Question

You have read that most elected members whether in the Panchayat, or the Vidhan Sabha or the Parliament are elected for a fixed period of five years. Why do we have a system where the representatives are elected for a fixed period and not for life?​

Answer 1

Provision for a fixed term for the elected members gives many benefits. It prevents the complacency and authoritarianism in elected members. It gives the people a right to change their representative after five years if people are not satisfied with the work of a representative. Regular elections and choice of options are the key features of a democratic setup.

Answer 2

Answer:

Because we have a democratic republic where we choose our representatives every few years. If they were chosen for life you would no longer have a democracy. We need to be able to change our representatives if the majority wants a change. If chosen for life you not longer have that option.