Article 79 — Constitution of Parliament

There shall be a Parliament for the Union which shall consist of the President and two Houses to be known respectively as the Council of States and the House of the People.

Source: Constitution of India, as published by the Ministry of Law and Justice.

The bicameral Parliament was a conscious choice to balance direct popular representation (Lok Sabha) with representation of states' interests (Rajya Sabha). Single-chamber legislatures were considered but rejected because a second chamber was seen as a safeguard against hasty legislation and a forum for states' voices. The inclusion of the President in the definition of Parliament reflects the Westminster tradition where the 'King-in-Parliament' is the sovereign legislative body.

• Article 80
• Article 81
• Article 110
• Article 112
• Article 123

Last reviewed: 3 July 2026