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Polity & Society Presentation
Legislature Concept, Types
and Functions
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Branches of Government
Since the time of Aristotle it has beengenerally agreed that political power isdivisible into three broad categories.
1) Legislative Power - Which formulates andexpresses the will of the state.
2) Executive Power To see whether thelaws are being obeyed and there is no
infringement of them.3) Judicial Power To interpret the laws andprotect the rights of the citizens.
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Legislature - Concept
What is Legislature?
A legislature is a type of deliberative assembly withthe power to pass, amend and repeal laws.
The law created by a legislature is called legislation
or statutory law. Legislatures are known by many names, the most
common being parliament.
In parliamentary systems of government, the
legislature is formally supreme and appoints amember from its house as the prime minister whichacts as the executive.
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Legislature - Types
The primary components of alegislature are one or more chambersor houses.
The Legislatures are broadly dividedinto the following categories:
1. Unicameral Legislature
2. Bicameral Legislature
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Legislature - Types
Unicameral Legislature:
A legislature with only one house is called asan Unicameral Legislature.
More Common in Communist countries likeChina, Singapore, Sri Lanka, New Zealand,etc.
Some of the sub national entities with
unicameral legislatures include Nebraska,Guam and the Virgin Islands in the UnitedStates; Hong Kong, etc.
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Legislature - Types
Advantages of UnicameralLegislature:
1. Permits Speedy Action
2. Avoids obstruction of will of the people
3. Permits clarity of responsibility of the cabinetin the parliamentary system of government.
4. Reduces duplication and confusion of
responsibility relating to legislature.
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Legislature - Types
Advantages of UnicameralLegislature:
5. Adds to the quality and prestige of
legislature.6. It is less expensive
7. Since only one body is responsible forlegislation, there is greater transpearancyand accountability
8. It's easier and cheaper to maintain alegislature with only one chamber and thusfewer representatives.
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Legislature - Types
Bicameral Legislature:
A bicameral legislature possesses twoseparate chambers.
Usually described as an upper house and alower house.
Both the houses differ in duties, powers, andthe methods used for the selection of
members. Examples: Parliament in India, Parliament in
Italy, Parliament in Malaysia.
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Speaker of the Lok Sabha
Smt. Meira Kumar
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Legislature - Types
Advantages of Bicameral Legislature:1. Provide a check on Hasty and ill-considered
legislation.
2. Avoid despotism of a single chamber.3. Help public opinion to crystallize by
interposing delay.
4. Reflect the popular will at all times and there
is no time lag in doing that.
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Legislature - Types
Advantages of Bicameral Legislature:5. Help divide the work load.
6. Do useful and careful revision of legislation.
7. Allow representation to different classes andgroups.
8. Account for their necessity in a federation.
9. Protect individual freedom against legislative
despotism.
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Legislature Functions
Functions of the Legislature are alsodivided in the following categories:
1) Legislative Functions
2) Deliberative Functions3) Financial Functions
4) Administrative Functions
5) Judicial Functions
6) Constituent Functions7) Electoral Functions
8) Miscellaneous Functions
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Legislature - Functions
Legislative Functions:
The first and foremost function of thelegislature is to make laws.
Keeping a close watch on thedirection of the public opinion,
Making new laws, amending old laws,and canceling obsolete and uselesslaws.
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Legislature - Functions
Deliberative Functions:
More or less similar to Legislativefunctions. It is more
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Legislature - Functions
Financial Functions:
Raising Revenues
Incurring Expenditures Presentation, consideration and
authorization of Budgets.
No money can be raised or spent bythe executive without the priorconsent and approval and legislature.
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Lok Sabha (Vote of Confidence Motion)
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Legislature - Functions
Administrative Functions:
Supervising the executivefunctions/activities i.e. Controlling theexecutives.
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Legislature - Functions
Judicial Functions:
Impeachment Proceedings
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Legislature - Functions
Constituent Functions:
Adding new laws or makingamendments to the constitution of acountry.
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Legislature - Functions
Electoral Functions:
Appointing the President and Vice-President.
Casting a vote incase of any tie.
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Legislature - Functions
Miscellaneous Functions:
Removing of Judges
Appointment of Committees andCommissions
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