The Union Parliament is the supreme legislative body of India, comprising the President and two houses: the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the Lok Sabha (House of the People). The Union Parliament is responsible for enacting, amending, and repealing laws in India. The Constitution of India lays down the framework for the functioning of the Union Parliament, including its organization, procedure regarding enactment of legislation, and parliamentary privileges. This essay will explore these aspects of the Union Parliament in detail.

Organization of Union Parliament:

The Union Parliament is divided into two houses: the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha. The Rajya Sabha is the upper house of the Parliament, consisting of 245 members. The members of the Rajya Sabha are elected by the members of the State Legislative Assemblies, with each State being allocated a certain number of seats. The Lok Sabha is the lower house of the Parliament, consisting of 545 members. The members of the Lok Sabha are directly elected by the people of India through a process of universal adult suffrage.

The President of India is an integral part of the Union Parliament. The President is the head of the state and is elected by an electoral college comprising the members of both houses of the Parliament and the State Legislative Assemblies.

The Union Parliament has a Speaker who presides over the Lok Sabha and a Chairman who presides over the Rajya Sabha. The Speaker and the Chairman are responsible for maintaining order in their respective houses and for conducting the proceedings of the house. They are assisted by a panel of Deputy Speakers and Vice-Chairmen.

Procedure regarding Enactment of Legislation:

The Constitution of India lays down the procedure for the enactment of legislation by the Union Parliament. A bill can be introduced in either house of the Parliament, except in the case of a Money Bill, which can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha. After a bill has been introduced, it is referred to a standing committee or a select committee for scrutiny and examination. The committee prepares a report on the bill, which is presented to the house for consideration. The house can either accept or reject the report, or can make amendments to the bill based on the recommendations of the committee.

After the bill has been passed by one house of the Parliament, it is sent to the other house for consideration. If the other house makes any amendments to the bill, it is sent back to the originating house for approval. If the originating house approves the amendments made by the other house, the bill is deemed to have been passed by both houses of the Parliament.

After the bill has been passed by both houses of the Parliament, it is sent to the President for assent. The President can either give assent to the bill or withhold assent, in which case the bill is deemed to have been rejected. If the bill is rejected by the President, it can still become law if it is passed by both houses of the Parliament again, with or without amendments. However, if the President withholds assent for the second time, the bill is deemed to have been rejected permanently.

Parliamentary Privileges:

Parliamentary privileges are a set of special rights and immunities enjoyed by members of the Parliament, which are essential to enable them to perform their duties effectively. These privileges are codified in the Constitution of India, as well as in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

Some of the important parliamentary privileges enjoyed by members of the Parliament include the following:

1. Freedom of speech: Members of the Parliament have the right to express their opinions freely and frankly without fear of prosecution or defamation.
2. Freedom from arrest: Members of the Parliament cannot be arrested in a civil or criminal case during the session of the Parliament without the permission of the Speaker or the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, as the case may be. This privilege is essential to ensure that members of the Parliament can discharge their duties without fear of harassment or intimidation.
3. Immunity from legal proceedings: Members of the Parliament are immune from legal proceedings in respect of anything said or done by them in the course of their parliamentary duties.
4. Access to information: Members of the Parliament have the right to access any information or document that is necessary for the discharge of their duties as members of the Parliament.
5. Right to committee work: Members of the Parliament have the right to participate in the proceedings of various committees of the Parliament, such as the Public Accounts Committee, the Estimates Committee, and the Committee on Public Undertakings.

Conclusion:

The Union Parliament is the cornerstone of India’s democratic system of governance. It is responsible for enacting laws that govern the lives of millions of people in India. The organization of the Union Parliament is designed to ensure that it functions effectively and efficiently. The procedure regarding the enactment of legislation is transparent and accountable, ensuring that the legislative process is fair and just. Parliamentary privileges are essential to ensure that members of the Parliament can perform their duties without fear or intimidation. Overall, the Union Parliament plays a vital role in India’s democratic system of governance, and it is essential that it continues to function effectively and efficiently in the years to come.