Parliament is the supreme legislative body of India.
The Indian Parliament comprises of the President and the two Houses - Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and Lok Sabha (House of the People).
The President of India is elected by the members of an electoral college consisting of the elected members of both Houses of Parliament and the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of the States and Union Territories
The President has the power to summon and prorogue either House of Parliament or to dissolve Lok Sabha.
The Constitution of India came into
force on January 26, 1950.
The first general elections under the new
Constitution were held during the year 1951-52 and the first elected Parliament came into existence in April, 1952.
The Constitution provides that the maximum strength of the House (of the People) be 552 members.
530 members to represent the States,
20 members to represent the Union Territories,
and 2 members to be nominated by the President from the Anglo-Indian Community.
At present, the strength of the House is 545 members.
The origin of Rajya Sabha can be traced
back to 1919, when in pursuance to the Government of India Act, 1919, a second
chamber known as the Council of States was created.
The Rajya Sabha is to consist of not
more than 250 members - 238 members representing the States and Union
Territories, and 12 members nominated by the President.
Rajya Sabha is a permanent body and is
not subject to dissolution. However, one third of the members retire every
second year, and are replaced by newly elected members. Each member is elected
for a term of six years.
The Vice President of India is the
ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha.
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