Legislature
Topic: State, Government and Governance: Organs, Levels and the Citizen · NCERT: Class 6, Ch 10 "Grassroots Democracy – Part 1: Governance"; Class 7, Ch 9 "From the Rulers to the Ruled: Types of Governments"; Class 7, Ch 6 "The State, the Government, and You"; Class 8, Ch 6 "The Parliamentary System: Legislature and Executive"
Meaning
The legislature is the law-making organ of government. It is made up of the people's elected representatives. It makes, changes and repeals laws. It also keeps a check on the executive and approves government spending. At the Union level it is Parliament, made up of the President, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha (Art. 79). In the states it is the Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly), whose members are called MLAs. A few states also have a Legislative Council, which can be created or abolished under Art. 169.
Example
As digital payments spread, cybercrime grew. Parliament responded by passing the IT Act 2000 to deal with it. Parliament also checks the executive through Question Hour and the no-confidence motion.
Don't confuse with
- Executive: the executive carries out laws. The legislature makes them. In India the executive is drawn from the legislature and answers to it.
- Parliament vs Lok Sabha: Parliament means the President, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha together. The Lok Sabha is only one of its Houses.