Union Parliament Flashcards
Define Federalism
Federalism is the system of government in which the power is divided between a central authority and various constituent units of the country.
What is a federal system of government?
- In a federal system of government, all the administrative powers are divided between the central and state government.
- Both are supreme within their respective spheres, according to the constitution.
Define the term parliament
Parliament is a body of people’s representatives who have the supreme power of governance in a democratic country.
What does the union Legislature comprise?
- The president
- Parliament:
- Loksabha
- Rajya Sabha
What is the Lok Sabha also known as? Why?
- The lok sabha is also known as the House of the people
- This is because the members of the lok sabha are directly elected by the general electorate (people of India)
Term of Lok Sabha :
- 5 yrs
- Can be dissolved before the expiry of normal term by President on advice of Prime Minister, or by vote of no confidence
When can the term of the Lok Sabha be extended and for how much time?
-during the proclamation of emergency the period of the look sabha may be extended by the parliament for one year at a time.
-the new lok sabha must be elected six months after the emergency is lifted.
What is the maximum strength of the lok sabha?
550, 530+20
On what basis are the number of lok sabha seats allotted?
The allotment of members to the various states is made on population basis.
Qualifications for membership
- They should be an Indian citizen.
- They should be at least 25 years of age for Lok Sabha or 30 years old for Rajya Sabha.
- They should have their name in the electoral rolls in some part of the country.
- They should not be insolvent.
- Should not hold any office of profit under the government.
- Should not be proclaimed criminal.
-Should not be of unsound mind.
What are parliamentary procedures?
Formalities with the legislatures have to observe in the Parliament as well as in state legislatures are called parliamentary procedures.
Who summons each house of the Parliament?
The president of India
There are a minimum of _____ sessions in an year and the maximum interval between two consecutive sessions should be less than ______
2, 6 months
When are the sessions normally held?
Normally, three sessions are held in a year,
1. The budget session ( February to May)
2. The monsoon session (July to August)
3. The winter session (November to December)
Define quorum
The quorum means that the minimum number of members required to be present in order to enable the house to transact it’s business
What are the minimum number of members required for the house to transacts its business?
1/10th of total membership
What and when is question? hour
The first hour on every working day of the Lok Sabha is reserved for questions. Every working day of the Lok Sabha - - > to 11 a.m.
Why is there a need of question hour?
The question hour is intended to keep the functioning of the government opened to scrutiny by the members of the Parliament.
What is interpellation?
The right of the members to ask questions from the government is known as interpellation.
What is the notice period that a member has to give for a question?
10 days
Who are all the questions address to before being admitted
All questions are addressed to the chair before being admitted.
What are starred questions?
Questions which a member wishes to have an oral answer on the floor of the house are known as starred questions.
What are unstarred questions?
-Questions to which answers are given in written form are known as unstarred questions
- no supplementary questions can be asked.
What are short notice questions?
Short note is questions are questions that relate to a matter of urgent importance.
They are asked with the notice shorter than 10 days.
It is up to the Minister to accept a to not accept a short notice question.
When does Zero Hour begin?
It begins at 12 o’clock after the question hour and continuous till lunch break which is at 1:00 p.m.
What is a motion?
A motion is a formal proposal made by a member stating that the house should take up some particular matter which is of public importance.
What is meant by an adjournment motion?
An adjournment motion means a proposal to lay aside all other business and take up a ‘definite matter of urgent importance.’
Give examples of subjects on which ajournment motions are allowed on
Railway accident resulting in the death of many people. Are there in the quality. Some natural calami like flood or tornado. Communal tension, etc.
What is a no confidence motion?
A no confidence motion is a proposal expressing lack of confidence in the ministry.
Who Moves the no confidence motion?
The opposition move the no confidence motion.
Write down the entire process of initiating the no confidence motion till the motion is put to vote
- The no confidence in the government is moved by the opposition.
- The house grants leave to move no confidence motion only when it has the support of at least 50 members.
- The motion has to be taken up for discussion with in 10 days from the day on with the leaves granted.
- On conclusion of the debate the speaker puts the motion to vote.
What is the opposite of no confidence motion
A confidence motion is the opposite of no confidence motion
Define adjournment of the house
Adjournment of the house means suspension of sitting of the house by the speaker.
What is prorogation
Means termination of the session of the Parliament
Who has the power of adjournment of the house?
The speaker of the house has the power of adjournment of the house
Who has the power of prorogation of a session?
The president of India
When is the house adjourned?
- After the business for the day is over.
- The death of sitting / ex member of the house.
- When there is too much disorder in the house.
-Quorum is not satisfied. - As and when the speaker find it necessary.
The speaker is the ___ of the Lok Sabha?
Presiding officer
What is the rank of the speaker in table of precedence of ministers?
In the table of precedence the speaker ranks higher than all cabinet ministers apart from the Prime Minister.
How is a speaker of the Lok Sabha chosen?
The speaker of the Lok Sabha is elected from among its own members soon after the newly elected house meets for the first time.
When is the speaker of the Lok Sabha elected?
The speaker of the Lok Sabha is elected soon after the newly elected house meets for the first time.
How can the speaker offer his resignation?
The speaker may resign from his or her post on health or on other Grounds by submitting a letter of resignation to the deputy speaker.
Can the speaker be removed? How?
The speaker can be removed by the Lok Sabha if the majority of the members pass a resolution to this effect.
State the functions and role of the speaker with respect to the business of the house
- All speeches and remarks are address to the speaker. Presides over the meeting.
- Allots time for discussion.
- Interprets the rules are procedures of the house. Their decision in all parliamentary matters is final.
- All bills passed by the house are signed by them before they are sent to the Rajya Sabha for consideration or to the president for assent.
- The speaker puts the issue to vote and announces the result.
- Only votes as a tie breaker.
- Decides admissibility of all questions and resolutions.
- Decides admissibility of an adjournment motion.
State the administrative functions of the speaker
- Received all petitions and documents in the house.
- Communication of the decision house to concerned authorities.
- Regulates the admission of visitors and press to the galleries of the house.
Disciplinary functions of the speaker
- Maintain order in the house:
when members behave unrully he may order them to withdraw. - May suspend a member if they disregard the authority of the chair.
- May adjourn the house in case of grave disorder.
- In case words used by a member are indecent or unparliamentary the speaker may order it to be expunged from the proceedings of the house.
- Decides whether there is a breach of privilege or contempt of the house.
- Decides if a member stands under the anti-defecation law and decision is final, no court can question it.
What are the roles and functions of the speaker with respect to parliamentary committees?
- The speaker is the ex-officio chairman of some of the committees of the house such as the business advisory committee and the rules committee
- Appoints chairman of all committees of the house.
- Issues directions to the chairman in all matters relating to the working and the procedure to be followed
Write the miscellaneous functions of the speaker of the Lok Sabha.
- Presides over the joint sessions of both the houses of the Parliament.
- In consultation with the chairman of the Rajya Sabha they nominate people for parliamentary delegations to various countries.
- preside over the conference of presiding officer of Legislative bodies in India.
What are the other names of the Rajya Sabha
Council of States, Upper house
What is the term of the Rajya Sabha
The term of every individual member of the Rajya Sabha is 6 years, one third of the members retire each year
How many members in the Rajya Sabha are nominated?
12
Who nominate the members in the Rajya Sabha and on what basis?
President of India nominate the members 12 in number of the Rajya Sabha from among persons having special knowledge a practical experience in matters such as:
- literature
- science
- art
- social service.
On what basis Are seats are located in the Rajya Sabha? What is this system called?
Seats are allocated in the Rajya Sabha on the basis of the population of the states and union territories. This is called the system of **proportional representation. **
Who elects the members of the Rajya Sabha?
The representatives of each state in the Rajya Sabha are elected by the elected members of the Legislative Assembly of each state.
Who is the presiding officer of the Rajya Sabha?
The vice president is the ex-officio chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
He presides over the meetings.
He is not a member of the Rajya Sabha but votes as a tie breaker.
What power does the Parliament have in Legislative matters in the Union List?
In the union list the Parliament has the power to make laws on all subjects such as
- Defence
- Banking
- Communications
- Foreign Affairs
What power does the Parliament have with respect to the things mentioned in the concurrent list?
The Parliament can make laws in case of conflict with the state government the will of the union will reign supreme.
The subject included are
- education
- adoption
- forest
-succession
-Trade union
What is the scope of power of the Parliament with respect to the subjects mentioned in the state list?
The Parliament can make laws on subject present in the state list only certain cases:
- When there is a proclamation of emergency
- Rajya Sabha passes a resolution with two third majority that a subject in a state list has assumed national importance
- When two or more states are of the opinion that the Parliament should legislate on a subject.
Parliament may make an Act but it will only be applicable to consenting states.
What are the subject that are mentioned in the state list?
- Agriculture
- Animal husbandry
- Public Health
- Local government police etc
What are ordinances?
- The president is empowered to promulagate an ordinance at a time when the parliament is not in session.
- It has a same effect as an act. All ordinences must be put up before both the houses for their approval.
- Ordinances cease to operate 6 weeks from the Re assembly of Parliament unless they are approved by the houses.
What are the powers that the Parliament has on total breakdown of constitutional machinery in a state?
The Parliament becomes the legislature, assumes all powers, including passing the state budget
What are the powers the Parliament has in financial matters?
- Rajya Sabha has only advisory role in financial matters.
- The budget is passed by the Parliament containing the estimate of receipts and expenditures of the government for a financial year.
- If the amount authorised for the current financial year is not sufficient the government may make a fresh demand known as supplementary grants.
- Vote on account if the budget is not passed by April 1st then a device known as vote on account authorises the executive to draw fund from the consolidated fund until the budget is passed by the Parliament.
- Salaries and allowances of MPS and ministers are determined by parliament.
- No tax can be imposed or money spent by the government without the approval of the parliament.
Money bill can only be introduced in _____
Can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha
What are the judicial powers of the Parliament?
-
Impeachment of the President :
- In case of violation of constitution of grave misconduct the president can be impeached.
- either House can frame charges.
- If the resolution is passed by a two third majority of the total membership the other house will investigate.
- If the other house also find president guilty then the president has to resign. - Removal of:
- Judges of the supreme court and High Court
- Chief election commissioner of India
-Comptroller
-Auditor General of India - Punishment: the Parliament can punish a person for obstructing the work of the Parliament or showing disrespect to the house.
Electoral Functions of Parliament
- Electing President of India along with state legislature
- Electing Vice President of India
- Electing Speaker and Deputy Speaker (L.S) and Deputy Chairman (Rajya Sabha)
Amendment of constitution
- bill to amend can be introduced in either house but has to be passed by 2/3rd membership.
- some cases require 1/2 of people aprove.
How does Parliament exercise control over executive?
- Interpellation
- Adjournment Motion
- Other Motions of Censure
- Vote of no confidence
- Monetary control (cut motion ij budget session)
Who ensures that public money is spent in accordance with the Parliamentary decision?
Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts
Other Powers of Parliament?
Other Powers of Parliament?
SPECIAL POWERS OF LS AND RS
SPECIAL POWERS OF LS AND RS
