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Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha and Parliament Functions Class 11

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Political ScienceCBSE Class 11 · Legislature

Parliament: Two Houses, Their Composition, Functions and Powers (Class 11 Political Science, Indian Constitution at Work, Chapter 5)

Updated 17 October 2026 · Fact-checked

India has a bicameral Parliament: the Lok Sabha (543 directly elected members, five-year term) and the Rajya Sabha (indirectly elected by MLAs, six-year terms, one-third retiring every two years, 12 nominated members). Two Houses represent regions and give a double check. Parliament legislates, controls the executive, controls finance, represents, debates, amends the Constitution, elects and judges; money bills and the power to remove the government rest with the Lok Sabha.

Compare the two Houses row by row: Lok Sabha is directly elected for 5 years; Rajya Sabha is elected by MLAs, permanent, and checks every bill again.

Illustration drawn for QuestionBuddy.

Understand Why Two Houses: Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha, and the Functions and Powers of Parliament

Why this topic matters. The comparison of the two Houses, the functions list and the special powers are repeated 3-5 mark questions; figures such as 543, 12 nominated members and 14 days are quick marks.

1. Why a parliament. The legislature is not merely a law-making body; it is the centre of the democratic process, the most open forum of debate and the most representative organ, and it can choose and dismiss the government. Even strong cabinets must keep their majority and answer to Parliament: in 1998 and 2002 opposition pressure made finance ministers roll back fertiliser price rises.

2. Bicameralism. Two Houses form a bicameral legislature. Reasons: large diverse countries want all sections and regions represented, and every bill is discussed twice as a double check. States may choose a unicameral or bicameral legislature; only six States have two Houses.

3. Rajya Sabha. Represents the States and is indirectly elected: MLAs elect its members. Seats are allotted by population (Fourth Schedule), not equally as in the US Senate: Uttar Pradesh sends 31 members and Sikkim 1. Members serve six years and one-third retire every two years, so it is never fully dissolved: the permanent House. The President nominates 12 members distinguished in literature, science, art and social service.

4. Lok Sabha. Directly elected from 543 territorial constituencies of roughly equal population (unchanged since the 1971 census), each electing one representative by universal adult suffrage. Term at most five years; it can be dissolved earlier if no party or coalition can form a government or if the PM advises dissolution.

5. Functions. Legislative (often merely approving bills drafted by the bureaucracy and decided by the Cabinet); control of the executive and accountability; financial (taxation and spending, new taxes need Lok Sabha approval); representation; debating; constituent (amendments need a special majority of both Houses); electoral (President and Vice President); judicial (removal of the President, Vice President and High Court and Supreme Court judges).

6. Powers. Lok Sabha: laws on the Union and Concurrent Lists, money and non-money bills, taxation and budgets, holds the executive to account including the no-confidence motion, and can force the revocation of a Proclamation of Emergency by a simple majority resolution of disapproval (the Proclamation itself must be approved by both Houses). Rajya Sabha: considers non-money bills, suggests amendments to money bills, approves constitutional amendments, alone can initiate removal of the Vice President, and has a special power: it can authorise Parliament to make laws on a State List matter, protecting States' powers.

7. Only the Lok Sabha. Money bills cannot be initiated, rejected or amended by the Rajya Sabha, and ministers are collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha alone, so the Rajya Sabha can criticise but not remove the government; the directly elected House should hold the powers of removing a government and controlling finances. Co-equal powers: non-money bills, constitutional amendments, impeaching the President, removing the Vice President.

Why Two Houses: Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha, and the Functions and Powers of Parliament: key facts

Lok Sabha
  • 543 constituencies
  • Directly elected
  • Term at most five years
  • Money bills only here
Unchanged since 1971 census.
Rajya Sabha
  • Elected by MLAs
  • Six-year terms
  • One-third retire every two years
  • 12 nominated by the President
  • UP 31, Sikkim 1
Permanent House.
Functions
  • Legislative
  • Control of executive
  • Financial
  • Representation
  • Debating
  • Constituent
  • Electoral
  • Judicial
Eight functions.
Special powers
Lok Sabha: money bills, no-confidence, disapproval of an Emergency by simple majority resolution | Rajya Sabha: State List law-making authorisation, initiate removal of Vice President
Not shared. (A Proclamation of Emergency itself must be approved by both Houses.)

How to answer Why Two Houses: Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha, and the Functions and Powers of Parliament questions

Comparison questions use two columns and equal rows.

  1. 1Rows: election, term, size, nomination, money bills, removal of government.
  2. 2Fill the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha columns.
  3. 3Add the special power of each.
  4. 4Close with the reason for the Lok Sabha's greater power: it is directly elected.

Why Two Houses: Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha, and the Functions and Powers of Parliament in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Never fully dissolved

Suppose elections to a Council are held every two years for one-third of seats while members serve six years.

Which House does this resemble and what is it called?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. One-third retire every two years.
  2. The Rajya Sabha, the permanent House.

Answer: The Rajya Sabha, the permanent House.

Memory hook: Always in session as a body.

Raising a tax

Suppose a government wants to introduce a new tax and the upper House objects.

Whose approval is decisive?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. New taxes need Lok Sabha approval.
  2. The Rajya Sabha can only suggest amendments to money bills.

Answer: The Lok Sabha.

Memory hook: Money belongs to the people's House.

Tricks to remember Why Two Houses: Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha, and the Functions and Powers of Parliament

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

  • 543, 12, 6, 6

    Lok Sabha seats; nominated members; years of RS term; States with two Houses

    Use it when: Numbers.

  • One-third in two years

    Rajya Sabha retirement

    Use it when: Permanent House.

  • Money only LS

    Money bills start and end in the Lok Sabha

    Use it when: Special power.

Why Two Houses: Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha, and the Functions and Powers of Parliament: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: Nominated members · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

The President's nominees to the Rajya Sabha are persons distinguished in:
(A) law and administration only
(B) literature, science, art and social service
(C) trade and industry only
(D) sports only

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Nominated members are distinguished in literature, science, art and social service (1 mark).

Answer: (B)

Example 2: Rajya Sabha term · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level

Explain how the retirement schedule of Rajya Sabha members helps in a year when the Lok Sabha is dissolved. (2 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. One-third of members retire every two years, so the House is never fully dissolved (1 mark).
  2. It can therefore meet for urgent business even when the Lok Sabha is dissolved (1 mark).

Answer: Because only one-third of the members retire every two years and only those seats go to election, the Rajya Sabha is never fully dissolved. It can therefore meet for urgent business even when the Lok Sabha is dissolved.

Example 3: Why two Houses · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

State two reasons for having a bicameral legislature in India and one idea from the Constituent Assembly. (3 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. A large diverse country needs all sections and regions represented (1 mark).
  2. Each decision is reconsidered, a double check on hasty decisions (1 mark).
  3. Purnima Banerji: an Upper House as a revising body whose views might count more than its votes (1 mark).

Answer: India's size and diversity require the representation of all sections and regions, and having two Houses means every bill is discussed twice, giving a double check against hasty decisions. In the Constituent Assembly, Purnima Banerji saw an Upper House as a revising body whose views might count more than its votes.

Example 4: Assertion and reason: Rajya Sabha limits · 1 mark · Assertion-reasonHarder board level

Assertion (A): Only the Lok Sabha can initiate and decide money bills.
Reason (R): The directly elected House should hold the power of controlling finances.
(A) Both true, R explains A
(B) Both true, R does not explain A
(C) A true, R false
(D) A false, R true

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. The chapter says the directly elected House should hold financial control (1 mark).

Answer: (A)

Example 5: HOTS: population and seats · 5 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

Uttar Pradesh has about 1,998 lakh people and 31 Rajya Sabha seats; Sikkim has about 6.1 lakh people and 1 seat. Compute the population ratio and the seat ratio, and explain what the figures show about the principle on which India represents the States, contrasting with the US Senate. (5 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Population ratio = 1,998 / 6.1 = about 327.5 (1 mark).
  2. Seat ratio = 31 / 1 = 31 (1 mark).
  3. So larger States get more seats but less than in strict proportion (1 mark).
  4. India follows representation by population (Fourth Schedule) (1 mark).
  5. The US Senate follows the symmetrical principle of equal representation regardless of size (1 mark).

Answer: The population ratio is 1,998 / 6.1 = about 327.5 to 1, while the seat ratio is 31 to 1. So India gives larger States more seats than smaller ones but not in strict proportion to population. The principle used is representation by population, with seat numbers fixed in the Fourth Schedule, unlike the symmetrical principle of the US Senate, which gives each State the same number of seats.

Where students lose marks in Why Two Houses: Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha, and the Functions and Powers of Parliament

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

  • Mistake: Saying Rajya Sabha members are directly elected

    Direct election assumed.

    Wrong working

    Rajya Sabha members are elected by the people.

    Right working

    Elected by MLAs of the State, indirectly.

    Do this: Write "indirectly by MLAs".

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

  • Mistake: Saying Rajya Sabha can reject money bills

    Powers equated.

    Wrong working

    Rajya Sabha can reject a money bill.

    Right working

    It can only approve or suggest amendments to a money bill.

    Do this: Money bills are Lok Sabha's.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

  • Mistake: Writing five years for Rajya Sabha

    Lok Sabha term used.

    Wrong working

    Five-year term.

    Right working

    Six years, with one-third retiring every two years.

    Do this: Distinguish the two terms.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

Exam tips

  • Always use a table for the two Houses.
  • Give 543, 12 and six years as numbers.
  • State why powers differ: the Lok Sabha is directly elected.

Practice questions on Why Two Houses: Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha, and the Functions and Powers of Parliament

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

  1. Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

    Which House of Parliament has the power to initiate money bills?
    (A) Rajya Sabha
    (B) Lok Sabha
    (C) Both Houses equally
    (D) The President

    Hint

    Directly elected House.

    Answer

    (B)

  2. Q2 · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level

    State two special powers of the Rajya Sabha. (2 marks)

    Hint

    State List, Vice President.

    Answer

    It can authorise Parliament to make laws on a State List matter, and it alone can initiate the removal of the Vice President.

  3. Q3 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    Distinguish the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha in composition and term. (3 marks)

    Hint

    Direct and indirect.

    Answer

    The Lok Sabha is directly elected from 543 constituencies for at most five years and can be dissolved. The Rajya Sabha is indirectly elected by MLAs, members have six-year terms with one-third retiring every two years, 12 are nominated by the President, and it is never dissolved.

  4. Q4 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    Explain any three functions of Parliament. (3 marks)

    Hint

    Legislative, control, financial.

    Answer

    Parliament makes laws, though it often approves bills drafted under the Cabinet; it controls the executive and holds it accountable; and it controls finance, since any new tax needs Lok Sabha approval and the government must account for spending. It also represents, debates, amends the Constitution, and elects and removes high officers.

  5. Q5 · 4 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency

    Critics say Parliament has declined because the Cabinet dominates. Evaluate this with the chapter's examples of 1998 and 2002 and the Lok Sabha's special powers. (4 marks)

    Hint

    Declined yet vital.

    Answer

    The Cabinet does initiate policy and often Parliament merely approves bills, so there is some basis for the critique. But even strong cabinets must keep a majority, and in June 1998 and March 2002 opposition pressure forced finance ministers to roll back price hikes. The Lok Sabha also holds the power to approve taxes and remove the government, so Parliament remains the centre of the democratic process.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

  1. 1.How many Lok Sabha seats?Show answer

    543.

  2. 2.What is the Fourth Schedule used for?Show answer

    Allotting Rajya Sabha seats to States.

  3. 3.Who nominates 12 members?Show answer

    The President.

  4. 4.How many States have two Houses?Show answer

    Six.

Why Two Houses: Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha, and the Functions and Powers of Parliament: frequently asked questions

Is the Rajya Sabha ever dissolved?

No; it is a permanent House.

Which House must approve a Proclamation of Emergency?

Both Houses of Parliament must approve a Proclamation of Emergency. The Lok Sabha's special feature is that it can force its revocation by passing a simple majority resolution of disapproval.

What is Germany's upper house?

The Bundesrat, with 69 seats, representing the 16 states.