India gained independence from Britain in 1947 after being ruled as part of the British Empire for over a century. It took three years for India to complete its new constitution and establish itself as a federal republic with a parliamentary system of government located in New Delhi. India has a bicameral parliament consisting of the upper Council of States and lower House of the People, which together form the Federal Parliament. Executive power lies with the Council of Ministers led by the prime minister, who is the leader of the majority party in the lower house.