Parliament Not more than Members Not more than Members nominated Not more than representatives of Union Territories Not more than representatives of States and Union Territories Not more than representatives of States plus not more than nominated Anglo-Indians Council of the States House of the People fields of literature, science, art, and social service were nominated by the President of India. Unlike House of People, Council of States is not subject to dissolution but one third of the members retire every second year. The term of the individual member is six years. The members of the Council of States are elected by their respective state legislative assemblies in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote.
Functioning of Rajya Sabha The Vice-President of India is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. The Chairman presides over the proceedings and regulates the Rajya Sabha. Except the Money/Financial Bill all other bills will be placed before the Rajya Sabha for discussion, questions, motions and resolutions under the rules of procedure and conduct of business. The functions of Rajya Sabha may broadly be categorised as: Legislative, Financial, Deliberative and Federal.
Legislation is by far the most important business of Rajya Sabha, as indeed of Parliament and in this sphere, Rajya Sabha enjoys almost equal powers with Lok Sabha. In the U.S.A, the representatives in the state council is called as Senate where every state has equal representation irrespective of size and population of the states. But in India, the representation in the Rajya Sabha is based on its size of population. For example, Uttar Pradesh with the highest population elects members to Rajya Sabha; on the other hand, Sikkim, the least populated state, elects only one member to Rajya Sabha.
Tamil Nadu elects members to the Rajya Sabha. The number of members to be elected from each State has been fixed by the fourth schedule of the Constitution. Members of the Rajya Sabha are elected Who can be a Member of Rajya Sabha? Must be a citizen of India Must not be less than years Under the Representation of the People Act, , a person had to be an elector in a parliamentary constituency in the State from where he seeks election to Rajya Sabha.
It may, however, be mentioned that the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act, , which amended Section of the Representation of the People Act, , has done away with the requirement of being a resident of State or Union territory from which a person seeks to contest elections to Rajya Sabha. He/She has to be an elector in a parliamentary constituency anywhere in India.