Working of Institutions Test - 4

Rajya Sabha keeps the interests of states in the Parliament. Rajya Sabha has special powers to declare that it is necessary and expedient in the national interest that Parliament may make laws with respect to a matter in the State List.

The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the House of the People (Lok Sabha) in our country. The Council of the Ministers of a state is collectively responsible to the Legislative Assembly of the State.

The Governor has some discretionary powers which can be exercised by him independently. He may send any bill passed by the State legislature for the consideration of the President.

Under the Constitution of India, the judiciary is a single integrated system of courts for the Union and the States with the Supreme Court at the apex. Our judiciary is independent of the Legislature and Executive. The High Courts, Subordinate Courts and District Courts function under the Supreme Court. The Constitution, various Acts, conventions and precedents of cases are the basis for judicial judgements. The judgement of the Supreme Court is final.

Indian Parliament is bicameral in nature. It consists of President and two houses - Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha are also called upper and lower house of Parliament respectively.

The Rajya Sabha is also known as the House of Elders. It is one of the two houses of the Parliament in India. It represents the States in India, hence, it is called the Council of States. The members of Rajya Sabha are indirectly elected. 

Emergency under Article 356 is imposed by President of India. If the President is satisfied, based on the report of the Governor of the concerned state or from other sources, that the governance in a state cannot be carried out according to the provisions in the Constitution, he may declare an emergency in the state. Such an emergency must be approved by the Parliament within a period of two months.

The Prime Minister always enjoys the confidence of Lok Sabha and shall resign only if he is unable to prove majority when instructed by the President. 

The Parliament does not have complete control and sovereignty, as its laws are subject to judicial review by the Supreme Court of India. However, it does exercise some control over the executive branch. The members of the cabinet, including the prime minister and the Council of Ministers, are either chosen from parliament or elected there to within six months of assuming office. The cabinet as a whole is responsible to the Lok Sabha. The Lok Sabha is a temporary house and can only be dissolved when the party in power loses the support of the majority of the house.

The Constitution states in Article 2 that the Parliament can envisage a new state in the Union of India. It states in Article 3 that the Parliament can form new states or alter the area, boundary or name of an existing state in the Union of India.