a powerful symbol to mark the transfer of power. It is now placed near the Speaker's chair in the new Lok Sabha and serves as a symbol of righteous and just rule. The tradition dates back to the Chola period, when the sceptre was handed to a new ruler as a reminder that power must be guided by dharma and righteousness. At its top sits a Nandi, symbolising justice.

Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy

Parliament is directly entrusted with upholding the core values of the Indian Constitution, including enabling parliamentary democracy through universal adult suffrage, and following the separation of powers between the legislature, executive, and judiciary.

India has six Fundamental Rights, found in Part III of the Constitution — broadly spanning Articles 12 to 35, though the NCERT textbook covers Articles 14 to 32. The Constitution currently has 25 parts. Fundamental Rights in India were borrowed from the USA. Article 32 relates to a legal remedy called a "writ" — a term worth researching further to understand how citizens can approach courts when their fundamental rights are violated.

Parliament is also responsible for upholding the Directive Principles of State Policy — a set of guidelines that direct states toward goals such as maintaining cleanliness, upholding law and order, focusing on public health, and ensuring children receive a proper education.

How Does a Bill Become an Act? 

Among the primary responsibilities of the legislature is making laws. A law is generally brought into force through an instrument called an Act. A Bill — a draft or proposed law — is introduced in Parliament and goes through a long, effortful journey before it becomes an Act:

1. Introduction — The Bill is introduced in either House of Parliament.
2. Reading — The Bill is read out so members can understand its contents.
3. Reference to Standing Committee — If members have objections or suggestions, the Bill is referred to a Standing Committee, which reviews it and incorporates suggestions it finds valid.
4. Consideration and clause-by-clause discussion — The Bill is taken up for consideration; each clause is discussed, and members can propose amendments.
5. Voting — The Bill is put to a vote (for example, by voice vote).
6. Repeat in the second House — The same process is repeated in the other House (for example, if the Bill started in the Lok Sabha, it then goes to the Rajya Sabha).
7. Presidential assent — The Bill goes to the President for approval.
8. Gazette notification — Once approved, the Bill is published in the official Gazette of India, officially becoming an Act.

💡 Expert Tip : "How a Bill becomes an Act" is a common five-mark long-answer question — make sure you can recall this process step by step rather than memorising it as a block of text.

What Is Executive Accountability? 

The Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, as part of the Union Executive, are primarily responsible for implementing and enforcing laws and overseeing the effective running of government. They take decisions regarding the day-to-day functioning of government based on principles laid down in the Constitution — no one can act arbitrarily. For example, elections are held every five years as mandated by the Constitution, and this cannot be changed without a proper constitutional process.

The Constitution had 395 Articles when it was originally adopted; it now has more than 448, reflecting the fact that amendments continue to be made as the country's needs evolve.

Ministers are made answerable to the Lok Sabha through mechanisms like Question Hour — typically the first hour of a parliamentary session, during which MPs can ask ministers questions about government policy. For instance, an MP might ask the Jal Shakti Ministry how many households have received tap connections under the Jal Jeevan Mission, or ask the Education Ministry how many new IITs or IIMs were opened in the past year.

Parliamentary committees also hold meetings where ministers must explain and answer questions about policies. These committees include MPs from different political parties — the Parliamentary Standing Committee is one example.

Financial Accountability

Parliament approves and monitors government expenditure through the annual budget and examines how funds are distributed. The Finance Minister (currently Nirmala Sitharaman) presents the budget, after which funds are allocated to different ministries for development work. Government revenue for the budget comes largely from sources like tax and GST collections, which flow into the Treasury before being spent on national development.

Interestingly, the presentation of the budget is preceded by a Halwa Ceremony — an Indian tradition in which an auspicious task is begun by sweetening the mouth, reflecting the importance of the budget as a national exercise.

The legislature also functions independently in day-to-day matters through permanent executives (civil servants), consulting parliamentary committees when required. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, district collectors used their own powers to extend or lift lockdowns based on local case numbers.

💡 Expert Tip : In 1956, then Railway Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri resigned after a train accident, even though he was not personally blamed for it. He believed a minister must take moral responsibility for anything that happens within their ministry, and offered his resignation to then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru — which was ultimately accepted.

Who Are the Key Executive Authorities? 

The President

The President is the Head of State and the nominal head of the country. The President appoints the Prime Minister and other ministers, and summons Parliament — assenting to bills, among other functions. However, in specific circumstances, particularly during a political crisis such as when no party holds a clear majority after a Lok Sabha election, the President can exercise discretionary powers.

The Prime Minister and Council of Ministers

The Prime Minister is the de facto (real) executive authority of the Indian parliamentary system. The President appoints the leader of the majority party or coalition in the Lok Sabha as the Prime Minister, who then serves with the support of the majority of Lok Sabha MPs.

The Prime Minister's functions include heading the Council of Ministers, advising the President, coordinating between different ministries, discussing national policies, and framing new policies for the country's development. The Prime Minister and Council of Ministers take decisions and run the government, and are collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha.

This system features a responsible government and a dual executive — the President as the nominal head, and the Prime Minister as the head of the government.

What Is the Role of the Judiciary? 

The judiciary is the branch of government responsible for interpreting and applying the law. It functions through a system of courts and plays an important role in maintaining the democratic nature of society and governance. India's court system is structured as:

• Supreme Court (highest)
• High Courts
• Subordinate Courts — including civil courts, criminal courts, family courts, and consumer courts

The judiciary acts as the custodian of the Constitution. It keeps a check on the effective functioning of society and government institutions by interpreting the law, resolving disputes, and safeguarding Fundamental Rights. Citizens can approach the courts if their fundamental rights are violated — through Article 32 (Supreme Court) and Article 226 (High Court), which relate to the Right to Constitutional Remedies.

The judiciary has the unique and critical responsibility of checking that laws passed by Parliament do not violate the constitutional framework. If a law is found to exceed the powers granted or conflicts with constitutional provisions, the judiciary can strike it down or direct that it be amended. Similarly, if the executive violates the Constitution while implementing laws, the judiciary has the power to step in.

The judiciary functions through its courts, much as Parliament functions through its legislature and executive. One important tool here is Public Interest Litigation (PIL) — through which citizens can bring issues of public concern to the judiciary. The judiciary can also take up matters suo motu (on its own initiative) when it believes something requires urgent attention, without waiting for a formal complaint.

Union List, State List, and Concurrent List 

The Constitution divides subjects into three lists based on which level of government makes decisions on them:

This topic is covered again in more depth in the Federalism chapter of Class 10 Civics.

Union Government vs State Government: Key Differences 

Which States Have a Bicameral State Legislature? 

State legislatures can be either unicameral (one house) or bicameral (two houses) — the Legislative Assembly is called the Vidhan Sabha, and the Legislative Council is called the Vidhan Parishad.

The states that currently have a bicameral system are:

• Andhra Pradesh
• Bihar
• Karnataka
• Maharashtra
• Telangana
• Uttar Pradesh

Challenges Facing the Legislature and How Citizens Can Participate 

The legislature faces several challenges to functioning effectively, including:

• Regular absenteeism of members from sessions
• Non-cooperative conduct and communication among members, which reduces the quality of debates and disrupts Question Hour

One of the best ways to overcome these challenges is to ensure that more citizens stay informed about matters affecting society, participate in discussions, and engage through debates on the digital platforms that various government departments offer during policy-making. For example, when the National Education Policy (NEP) was being drafted, the government invited teachers and college professors to share their suggestions, many of which were incorporated into the final policy.

Students can get involved through platforms like india.gov.in / MyGov, which offers contests and opportunities to participate at the national level, as well as through activities like NCC (National Cadet Corps) exams, Youth Parliament programmes, and quizzes on freedom fighters and past leaders. More young leaders and diverse voices are entering public life, and technology is making it easier to stay connected and involved with governance.

As future voters, students' choices and participation will play an important role in strengthening both Parliament and their state's Assembly. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, in a speech in the Lok Sabha, made the point that governments and parties will come and go, but the country and its democracy must endure and remain strong — a reminder that participation in India's democracy is a responsibility every citizen shares.