3. INDEX
LOK
SABHA
RAJYA
SABHA
CONCLUSION
LOK SABHA :
1. INTRODUCTION
2. ELECTIONS
3. TERM
4. COMPOSITION
5. QUALIFICATION & DISQUALIFICATION
6. VACATION OF SEATS
7. PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES
8. TYPES OF MOTION
9. SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
10.ROLES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE
SPEAKER
6. AKNOWLEDGEMENT
In preparation of my assignment, I had to take the help and guidance
of some respected persons, who deserve my deepest gratitude. As the
completion of this assignment gave me much pleasure, I would like to
show my gratitude Your Teacher’s Name, Course Instructor, on Texas
University for giving me a good guidelines for assignment throughout
numerous consultations. I would also like to expand my gratitude to all
those who have directly and indirectly guided me in writing this
assignment.
7. INTRODUCTION
• The Parliament of India is the supreme legislative body of the Republic of India. It is
a bicameral legislature composed of the President of India and the two houses: the Rajya
Sabha (Council of States) and the Lok Sabha (House of the People).
• The President in his role as head of legislature has full powers to summon and prorogue either
house of Parliament or to dissolve Lok Sabha.
• The Members of Parliament, Lok Sabha are directly elected by the Indian citizen voting in Single-
member districts and the Members of Parliament, Rajya Sabha are elected by the members of
all State Legislative
8. FEDRAL SET-UP OF GOVERNMENT
FEDRAL SET-UP
Union/Central
Government
State
Government
Hence called as BICAMERAL LEGISLATURE
10. LOK SABHA
• Lok Sabha (House of the People) or the lower house has
545 members.
• 543 members are directly elected by citizens of India on the basis
of universal adult franchise representing Parliamentary
constituencies across the country
• 2 members are appointed by the President of India from the Anglo-
Indian Community.
11. TERM & COMPOSITION
1. Term
• According to constitution the term of the Lok
Sabha is 5 Years.
• However, It can be dissolved before the expiry
of its normal term by The President on the
advice of the Prime Minister.
• Its term could be extended by Parliament for
one year, in case of Emergency.
2. Composition
• Maximum Strength(By CONSTITUTION) :
552
• Not more than 530 members shall represent
the states
• Not more than 20 members shall represent the
Union Territories
• 2 members are appointed by the President of
India from the Anglo-Indian Community.
Current Lok Sabha
Consists of542
Members
12. QUALIFICATION & DISQUALIFICATION
1. Qualification
• He should be an Indian Citizen.
• He should be at least 25 years of age.
• He should have his name in the electoral rolls
in some part of the country.
• He should not be an insolvent.
• He should not hold any office of profit under
the government.
• He should not be a proclaimed criminal.
• He should not be of unsound mind.
2. Disqualification
• If he holds any office of profit under the
Government of India or the Government of
any state.
• If he is of unsound mind and stands so
declared by a competent court.
• If he is an undischarged insolvent.
• If he is not a citizen of India or has voluntarily
acquired citizenship of a foreign state.
• If he is so disqualified by or under any law
made by the parliament.
13. VACATION OF SEATS
• When the holder of the seat, by writing to the speaker, resigns.
• When the holder of the seat is absent from 60 consecutive days of proceedings of the
House, without prior permission of the Speaker.
• When the holder of the seat is subject to any disqualifications mentioned in the
Constitution or any law enacted by Parliament.
• A seat may also be vacated when the holder stands disqualified under the 'Anti-
Defection Law‘
• When the holder of the seat is already a member of the State Legislature and is elected
to the Parliament, he has to vacate his seat in the State Legislature or vice-versa
15. SESSIONS
• The President summons each House of Parliament.
• Each House shall meet at least twice a year
• The interval between two consecutive sessions shall be less than 6 months
• Normally there are three sessions : 1. the Budget Session (February-May)
2. the Monsoon Session (July-August)
3. the Winter Session (November-December)
16. QUORUM
• The quorum means the minimum number of members required to be present in order
to enable the House to transact its business.
• The quorum of Lok Sabha is 1/10 of the total membership
• This means that the house cannot conduct its proceedings and pass bills and
resolutions without the presence of at least one-tenth of its total membership
• The speaker may adjourn the house or suspend the meeting until there is a requisite
quorum
17. QUESTION HOUR
• The first hour on every working day of the Lok Sabha is reserved for questions, This is
known as Question Hour.
• The speaker can decide to cancel it, if required.
• It is intended to keep the functioning of the government open to scrutiny by the
members
• Questions on matter of public interest can be asked
• A member has to give a notice atleast 10-days before asking the question
18. TYPES OF QUESTIONS
1. Stared Questions : These are answered orally. Supplementary questions can be asked after
getting the reply. 10 days notice needs to be given before asking these questions. These
questions are indicated by asterisk mark.
2. Unstarred Questions: These are answered in written form. No Supplementary questions
can be asked after getting the reply. 10 days notice needs to be given before asking these
questions.
3. Short Notice Questions: These questions are asked on urgent & important matters. These
questions are asked with a notice shorter than 10 days. Minister is asked whether he can
reply to the question at a short notice and its upto him to accept or not to accept short
notice questions.
19. ZERO HOUR
• The period which begins at 12 O’ Clock i.e. after the Question Hour
and continues till the Lunch Break which begins at 1 O’ Clock is called
as Zero Hour.
• During this period, members raise all types of questions without any
permission or prior notice.
• The presiding officer controls the House, when faced with heated
discussions, charges and countercharges and constan interruptions by
the members.
20. MOTION : MEANING
A formal proposal made by a member, asking the House, to take up a
matter of public importance is termed as Motion.
22. ADJOURNMENT MOTION
• A proposal to keep aside all other business and take up a ‘definite
matter of urgent importance’ is called as Adjournment Motion.
• Example: Railway Accident, Natural Calamity or Communal Riots etc.
• Such a Motion leads to the interruption of normal business of the
House
23. NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION
• A proposal initiated by the opposition, expressing lack of confidence
in the Ministry is called as No Confidence Motion.
• The council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the entire Lok
Sabha including the Opposition.
• No-Confidence in the government is moved by the opposition
• At least 50 members should support the motion.
• Speaker puts the motion to vote within 10days, if the motion is
passed, then the Government has to resign.
12th Lok Sabha, the
government headed
by Shri Atal Bihari
Vajpayee Lost just
by one vote
24. ADJOURNMENT & PROPOGATION
The Speaker can adjourn a Session of House:
• After the business of the day is over
• When death of a sitting/ex-member of the House occurs
• When there is extreme disorder in the House
• For want of quorum
• As & when the Speaker finds it necessary.
• Prorogation means termination of the session of the Parliament.
• A Speaker can Adjourn a House.
• However, only the President has the power to prorogate the session of Parliament.
25. WHO IS THE SPEAKER ?
• The Speaker is the presiding officer of the Lok Sabha.
• He conducts the business of the House
• He occupies a position of great authority and responsibility
• He has wide powers to maintain discipline in the House
• In the Table of Precedence he ranks higher than all Cabinet Ministers, other than the
Prime Minister himself.
• With respect to the discharge of his powers and functions, the speaker is not
answerable to anyone except the House
26. ELECTION
• The Speaker of Lok Sabha is elected from among it own members, as soon as the newly
elected House meets for the first time.
• When the House dissolves, he/she remains in the office, till a new Speaker is elected.
• The Speaker of Lok Sabha is elected for a term of 5 years.
• The Speaker can be removed if the majority of the House passes a resolution.
• Deputy Speaker takes over the office after his removal or in his absence.
• The Speaker may resign from his post on health or other grounds by submitting a,
letter of resignation to the Deputy Speaker
28. ROLE & FUNCTIONS ON SPEAKER
• The Speaker presides all the meetings of the House.
• The Speaker interprets the rules of the procedure of the House. His
decision is final decision.
• All the Bills passed by the House are signed by him before it is sent to
Rajya Sabha or President.
• The Speaker decides whether the Bill is a Money Bill or not.
• The Speaker decides the admissibility of all questions and resolutions.
30. ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS
Administrative Functions of the Speaker of Lok Sabha include:
• The Speaker receives all the petitions and documents in the House.
• He communicates the decisions of the House to the concerned authorities.
• He regulates the admission of visitors and Press correspondents to the
galleries of the House.
31. DISCIPLINARY FUNCTIONS
The Disciplinary Functions of the Speaker of Lok Sabha include:
• The Speaker maintains order in the House. He can suspend a member or in case of grave
disorder can adjourn the House.
• Speaker can expunge (cut) indecent or unparliamentary words used by a member from the
proceedings of the House.
• Speaker decides whether the matter is related to contempt of the House of breach (violation)
of privilege.
• In case, if there is a question about a member’s disqualification under Anti Defection Law,
then as per our Constitution, the decision of the Speaker would be considered as Final
Decision.
32. PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES
•The Speaker is the ex-officio Chairman of some of the committees of
the House such as Business Advisory Committee and the Rules
Committee.
•He appoints the Chairmen of all the Committees of the House.
•He issues directions to the Chairmen in all matter related to their
working and procedures.
33. MISCELLANEOUS FUNCTIONS
•The Speaker presides over the joint sessions of both the Houses of the
Parliament.
•In consultation with the Chairman of RajyaSabha, the Speaker
nominates the personnel for Parliamentary Delegations to various
countries.
•Speaker presides the Conference of Presiding Officers of Legislative
Bodies in India.
34. RAJYA SABHA
Composition :
•250 members
•238 members are Elected from the states of the Union.
•12 members are Nominated directly by the President
35. ELECTIONS
•The members of Rajya Sabha are elected by the elected
members of the Legislative Assembly of each state.
•People -> Members of Legislative Assembly (MLA) -> Members
of Rajya Sabha
•Term : 6years.
•1/3rd of the total number of members retire after every two
year.
36. QUALIFICATIONS & DISQUALIFICATIONS
QUALIFICATIONS :
• Should be Indian citizen
• Should be of at least 30 years of age
• Should have his name in electoral rolls in any
part of the country
• Shouldn’t hold any office of profit under
Government of India
• Shouldn’t be insolvent (no debt)
• Shouldn’t be a proclaimed criminal
• Shouldn’t be of unsound mind
DISQUALIFICATIONS :
• If he holds any office of profit under the
Government of India or the Government of
any state.
• If he is of unsound mind and stands so
declared by a competent court.
• If he is an undischarged insolvent.
• If he is not a citizen of India or has voluntarily
acquired citizenship of a foreign state.
• If he is so disqualified by or under any law
made by the parliament.
37. PRESIDING OFFICER
OF RAJYA SABHA
•Vice President of India is the
presiding officer of the Rajya
Sabha.
•He is the ex-officio Chairman
of Rajya Sabha.
-----------------------------------------
•In his absence: Deputy
Chairman perform these
functions.
Venkaiah Naidu
38. LEGISLATIVE POWERS OF PARLIAMENT
• Matters in the Union List: Parliament makes laws on all 97 subjects mentioned in Union List.
• Matters in the Concurrent List: Parliament makes laws on all 47 subjects mentioned in Concurrent List
• Residuary Powers: Parliament makes laws on all the subjects which aren’t mentioned in any of the 3 lists:
Union/State/Concurrent List.
• Matters in State List: Parliament makes laws on 66 subjects mentioned in State List during Proclamation of
Emergency, Majority proposes that the subject is of National Importance, when two or more states requests
the Parliament to handle the subject.
• Ordinances: President promulgates an ordinance when both the Houses aren’t in Session. However the
same has to approved or rejected within 6 weeks of re-assembly of the Parliament.
• Powers during Emergency: If there is a total breakdown of Constitutional Machinery in the State, the
Parliament becomes the State Legislature and assumes all powers.
39. FINANCIAL POWERS
• The Budget: Parliament passes the Union Budget.
• Supplementary Grants: If the amount authorised for the current financial year isn’t
sufficient, the Government may make a fresh demand known as ‘Supplementary Grants.’
• Vote on Account: If the Union Budget isn’t presented by the Government before 1st April
i.e. Beginning of Financial year then ‘Vote on Account’ authorises the Executive to draw
funds from Consolidated Fund of India until Budget is passed by the Parliament.
• Salaries: Parliament decides the salaries and allowances of MPs, MLAs and other Ministers
of Parliament.
• Permission for Taxes: No tax can be imposed by the Government without approval of the
Parliament.
40. JUDICIAL POWERS
• Impeachment of the President: Parliament can impeach the President, when its
approved by the majority of both the Houses.
• Removal of Judges etc: Parliament can remove Judges of Supreme Court, High Courts,
Chief Election Commissioner etc.
• Punishment: Parliament can punish a person who obstructs the work of Parliament or
a person who shows disrespect to the House.
41. ELECTORAL POWERS
• Appointment of the President: Parliament along with State Legislatures
appoints the President of India.
• Appointment of the Vice-President : Parliament appoints the Vice-President
of India.
• Appointment of Speaker/Deputy Speaker/ Deputy Chairman: Parliament
elects Lok Sabha’s Speaker & Deputy Speaker and Rajya Sabha’s Deputy
Chairman.
42. AMMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION
• Both the Houses of Parliament can amend the Constitution.
• 2/3rd of the total number of members of each House should approve the
amendment.
• In some amendments, approval of half of the Legislative Assemblies of States
is also required.
43. CONTROL OVER EXECUTIVE
• Interpellation: During Question Hour & Zero Hour the Government has to answer all the
question related to public importance.
• Vote of No Confidence: If a Government acts against the Constitution then a Vote of No
Confidence is passed against the PM. In such case, the entire Ministry has to resign.
• Adjournment Motion: Motion of adjournment is aimed at censuring the acts of omission
and commission of the Ministers.
• Other Motions of Censure: Parliament controls the Government by passing other motions
like Motion of Censure, rejection of a Government Bill etc.
• Monetary Controls: Parliament keeps a check on the public money spent by the
Government. And it can pass cut motion, if required.
44. SPECIAL POWERS OF RAJYA SABHA
• Make laws on a State Subject: Rajya Sabha can makes laws on subjects mentioned in State
List during Proclamation of Emergency, Majority proposes that the subject is of National
Importance, when two or more states requests the Rajya Sabha to handle the subject. Lok
Sabha has no such authority in such matters.
• Creation of new All-India Services: Rajya Sabha can declare the creation of new All-India
Services be made in the national interest. Lok Sabha has no such authority.
• If Lok Sabha is dissolved before of after the declaration of the National Emergency, then
Rajya Sabha becomes the sole de facto and de jure Parliament i.e. it takes over all the
functions of Parliament.
• Rajya Sabha is a permanent House as it cant be dissolved. 1/3rd of the total number of
members retire after every two year.
45. SPECIAL POWERS OF LOK SABHA
•Money Bills can only be introduced in Lok Sabha. It is sent to Rajya
Sabha where it can be deliberated/check on for upto 14 days.
•Motions of No Confidence against the Government can only be
introduced and passed in the Lok Sabha. Rajya Sabha has no such
power over the Executive.
•In case of a deadlock between the two Houses over a non-financial
(ordinary) bill, the will of the Lok Sabha prevails as its strength is
more than double that of Rajya Sabha.
46. CONCLUSION
India has parliament made up of the Lok sabha, Rajya sabha and The
President. The future of the nation lies within their dicisions. The 545
member of lok sabha, 250 of rajya sabha, the president, the prime
ministers and the council of ministers are representatives of people of
different states. And we citizens of India are the “Keepers of
Democracy”. Hereby my Project on “THE UNION PARLIAMENT”
comes to an end. Any Queries can be mentioned in the questionnaire.
