4 - The legislature

Summary

The Constitution makers opted for a parliamentary system of government with the pious hope that only people of unimpeachable conduct and impeccable character, inspired with a deep-seated commitment to do selfless service to the people would enter the portals of Parliament and State legislatures. But, alas, it has not taken much time for the expectations of the architects of the Constitution as well as the people who have entertained high hopes about their elected representatives to be belied. The legislative bodies have lost their lustre, what with people of proven record of crime trooping in through abuse of money, muscle and liquor, thus making a mockery of the august institutions they happen to be members of.

It appears to be far easier to pass a new law rather than to enforce an existing one. So it is easier for a politician to seek to meet a problem by announcing that his Ministry is preparing the draft of a bill to overcome the very problem. Thus each new problem brings about a committee to study it, a Report on the problem, a committee to study the report, a committee to prepare a Bill, a committee to consider the Bill and so on ad infinitum. Meanwhile perfectly good laws remain on the statute book which, if enforced properly, are perfectly capable of solving the problem.

Legislative and parliamentary processes are at the heart of democratic constitutionalism. The parliament is the body that makes laws and oversees the implementation of government programs.