The Three Main Organs of the Indian Government

1. Chamber Status: Lok Sabha is the Lower House and is dissolved every 5 years (or earlier by the President); Rajya Sabha is the Upper House and is a permanent body that cannot be dissolved (members serve 6-year terms, with one-third retiring every 2 years).
   2. Election Method: Lok Sabha members are directly elected by citizens through universal adult suffrage; Rajya Sabha members are indirectly elected by elected MLAs of State Assemblies.
   3. Presiding Officer: Lok Sabha is presided over by the Speaker (elected from among its members); Rajya Sabha is presided over by the Vice-President of India as its ex-officio Chairman.
   4. Control over Money Bills: A Money Bill can originate only in the Lok Sabha. The Rajya Sabha can only delay a Money Bill for a maximum period of 14 days, having no power to reject or amend it.

• Article 75(3) of the Indian Constitution: Dictates that the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha.
• Core Principle: The ministry functions as a unified team ("they swim or sink together").
• Even if an individual cabinet minister disagrees with a government policy, once a Cabinet decision is taken, all ministers must publicly defend it or resign.
• Vote of No-Confidence: If the Lok Sabha passes a Vote of No-Confidence against the government or rejects a government bill/budget, the entire Council of Ministers, including the Prime Minister, must resign immediately.

• Money Bill (Article 110): A bill dealing exclusively with taxation, borrowing of money, government expenditure, or custody of the Consolidated Fund of India.
• Procedural Differences:
1. Introduction: A Money Bill can be introduced ONLY in the Lok Sabha and only with the prior recommendation of the President. An Ordinary Bill can originate in either house.
2. Certification: The Speaker of the Lok Sabha has the final authority to certify whether a bill is a Money Bill.
3. Role of Rajya Sabha: When passed by Lok Sabha, it is sent to Rajya Sabha, which has only 14 days to return it with suggestions. If not returned in 14 days, it is deemed passed.
4. No Joint Sitting: There can be no joint sitting for a Money Bill; the will of the Lok Sabha is supreme.

• Judicial Review: The inherent power of the Supreme Court (and High Courts) to examine the constitutional validity of any legislative law passed by Parliament or state legislatures, or any executive order issued by the government.
• Why Essential?
1. Supreme Protector: If any law passed by a temporary parliamentary majority violates any provision of the Constitution or infringes on Fundamental Rights, the Supreme Court can declare that law unconstitutional, null and void.
2. Prevents Tyranny: It prevents the legislative and executive branches from exceeding their constitutional powers, preserving the democratic rule of law.

• Nominal Executive (De jure): The President of India.
The Constitution vests all executive powers in the President, and all treaties and government decisions are taken in the President's name. However, the President acts strictly on the binding aid and advice of the Council of Ministers.
• Real Executive (De facto): The Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers.
They hold actual political power, formulate policies, command the parliamentary majority, control the armed forces through the Defense ministry, and govern the nation daily.

1. Habeas Corpus: ("You shall have the body") Commands the authorities to produce a detained person before the court to examine the legality of detention; frees unlawfully detained citizens.
   2. Mandamus: ("We command") Orders a public official or lower authority to perform a mandatory legal duty they have failed or refused to perform.
   3. Prohibition: Issued by a higher court to a lower judicial tribunal to stop it from exceeding its legal jurisdiction.
   4. Quo-Warranto: ("By what authority") Inquires into the legality of a person's claim to hold a public office, preventing illegal usurpation.
   5. Certiorari: ("To be informed") Quashes an illegal order passed by a lower court or tribunal acting without jurisdiction.

• Question Hour: The first hour of every parliamentary sitting (typically from $11:00\text{ AM to } 12:00\text{ Noon}$) in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
• Significance: Members of Parliament (MPs) ask probing questions to Government Ministers regarding administration, public welfare policies, government expenditures, and national problems.
• Ministers are held directly accountable on national television. It is the most vital democratic tool for parliamentary scrutiny over the executive.

• Appointment: Every judge of the Supreme Court is appointed by the President of India under the collegium system (consultation with the Chief Justice of India and four senior-most judges of the Supreme Court).
• Removal (Impeachment): A Supreme Court judge has security of tenure and retires at age $65$. A judge can be removed from office before retirement ONLY by an order of the President passed after an address by each House of Parliament supported by a Special Majority ($2/3\text{rd}$ of members present and voting and a majority of total membership) on grounds of proven misbehavior or incapacity.