How Parliament Works: Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and Law-Making

India's Parliament is the country's supreme legislative body. It consists of the President and two Houses: the Lok Sabha, or House of the People, and the Rajya Sabha, or Council of States. The President is part of Parliament in a constitutional sense — bills need presidential assent to become law — but day-to-day law-making and debate happen in the two Houses, and the government of the day is formed from support in the Lok Sabha.

The Lok Sabha is directly elected. Voters in single-member constituencies choose one candidate each, and the candidate with the most votes wins, even without an overall majority. The House currently has 543 elected seats and normally serves for five years, unless it is dissolved earlier. Because the Council of Ministers must retain the confidence of the Lok Sabha, this House decides who governs.

The Rajya Sabha represents the states and union territories. Its members are mostly elected by the elected members of state legislative assemblies, using proportional representation, while 12 members are nominated by the President for distinction in fields such as literature, science, art and social service. The Rajya Sabha has a maximum strength of 250 and a current strength of 245. It is a permanent body: it is never dissolved, with one-third of its members retiring every two years, which gives it continuity across general elections.

Most bills can start in either House and must be passed by both before going to the President. Money Bills are the major exception: they can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha, and the Rajya Sabha can only recommend changes within 14 days. If the Houses disagree on an ordinary bill, a joint sitting can be called. Parliament also amends the Constitution under a special procedure, controls public finance, and holds the executive to account through questions, debates and motions. Its design therefore tries to balance two ideas at once: direct popular representation, and a federal voice for the states.