composition of the parliament of pakistan and discuss membership

1. Explainthe compositionof the Parliament of
Pakistanand discuss membership, function and
power of the National Assembly?
Composition ofParliament
According to section 50 of the constitution, there shall be a Parliament of Pakistan consisting of the
President and two Houses to be known respectively as the National Assembly and the senate.
Explanation
The constitution of 1973 by providing bi-cameral legislature has
met a long standing demand of the people of the small
Provinces. Article 50 proclaims that there shall be a Parliament
consisting of the President and two houses to be known as the
National Assembly and the Senate.
The national legislature of Pakistan consists of the National
Assembly, the senate and the President. In the matter of
enactment of law all of them are to act together, each bring
complimentary to the other.
Membership
The National Assembly consist of 332 members to the Senate 87 members. The national assembly is to be
elected on the basis of adult franchise by direct, free and secret vote.
Composition ofNational Assembly
The National Assembly presently consist of 332 members to be elected on the basis of adult franchise by
direct free and secret vote. The seats in the national assembly have been allocated to each Province, the
federally administered tribal areas and federalcapital on the basis of population.
Qualification of voter – A person is entitled to vote if –
(1). He is a citizen of Pakistan,
(2). He is not less than 18 years of age,
(3). His name appears on the electoral roll and,
(4). He is not declared by a competent court to be unsound mind.
Duration – The term of the National Assembly is 5 years to be counted from the day of its first meeting,
after the expiry of which period it will automatically stand dissolved, unless sooner dissolved under
Article 58 of the Constitution.
Function and powers
The National Assembly is competent to pass laws on the matters relating to part-I of the federal
legislative list. It may also pass laws with regard to matters in part-II of the federal legislative list or the
concurrent legislative list. Besides the National Assembly has the power of controlling the finances of the
federation. The budget and all proposals for expenditure or taxation are to be submitted to the National
Assembly. But certain items of expenditure such as the salaries ad allowance of the President, Judges of
the Supreme Court, the Chief election Commissioner and the attorney generalare not to be submitted for
vote in the National Assembly.

2. Power to control executive
The National Assembly has also the power to control the Executive. The Ministers are usually to be
chosen from the members of the National Assembly and are the Government of the country.
Money bill
A money bill can only originate in the National Assembly and after it has been passed by it, it is not
required to be transmitted to the senate, but is to be presented to the President for his assent.
Relation between the National Assembly and the Senate
The National Assembly has been granted more power than the
powers granted to the Senate.
Responsibility
The Executive is collectively responsible only to the National
Assembly and not to the Senate.
Sole Body
The national assembly is the sole body to vote upon the demand
for grants of money.
Money bills can be introduced
Money bills can be introduced only in the National
Assembly. Conclusion
In this way the senate has practically no powers over the money
bills.