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IN CLASSROOM ACTIVITY – DREAM PARLIAMENT
CONTENTS
In classroom activity – Dream Parliament ................................................................................................................... 1
Teacher’s Section .......................................................................................................................................................... 1
Introduction – ........................................................................................................................................................... 1
Expected OutcomeS – ............................................................................................................................................... 2
steps of the activity – ............................................................................................................................................... 2
Step 1 – Make a Bill .................................................................................................................................................. 2
Step 2 – Lok Sabha session ....................................................................................................................................... 3
Step 3 – Rajya Sabha Session ................................................................................................................................... 3
Step 4 – Joint Session ............................................................................................................................................... 4
Reflections – ............................................................................................................................................................. 4
Print Section .................................................................................................................................................................. 5
Student’s Section ...................................................................................................................................................... 6
Do you know? .......................................................................................................................................................... 6
TEACHER’S SECTION
INTRODUCTION –
Very frequently we hear about a new bill getting passed by the cabinet, or a certain law getting amended
by parliament. But have we ever taken a moment to try and understand how laws get made in India? Laws
in India can be made by the Union Government (National Laws) or at the State Level (State Laws). For a
law to be recognized in India, it must first be introduced in the form of a ‘Bill’ in either House of the
Parliament, then passed by both houses and then finally the President of India must assent to it before it
becomes an "Act of Parliament”
Bill
Lok Sabha
Rajya Sabha
President
assent
Act/Law
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Bill - A bill is a proposed law that has not been passed yet or known as a draft act of Parliament, which
once passed by both Houses of Parliament (Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha) and approved by the President
becomes a Law.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES –
1. Students will be exposed to the process of making laws in their country
2. Students will understand the value of law and order in the country
3. Students will learn through experience about the role of cabinet and government in making law
4. Students will gain knowledge about parliamentary processes, code of conduct and the importance
of laws.
STEPS OF THE ACTIVITY –
Pre-preparation
1. Display the process of making laws chart in the classroom and explain the step by step process
of the activity. (Print Section)
2. Select the President and the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members in advance.
3. Make seating arrangement for the session
4. Keep it very light and informal so that students can participate actively. Explain that this is just
an exercise to make them understand the process of lawmaking, there is no judgment.
STEP 1 – MAKE A BILL
1. Divide the students into 5-6 groups.
2. Display the agenda for the day and ask them to write a bill for the topics given below –
a. Traffic safety for Learners (16 -18 years)
b. Waste management system for school
c. Code of conduct in the classroom
d. Anti-bullying policy in school
e. Cyber safety rules for students
f. Eco-friendly campus policy for school
3. Explain the components of the bill to all groups in detail –
a. Topic – Like Waste Management system for school
b. 5 Rules to be included in the bill
For e.g.. –
1. Waste segregation at the source (Classrooms, canteen, playground etc.)
2. Dustbins to be put up on each floor – 2 in each classroom
3. Orientation programme should be part of the curriculum
4. Fines and punishment for using polythene
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c. Why do they think so? (Each rule they want to propose should be thought through and should be
backed by dummy research data)
For e.g.,. India is generating ………… tonnes of waste every year. It goes into landfills and water
bodies which creates harmful effects on the environment. To keep our environment safe and
clean we all should contribute. Waste segregation and management can be the first step towards
this duty.
d. What will be fine/punishment for breaking the rules? (Dummy punishment and fines)
For e.g.,– Each class will be fined with Rs.500/month if waste segregation practice not found in
place during the inspection
Polythene use is banned in school and every individual will be fined with Rs. 50 if found using
polythene in the school campus.
e. Anticipated points of discussion – to prepare your answers
For E.g..-
1. Who will fund for dustbins?
2. Do you have a proper system to monitor?
3. Why students should be involved?
4. What are the benefits for school?
5. What are the challenges in the whole process?
4. Give time for 20 minutes for the discussion and finalization of the bill
STEP 2 – LOK SABHA SESSION
1. Select any one bill, and divide the remaining 4-5 groups into 2 big groups – 1 group will act as a
ruling party and another group will act as opposition in the Lok Sabha
2. Selected Bill’s representatives will introduce the bill in the Lok Sabha session.
3. Ruling party needs to support the bill and opposition party will oppose the rules which are not
favorable for general public/students.
4. The teacher needs to act as a Lok Sabha speaker and help maintain the discipline and dignity of
the session.
5. Conduct a healthy discussion on the proposed bill.
6. As this session is going on in an informal classroom setting, discuss clause by clause and try to
come to a consensus on the bill within a given time.
7. Conduct a quick demo amendment in the bill and conduct voting on the bill. Count the votes in
favor of the bill and pass the bill from Lok Sabha
STEP 3 – RAJYA SABHA SESSION
1. As this is an ideal parliamentary session and students are getting exposed to the process of
making laws, choose another bill to present in the Rajya Sabha assuming the bill has been
already passed in the Lok Sabha.
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2. Give chance to another group to introduce the Bill in the Rajya Sabha session and involve the
first group in the opposition party.
3. Follow the same process of the clause by clause discussion and amend the bill as per final
suggestions and agreement. (You can also choose some other bill for discussion, but it is good to
debate on the same bill to understand the process in depth)
4. Finalise the bill with amended clauses and take votes on the final bill.
If you want to run the joint session, just reject the bill and proceed to the next step of the Joint
Session.
STEP 4 – JOINT SESSION
1. The Joint session can only be conducted to discuss the rejected bill.
2. Just have a quick discussion on the suggested amendment and take votes.
3. Pass the bill with a majority and send it to the President for making it a LAW
4. Let the President announce the “Bill is passed by both houses and now it becomes a Law”
REFLECTIONS –
Just put up a chart on board and ask each student to write a single word about the activity. Keep the
reflections simple and fun.
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STUDENT’S SECTION
DO YOU KNOW?
1. May 13, 1952 is remembered with pride and joy as the newly constituted Council of
States sat together for the first time. This 'Second Chamber' of the Parliament of
India, was later named as the Rajya Sabha, on August 23, 1954.
2. 1st Lok Sabha. The First Lok Sabha was constituted on 17 April 1952 after India's first
general election. The 1st Lok Sabha lasted its full tenure of five years and was
dissolved on 4 April 1957.
3. Lok Sabha (House of the People) or the lower house has 545 members. 543 members
are directly elected by citizens of India on the basis of universal adult franchise
representing Parliamentary constituencies across the country and 2 members are
appointed by the President of India from the Anglo-Indian Community.
4. The current speaker is Sumitra Mahajan of the Bharatiya Janata Party, who is
presiding over the 16th Lok Sabha. She is the second woman to hold office, after her
immediate predecessor Meira Kumar.
5. The Vice President of India (currently, Venkaiah Naidu) is the ex-officio Chairman of
the Rajya Sabha, who presides over its sessions.
6. The latest bill passed by both the Houses was GST bill and recently, The Muslim
Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2018 “Triple Talaq Bill” was passed by
LokSabha on 27th Dec. 2018
