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Parliament & Legislative Functions

🎓 Class 8 Social Science CBSE Theory Ch 6 — The Parliamentary System ⏱ ~15 min
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This MCQ module is based on: Parliament & Legislative Functions

[myaischool_lt_sst_assessment grade_level="class_8" subject="civics" difficulty="basic"]

The Parliamentary System: Parliament & Legislative Functions

NCERT Exploring Society: India and Beyond Part I | Chapter 6: The Parliamentary System: Legislature and Executive

Opening Quote
The Constitution is not a mere lawyer's document; it is a vehicle of life, and its spirit is always the spirit of the age.
— Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar, Constituent Assembly, November 1949

Introduction — India's Parliamentary System

India's independence, achieved through great sacrifices, gave citizens the power to make decisions about their own governance. The Parliament is the supreme legislative body, comprising all elected representatives. The 18th Lok Sabha was constituted in June 2024. The government functions with the people's consent — citizens directly elect representatives to the Lok Sabha, and a majority group from among them forms the government.

Composition of Parliament

The Indian Parliament is composed of the President and two houses, forming a bicameral? system:

Lok Sabha (House of the People)
Lower House. Members directly elected by citizens through universal adult suffrage. Maximum 550 members envisaged by the Constitution. Presided over by the Speaker.
Rajya Sabha (Council of States)
Upper House. 245 members — 233 elected indirectly by state MLAs, 12 nominated by the President. Permanent house. Presided over by the Vice President.
Don't Miss Out — Why Bicameral?
The Constitution makers felt a single elected house would be inadequate. In the spirit of federalism?, a Council of States (Rajya Sabha) was needed to represent the interests of different states and balance national unity with local interests.
The Sengol
The Sengol, a gold-plated silver sceptre dating back to the Chola period, was symbolically handed to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on 14 August 1947. It is now placed near the Speaker's chair in the new Lok Sabha, symbolising righteous and just governance. At its top sits Nandi, representing justice.

Legislative Functions of Parliament

The Constitution assigns four broad functions to Parliament:

1. Constitutional Function

Parliament upholds the core values of the Constitution, including enabling parliamentary democracy through universal suffrage, maintaining separation of powers, ensuring federalism, and upholding Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy.

2. Lawmaking

Parliament's primary responsibility is making laws. A law is brought into force through an act. A bill? (draft of a proposed law) undergoes a rigorous journey before becoming an act.

How a Bill Becomes a Law

Introduction in either House of Parliament
↓
Reading of the Bill
↓
Referred to Standing Committee
↓
Clause-by-clause discussion & amendments voted
↓
Vote on the Bill
↓
Process repeated in the other House
↓
Presidential Assent → Gazette Notification → Becomes Law
The RTE Story
The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RTE, 2009) illustrates the lawmaking journey. Its roots lie in the Directive Principles. The 86th Constitutional Amendment (2002) added Article 21A mandating free education for ages 6-14. After being tabled in the Rajya Sabha, studied by a committee, debated on funding, and passed in the Lok Sabha in August 2009, it received Presidential assent and became law.
Don't Miss Out — Money Bills
Some bills can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha. A Money Bill (concerning taxation, government borrowing, etc.) requires the President's prior recommendation and can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha.
LET'S EXPLORE — RTE Lawmaking Process
L3 Apply

Draw a small chart showing the process of how the RTE became an act. What would the process look like if it had been tabled in the Lok Sabha first instead of the Rajya Sabha?

Guidance
If tabled in the Lok Sabha first, it would go through reading, committee review, debate, and vote in the Lok Sabha, then be sent to the Rajya Sabha for the same process, before receiving Presidential assent. The fundamental steps remain the same regardless of which house introduces the bill (except for Money Bills, which must originate in the Lok Sabha).

3. Executive Accountability

The Prime Minister and Council of Ministers are answerable to the Lok Sabha through mechanisms like the Question Hour — the first hour of a Parliamentary session where MPs question ministers about government policies and activities. Special committees also hold meetings where ministries must explain their policies. This ensures the Executive is held accountable for all actions and decisions.

LET'S EXPLORE — Standing Committee Report
L4 Analyse

The textbook shows an extract from the Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare reviewing Ayush co-location at health centres. Who is reporting to whom? What was recommended? What was the government's response?

Guidance
The Ministry of Health reports to the Parliamentary Standing Committee. The Committee recommended creating separate Ayush departments in all states/UTs. The government responded that public health is a state subject but confirmed that 24 states/UTs already have separate Ayush directorates. This demonstrates how Parliament holds the Executive accountable through committee scrutiny.

4. Financial Accountability

Parliament approves and monitors government expenditure through the annual budget, examining how funds are distributed to different ministries. The government is expected to provide necessary information in a timely and accurate manner.

LET'S EXPLORE — Why Monitor Spending?
L4 Analyse

Why do you think Parliament keeps an eye on government expenditure? (Hint: Whose money does the government spend?)

Guidance
The government spends taxpayers' money — the people's money. Parliament, as the representative of the people, must ensure that public funds are spent wisely, efficiently, and for the purposes intended. Without this oversight, there would be no check on wasteful or corrupt spending.
📋

Competency-Based Questions

Case Study: A new education bill is introduced in the Rajya Sabha. A standing committee reviews it and recommends changes. After clause-by-clause discussion, the bill is passed by the Rajya Sabha and sent to the Lok Sabha. After similar debate, the Lok Sabha passes it. The President gives assent, and it becomes law.
Q1. At which stage does the bill officially become a law?
L2 Understand
  • (A) When the standing committee approves it
  • (B) When the Lok Sabha passes it
  • (C) When the President gives assent
  • (D) When it is published in the gazette
Q2. Explain why India chose a bicameral system rather than a single legislative house.
L3 Apply
Q3. Analyse why the Question Hour is considered an essential feature of parliamentary democracy.
L4 Analyse
Creative Q. Imagine you are an MP. Write 3 questions you would ask during Question Hour about an issue affecting students in India.
L6 Create
🎲 Variety Question Block
True or False
1. A Money Bill can be introduced in either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha.
2. The Lok Sabha is presided over by the Vice President of India.
3. The RTE Act 2009 guarantees free and compulsory education for children aged 6-14.
Match the Following
Column A
Column B
1. Lok Sabha Speaker
(a) Reviews bills and government actions
2. Standing Committee
(b) Presides over Lok Sabha sessions
3. Question Hour
(c) Ministers answer MPs' questions
4. Sengol
(d) Symbol of righteous governance
Creative / Open-Ended
If you could introduce one new law in Parliament, what would it be and why? Describe the problem it would solve and who would benefit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is covered in Class 8 Civics Chapter 6 Introduction — India's Parliamentary System?

This section of NCERT Class 8 Civics Chapter 6 covers Introduction — India's Parliamentary System, Composition of Parliament, Legislative Functions of Parliament. Students learn key concepts, definitions, and real-world applications through interactive activities, diagrams, and competency-based practice aligned with the CBSE curriculum.

What are the key concepts in this chapter for CBSE exams?

The key concepts include Introduction — India's Parliamentary System, Composition of Parliament, Legislative Functions of Parliament. Students should understand definitions, be able to explain cause-and-effect relationships, and apply these concepts to case-study questions as per CBSE competency-based question formats for Class 8 Civics.

How is this topic important for Class 8 board exams?

This topic from NCERT Class 8 Civics Chapter 6 is frequently tested in CBSE board exams through MCQs, short answers, and competency-based questions. Understanding the core concepts and practising application-based questions from this section is essential for scoring well.

What activities are included in this NCERT lesson?

This lesson includes interactive activities such as Think About It, Let us Explore, and discussion prompts aligned with NCERT pedagogy. These activities develop critical thinking, analysis, and evaluation skills as per Bloom's Taxonomy levels used in CBSE assessments.

How to study Class 8 Civics Chapter 6 effectively?

Study this chapter by first reading the NCERT text carefully, then reviewing all highlighted keywords and definitions. Practise the in-text activities, attempt CBQ-format questions, and revise using diagrams and summary tables. Focus on understanding concepts rather than rote memorisation.

Where can I find NCERT solutions for Class 8 Civics Chapter 6?

NCERT solutions for Class 8 Civics Chapter 6 are available on MyAISchool.in with detailed explanations for all exercise questions. The interactive lessons include CBQ practice, assertion-reason questions, and activity guidance aligned with CBSE guidelines.

Key Term

Bicameral

A legislative system with two chambers or houses. India's Parliament is bicameral: the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States).
Did You Know? The word comes from Latin: 'bi' means two, 'camera' means chamber.
Key Term

Federalism

A form of government where power is distributed between the central government, state governments, and local governments, balancing national unity with local interests.
Did You Know? India practises federalism with Union, State, and Concurrent lists defining which level of government can legislate on which subjects.
Key Term

Bill

A draft of a proposed law that must be approved by both houses of Parliament and receive Presidential assent before it becomes an act (law).
Did You Know? The term 'Reading' comes from the British Parliament, where a clerk would read bills aloud because many MPs were illiterate.
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