ABSTRACT

The sovereignty of the people in India is exercised through Parliament, elected on adult franchise with a Cabinet responsible to it as its executive instrument. The Indian Parliament is constituted basically on the British model. It comprises two houses: the Lok Sabha (the house of people or the lower house) and the Rajya Sabha (the council of states or the upper house). The former with 544 members, each elected directly by about 1.25 million persons, has a five year term. The latter, which has about 250 representatives from 22 states, union territories, and a few nominated members, is a permanent house, with one-third of the members retiring every two years.