page_title: Elections in India
section_title: General Elections (Lok Sabha)
hierarchical_section_title: Elections in India / Types of Elections / General Elections (Lok Sabha)
context_page_description: India is a country, divided in states and union territories, with a parliamentary system governed under the Constitution of India, which defines the power distribution among the federal government and the states.
  The President of India is the ceremonial head of the country and supreme commander-in-chief for all defence forces in India.
  However, it is the Prime Minister of India, who is the leader of the party or political alliance having a majority in the national elections to the Lok Sabha, that exercises most executive powers for matters that require countrywide affection under a federal system.
  India is regionally divided into States and each State has a Chief Minister who is the leader of the party or political alliance having won majority in the regional elections otherwise known as State Assembly Elections that exercises executive powers in that State. The respective State's Chief Minister has executive powers within the State and works jointly with the Prime Minister of India or his ministers on matters that require both State and Central attention.
context_section_description: Members of Lok Sabha (House of the People) or the lower house of India's Parliament are elected by being voted upon by all adult citizens of India, from a set of candidates who stand in their respective constituencies. Every adult citizen of India can vote only in their constituency. Candidates who win the Lok Sabha elections are called 'Member of Parliament' and hold their seats for five years or until the body is dissolved by the President on the advice of the council of ministers. The house meets in the Lok Sabha Chambers of the Sansad Bhavan in New Delhi, on matters relating to creation of new laws, removing or improving the existing laws that affect all citizens of India. Elections take place once in 5 years to elect 545 members for the Lok Sabha (Lower house).
caption: 15th Lok Sabha (2009)