The Union Parliament

Question 1

define federalism

Answer 1

A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and various constituent units of the country

Question 2

define parliament

Answer 2

the body of people’s representatives who have supreme power of governance in a democratic country

Question 3

during emergency, term of lok sabha can be…

Answer 3

extended by parliament for one year at a time. new lok sabha must be elected withing 6 months after emergency is lifted

Question 4

composition of lok sabha

Answer 4

maximum strenght is 550
1. representing state (530)
2. representing UTs(20)

Question 5

qualifications of members of lok sabha

Answer 5

1. indian citizen
2. 25 years of age
3. should not be in debt
4. should be on voters list
5. not a criminal
6. not be of unsound mind
7. not be under any office of profit of government

Question 6

what are some parliamentary procedures

Answer 6

1. session
2. quorum
3. question hour
4. zero hour

Question 7

Sessions

Answer 7

President summons each house of parliament. They meet twice a year(interval less than six months)
Normally, three sessions in a year

Question 8

what are the three sessions?

Answer 8

1. Budget (Feb-may)
2. monsoon (july-august)
3. winter (november-december)

Question 9

Quorum

Answer 9

Minimum number of members to be present in order to enable the house to transact its business. (one-tenths of total membership)

Question 10

Question Hour

Answer 10

the first hour of every working day of the lok sabha is reserved for questions unless declared otherwise by the speaker (11 am)
10 days notice to be given for a question

Question 11

define interpellation

Answer 11

the right of the members to ask questions from the government

Question 12

three types of Questions

Answer 12

1. STARRED: when member wishes to have oral answers on the floor of the house. supplementary questions may be asked.
2. UNSTARRED: answers are given in written form; no supplementary questions
3. SHORT NOTICE: Urgent importance; notice of ten days not needed; up to the Minister whether or not to answer the question

Question 13

Zero hour

Answer 13

12 pm- 1 pm
members can raise all kinds of questions, without permission or prior notice

Question 14

define Motion

Answer 14

proposal made by a member that a house should take up a particular matter of public importance

Question 15

Adjournment Motion

Answer 15

a motion to lay aside all other business and take up a definite matter of urgent importance.

Question 16

No-confidence motion

Answer 16

proposal expressing the lack of confidence in a Ministry
it is moved by the Opposition
the motion is moved only when 50 members support it
motion has to be discussed within 10 days

Question 17

define Adjournment

Answer 17

suspension of the sitting of the house by the speaker (Power to speaker)

Question 18

define Prorogation

Answer 18

termination of session of parliament (power belongs to President)

Question 19

presiding officer of lok sabha

Answer 19

speaker (not answerable to anyone but the House)

Question 20

election of Speaker

Answer 20

elected from among its own members when the house meets for the first time. speaker does not vacate office when House is dissolved, and remains till a new speaker is elected.

Question 21

Functions of business of the speaker

Answer 21

1. presides over all meetings
2. interprets the rules of procedure of House
3. all bills are signed by them
4. decides admissibility of questions and resolutions
5. decides whether a bill is a money bill or not

Question 22

Administrative functions of speaker

Answer 22

1. receives petitions and documents to the house
2. communicates decisions of the house to concerned authorities
3. regulates admission of visitors and press correspondents.

Question 23

disciplinary functions of the speaker

Answer 23

1. maintains order in the house
2. in case words used by a member are indecent, speaker can expunge the words from proceedings of house
3. decides whether there is a case for a matter relating to a breach of privilege or contempt of the house.
4. when a member is disqualified under anti-deflection law, question is referred to decision of the speaker.

Question 24

parliamentary committees of the speaker

Answer 24

1. speaker is ex-officio chairman of the committees of house
2. appoints chairmen for committees
3. issues directions to the chairman

Question 25

miscellaneous functions of the speaker

Answer 25

1. presides over joint sessions of both houses of parliament
2. in consultation with chairman, they nominate personnel for delegates to countries
3. presides over conference of presiding officier

Question 26

what does Rajya Sabha represent?

Answer 26

federation of States of the Indian Union

Question 27

composition of Rajya Sabha

Answer 27

250 members
1. 12 nominated by President having experience in literature, science, art, and social service
2. 238 members are elected by States in the Union, based on population of each state

Question 28

election of rajya sabha

Answer 28

elected by elected members of SLA in accordance with system of proportional representation by means of single transferable vote

Question 29

term of rajya sabha

Answer 29

-cannot be dissolved by lok sabha
- six years elected
- 1/3 members retire after every two years

Question 30

qualifications for rajya sabha

Answer 30

1. indian citizen
2. 30 years of age
3. should not be an insolvent
4. should not be a criminal
5. should not hold an office of profit under the government
6. name should be in electoral rolls
7. not be of unsound mind

Question 31

presiding officers of rajya sabha

Answer 31

1. vice president (ex-officio chairman)
2. deputy chairman elected by Rajya Sabha

Question 32

the parliament is competent to make laws on what issues

Answer 32

1. matters in union list (defence banking, communications, foreign affairs)
2. matters in concurrent lists (education, forests, adoption, trade union)
3. residuary powers
4. matters in state list (agriculture, animal husbandry, local government police, public health), only during emergency/national importance/when 2 or more states promote legislation, but only applicable to consenting states
5. ordinances (promulgate ordinance when not in session)
6. powers during emergency

Question 33

financial powers of parliament

Answer 33

1. budget
2. supplementary grants
3. vote on account
4. salaries
5. permission for taxes

Question 34

judicial powers of the parliament

Answer 34

1. impeachment of president
2. removal of judges
3. punishment for disrespecting the house

Question 35

control over the executive (parliament functions)

Answer 35

1. interpellation (question hour, calling attention notices, half-an-hour discussion)
2. vote of no-confidence
3. adjournment motion (for censuring the acts of omission and commission of ministers)
4. other motions of censure (against minister, rejection of government bill, passing of a private member’s will against wishes of government)
5. monetary controls

Question 36

exclusive powers of the rajya sabha

Answer 36

1. the rajya sabha may, by a resolution adopted by two-thirds majority, empower the parliament to make laws with respect to a matter in the state list.
2. declare that the creation of new All-India Services be made in national interest
3. if Lok Sabha is dissolved before or after a national emergency, rajya sabha becomes the sole de facto and de jure of the parliament.

Question 37

exclusive powers of the lok sabha

Answer 37

1. motions of no-confidence
2. money bills can only be introduced in lok sabha
3. in case of deadlock over non-financial bill, will of the lok sabha prevails