📚 Delhi PSC – General Awareness & Current Affairs
📜 Topic: Parliament & Judiciary
Study Notes (MIT‑Level)
First principles → rigorous reasoning → edge cases → challenging problem
1️⃣ Introduction
| Element | What it is | Why it matters for Delhi PSC |
|---|---|---|
| Parliament | The supreme law‑making body of India (Article 79‑122) | Core of legislative process; many questions in PSC exams |
| Judiciary | Supreme Court, High Courts, lower courts (Articles 124‑145) | Key to constitutional interpretation, rights protection, and checks on Parliament |
| Interaction | Checks & balances, separation of powers | Basis for many exam questions on constitutional law, recent judgments, and cases of amendment vs. basic structure |
2️⃣ The Legislature – “First Principles”
2.1 Constitutional Basis
| Section | Article | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 79‑122 | Establishes bicameral Parliament: Lok Sabha (House of the People) & Rajya Sabha (Council of States) |
| Powers | 101‑111 | Enumerated powers, legislative procedure, money bills, etc. |
| Fundamental rights | 19‑21 | Interaction with Parliament (Article 19(2)–(4)) |
| Amendments | 368 | Procedure for constitutional amendments, “basic structure” (later jurisprudence) |
2.2 Composition & Qualifications
| House | Eligibility | Term | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lok Sabha | 25+ years, Indian citizen, not disqualified | 5 yrs (unless dissolved sooner) | Directly elected; majority decides government |
| Rajya Sabha | 30+ years, Indian citizen, not disqualified | 6 yrs (one‑third retire every 2 yrs) | Indirectly elected (state legislatures & APs); represents states |
2.3 Functions & Powers
| Category | Key Powers | Constitutional Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Legislative | Enact, amend, repeal laws | 100–111 |
| Financial | Approve budget, tax laws | 101 |
| Oversight | Question Hour, committees, parliamentary inquiries | 101 |
| Constitutional | Amend Constitution, ratify treaties | 368, 102 |
2.4 Parliamentary Procedure (First Principles)
- Initiation – Bill introduced (government or private member).
- Stages – First Reading, Second Reading (detailed scrutiny), Third Reading (final vote).
- Revisons – Amendments by members or committees.
- Passage – Majority vote (simple majority for ordinary bills; 50%+1 for Money Bills in Lok Sabha).
- Presidential assent – Usually a formality; can withhold for exceptional cases (e.g., Article 111).
2.5 Edge Cases & Advanced Theory
| Edge Case | Situation | Constitutional Insight |
|---|---|---|
| Money Bills | Only Lok Sabha can amend; Rajya Sabha’s advice is advisory | Demonstrates separation of powers: Parliament’s fiscal supremacy |
| Emergency (Article 352) | Parliament may pass laws overriding |