Important Articles of Constitution

Important Articles of Constitution

Art-79. Constitution of Parliament

There shall be a Parliament for the Union which shall consist of the President and two Houses to be known respectively as the council of States and the House of the People.

Art- 80. Composition of the Council of States

(1)       The Council of States shall consist of-  

(a) Twelve members to be nominated by the President in accordance with the provisions of clause (3); and

(b) not more than two hundred and thirty-eight representatives of the States and of the Union territories.

(2)      The allocation of seats in the Council of States to be filled by representatives of the States and of the Union territories shall be in accordance with the provisions in that behalf contained in the fourth Schedule.  

(3)      The members to be nominated by the President under sub-clause (a) of clause (1) shall consist of persons having special knowledge or practical experience in respect of such matters as the following, namely:-

Literature, science, art and social service.  

(4)     The representatives of each State in the council of States shall be elected by the elected members of the Legislative Assembly of the State in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote.

(5)     The representatives of the Union Territories in the council of States shall be chosen in such manner as Parliament may by law prescribe.

Art- 83. Duration of Houses of Parliament.-

(1)       The council of States shall not be subject to dissolution, but as nearly as possible one-third of the members thereof shall retire as soon as may be on the expiration of every second year in accordance with the provisions made in that behalf by Parliament by law.  

(2)      The House of the People, unless sooner dissolved, shall continue for five years from the date appointed for its first meeting and no longer and the expiration of the said period of five years shall operate as a dissolution of the House: Provided that the said period may, while a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation, be extended by Parliament by law for a period not exceeding one year as a time and not extending in any case beyond a period of six months after s the Proclamation has ceased to operate.

Art- 84. Qualification for membership of Parliament.-

A person shall not be qualified to be chosen to fill a seat in Parliament unless he- 

(a)     is a citizen of India, and makes and subscribes before some person authorized in that behalf by the Election Commission an oath or affirmation according to the form set out for the purpose in the Third Schedule;

(b)     is, in the case of a seat in the Council of States, not less than thirty years of age and, in the case of a seat in the House of the People, not less than twenty-five years of age; and

(c)      Possesses such other qualifications as may be prescribed in that behalf by or under any law made by Parliament.