Parliament is the supreme legislative body of a country, responsible for making laws, representing the electorate, and overseeing the government. In many democratic countries, the parliament is a key institution that ensures the government is accountable to the people. In India, the Parliament consiRead more
Parliament is the supreme legislative body of a country, responsible for making laws, representing the electorate, and overseeing the government. In many democratic countries, the parliament is a key institution that ensures the government is accountable to the people.
In India, the Parliament consists of three main components:
Lok Sabha (House of the People): The lower house of Parliament, where members are directly elected by the people of India. It represents the citizens and is responsible for making and passing laws.
Rajya Sabha (Council of States): The upper house of Parliament, where members are elected by the elected members of State Legislative Assemblies, and by the members of the Electoral college for Union Territories, as well as nominated by the President. It represents the states and union territories of India.
The President of India: Apart from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, the President of India is also a crucial part of the Parliament. The President’s role includes giving assent to bills passed by both houses, summoning and proroguing sessions of Parliament, and addressing joint sessions. The President’s approval is required for a bill to become law.
Together, these three components—the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and the President—constitute the Parliament of India.
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The Cold War, which lasted from the end of World War II until the early 1990s, was primarily driven by ideological, political, and strategic differences between the United States and the Soviet Union. Several key factors contributed to the onset and persistence of the Cold War: 1. **Ideological ConfRead more
The Cold War, which lasted from the end of World War II until the early 1990s, was primarily driven by ideological, political, and strategic differences between the United States and the Soviet Union. Several key factors contributed to the onset and persistence of the Cold War:
1. **Ideological Conflict:** The Cold War was fundamentally a clash between capitalism, as represented by the United States, and communism, as represented by the Soviet Union. The U.S. championed a capitalist democracy with market economies and individual freedoms, while the USSR promoted a communist ideology with state-controlled economies and a single-party political system.
2. **Power Vacuum After WWII:** The end of World War II left a power vacuum in Europe and other parts of the world. Both superpowers emerged from the war as dominant military and political forces, but with conflicting visions for the post-war order. The Soviet Union sought to expand its influence over Eastern Europe and promote communist governments, while the U.S. aimed to prevent this expansion and promote democratic governance and free-market economies.
3. **Nuclear Arms Race:** The development and stockpiling of nuclear weapons by both superpowers created a precarious balance of power known as mutually assured destruction (MAD). The fear of nuclear war and the desire to maintain strategic superiority fueled intense competition and espionage.
4. **Economic and Military Competition:** The U.S. and the Soviet Union engaged in a global competition for influence, including in regions like Asia, Latin America, and Africa. This competition often manifested through proxy wars, economic aid programs, and military alliances, such as NATO and the Warsaw Pact.
5. **Mutual Distrust and Misunderstandings:** Both superpowers had deep-seated distrust of each other’s intentions. The U.S. feared the spread of communism and totalitarianism, while the Soviet Union viewed Western efforts as attempts to undermine its security and socialist system.
Overall, the Cold War was characterized by a complex interplay of ideological conflict, strategic competition, and mutual suspicion, which defined international relations for nearly half a century.
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