Composition: The Parliament of India is **-cameral legislature consisting of two houses alongwith the President of India.
Functions:
(a) Legislative Functions:
(i) To pass laws on the subjects given in the union list like foreign affairs, defence, war and peace, railway, etc.
(ii) To pass laws on the subjects given in the concurrent list.
(b) Financial Functions:
(i) To pass the budget.
(ii) No tax can be imposed without approval of the Parliament.
(iii)No expenditure can be incurred without the sanction of the Parliament.
(c) Control over executives:
(i) The ministers are responsible towards the Parliament for their actions and policies.
(ii) Parliament can ask questions to the ministers and is supposed to get satisfactory responses.
(d) Judicial Functions:
(i) To confer power of issuing writs and directions for any purpose other than the protection of fundamental rights on the Supreme Court of India.
(ii) To confer some other powers also in the Supreme Court not to be against constitution, but essential for the performance of his duty.
(e) Electoral Functions:
(i) The elected members of the Parliament participate in the election of the President with the elected members of Legislative Assemblies of the states.
(ii) Parliament elects the Vice President and speaker.
(f) Amend Constitution:
(i) Parliament amends the Constitution as per the Article 368.
