The Union Parliament — I

ICSE Class 10 · History & Civics · Chapter 1

What this chapter covers

The federal setup in India
The Union Parliament and its two Houses
Lok Sabha: composition
Lok Sabha: term
Qualifications for membership of the Lok Sabha
The Speaker: election and removal
Functions of the Speaker
Rajya Sabha: composition and election
Rajya Sabha: qualifications and term
The Presiding Officer of the Rajya Sabha
Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha compared

Key points

India is a Union of States: a federation with a written division of powers but a strong centre, often described as quasi-federal.
The Seventh Schedule divides subjects into the Union, State and Concurrent Lists; residuary powers belong to Parliament.
Parliament consists of the President, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
The Lok Sabha has a maximum strength of 550 and a present strength of 543, all directly elected on the basis of universal adult franchise at 18 years.
Seats are reserved in the Lok Sabha for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes; one-third reservation for women will apply after the next census and delimitation.
The Lok Sabha's term is five years; it can be dissolved earlier, or extended one year at a time during a National Emergency.
A Lok Sabha member must be an Indian citizen of at least 25 years, registered as a voter and free of disqualifications such as an office of profit.
The Speaker is elected by the Lok Sabha, is removed by a majority of all the then members after fourteen days' notice, and continues after dissolution until the new House meets.
The Speaker presides, keeps order, has a casting vote, certifies Money Bills, presides over joint sittings and decides defection cases.
The Rajya Sabha has a maximum strength of 250 (238 elected and 12 nominated) and a present strength of 245.
Rajya Sabha members are elected by state Legislative Assemblies through proportional representation by single transferable vote.
A Rajya Sabha member must be at least 30 years old and serves six years; one-third retire every second year.
The Vice-President is the ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha; the Deputy Chairman is elected from its members.

Questions answered

What is meant by a federation? State two federal features of the Indian Constitution.

A federation is a system in which power is divided between a central government and the governments of the units by a written constitution. Two federal features are the division of powers into the Union, State and Concurrent Lists, and an independent judiciary that settles disputes between the Centre and the states.

Give two reasons why India is called a federation with a strong centre.

Residuary powers belong to Parliament, and during an emergency the Union can make laws on State subjects. Other valid reasons include single citizenship, Governors appointed by the President and the All-India Services.

Of which three parts is the Union Parliament composed?

The President, the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States).

What is the maximum strength of the Lok Sabha, and what is its present strength?

The maximum strength is 550: up to 530 members from the states and up to 20 from the Union Territories. The present strength is 543 elected members.

Why does the Lok Sabha no longer have nominated members?

The 104th Amendment Act of 2019 ended the nomination of two Anglo-Indian members, with effect from January 2020.

State the normal term of the Lok Sabha. Under what condition can it be extended, and for how long?

Five years from its first meeting. It can be extended only during a National Emergency, by a law of Parliament, for one year at a time, and not beyond six months after the Emergency ends.

List four qualifications for membership of the Lok Sabha.

The person must be a citizen of India, be at least 25 years old, be registered as a voter in a parliamentary constituency, and not hold an office of profit under the Union or a state government.

How is the Speaker elected? Who presides before the Speaker is elected?

The members of the Lok Sabha elect the Speaker from among themselves on a date fixed by the President. Until then a Speaker pro tem appointed by the President presides.

Past board exam questions

ICSE 2027 sample paper · 3 marks

The Union Legislature of India is the law-making body of the country. With reference to the Parliament, answer the following questions: Mention any three key differences in power between the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha that make the Lok Sabha more influential.

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Any three: 1. The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible only to the Lok Sabha; a No-Confidence Motion can be moved and passed only in the Lok Sabha, and the ministry stays in office only while it enjoys the confidence of that House. 2. A Money Bill can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha; the Rajya Sabha cannot reject or amend it and can delay it for only 14 days. 3. The Lok Sabha controls the national purse – the Budget and demands for grants are passed by it. 4. In a deadlock over an ordinary Bill, the joint sitting is decided by majority, so the Lok Sabha's larger numerical strength makes its will prevail. 5. Only the Lok Sabha can pass an adjournment motion against the …

ICSE 2027 sample paper · 4 marks

The Union Legislature of India is the law-making body of the country. With reference to the Parliament, answer the following questions: Mention any four legislative powers of the Parliament.

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Any four: 1. Parliament makes laws on all subjects in the Union List. 2. It makes laws on subjects in the Concurrent List; if a State law conflicts with a Union law on such a subject, the Union law prevails. 3. It can make laws on subjects in the State List: when the Rajya Sabha passes a resolution by a two-thirds majority declaring a subject to be of national importance, during a National Emergency, when two or more States request it, or to implement international treaties. 4. It has the power to make laws on residuary subjects (those not mentioned in any list). 5. It can amend the Constitution. 6. Ordinances issued by the President must be approved by Parliament within six weeks of its …

ICSE 2026 sample paper · 1 mark

Observe the given picture. In case of a similar unruly situation in the Lok Sabha, choose the action that may be taken by the Speaker. (The picture is a cartoon of two groups of angry people shouting, with fists raised and fingers pointing, at a lone worried-looking person standing between them.)

Adjourn the house for lack of quorum.
Dissolve the Lok Sabha.
Adjourn the house for lack of discipline.
Disqualify the members under Anti-defection law.

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Adjourn the house for lack of discipline.

ICSE 2026 board paper · 1 mark

Which session of the Parliament is most associated with this picture? Picture (cartoon): a large coin bearing the Indian rupee symbol (₹), drawn with arms and legs, holding a bundle of currency notes in each hand.

Budget Session
Summer Session
Winter Session
Monsoon Session

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Budget Session

ICSE 2026 board paper · 1 mark

Identify the correct statements about the Lok Sabha. P. Has no nominated members. Q. Term can be extended during emergency. R. Has two members nominated by the President. S. Can be dissolved by the Speaker.

P and Q
R and S
Q and R
P and S

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P and Q

ICSE 2026 sample paper · 3 marks

The Union Legislature of India is the law-making body of the country. With reference to the Parliament, answer the following questions: Rajya Sabha adjourned sine die, overall productivity at 79 percent. — Deccan Herald, 21 December 2023. Who can adjourn the above session? Explain the composition of this house.

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1. The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (the Vice-President of India) adjourns the session sine die. 2. Composition: the Rajya Sabha can have a maximum of 250 members – 238 representatives of the States and Union Territories, elected by the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies by proportional representation (single transferable vote), and 12 members nominated by the President from persons with special knowledge of literature, science, art and social service.

ICSE 2026 board paper · 3 marks

The Union Parliament comprises the President and the two houses. With reference to this, answer the following questions: Mention any three powers which are common to both the houses of the Parliament.

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Powers in which both Houses have equal say: 1. Amending the Constitution – an amendment must be passed by both Houses by a special majority. 2. Electing the President (by the elected members) and the Vice-President, and impeaching the President. 3. Removing judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts. (Also: passing ordinary (non-money) bills; approving proclamations of emergency and ordinances.)

ICSE 2026 board paper · 3 marks

The Union Parliament comprises the President and the two houses. With reference to this, answer the following questions: Who elects the members of the Rajya Sabha? Mention any two exclusive powers to analyse the advantages of the Rajya Sabha.

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The members of the Rajya Sabha are elected by the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies, by proportional representation through the single transferable vote (12 members are nominated by the President). Exclusive powers: 1. By a resolution passed by a two-thirds majority, it can declare a subject in the State List to be of national importance, empowering Parliament to make laws on it (Art. 249). 2. By a two-thirds majority resolution, it can authorise Parliament to create new All-India Services (Art. 312). These powers show its advantage as the House of the States, protecting the federal balance between the Union and the States.