The Union Parliament

1. The Union Parliament
Civics Chapter 1
1

2. Q1. What is Union Legislative/ Union
Parliament?
• The body of people’s representatives
which forms the laws of a democratic
country.
Or
• The Law making body at the Centre
Government is called as Union
Parliament.
2

3. Q.2. What does the Union Legislative
comprise of?
• The Union Legislative comprises of
1) President
2) The House of People (Lok Sabha)
3) The Council of States (RajyaSabha)
3

4. Q.3 Name the two houses of the Union
Legislative
Or
India has a bicameral legislature.
Justify.
• The two houses of the Union Legislative are:
1) Lok Sabha- Lower House
2) RajyaSabha- Upper House
Hence called as Bicameral Legislature.
4

5. Q.4. What do you mean by Federal
System of Government?
• The Constitution of India has provided us a
Federal System of Government.
• In a Federal System of Government, our
Constitution divides all the administrative powers
between:
a) Central Government &
b) State Government.
• Both are supreme in their spheres.
• Both get authority from the same
Constitution.
5
Union State
Concurrent
Federal Set Up

6. 6
Union/Centre
Lok Sabha
(House of the
People)
Rajya Sabha
(Council of
States)
State
Vidhan Sabha
(Legislative
Assembly)
Vidhan
Parishad
(Legislative
Council)

7. Lok Sabha
Q.5. How are the members of Lok Sabha elected?
Answer: The members of Lok Sabha are elected
directly by the people of India. They are called as
MPs (Members of Parliament)
7

8. Q.6. What is the term of Lok Sabha?
The term of Lok Sabha is 5 years.
However, it can be dissolved by the President on
the advice of PM.
8

9. Q.7. When and for how long can the
term of Lok Sabha be extended?
• The term of Lok Sabha can be extended during
the proclamation of a National Emergency.
• It can be extended for a period of One Year at a
time.
• Once the National Emergency is lifted, new Lok
Sabha must be elected within 6 months.
9

10. Q.8. What is the composition of Lok
Sabha?
• The composition of Lok Sabha is 552.
-----------------------------------------------------------
530 + 20 + 2 = 552.
Not more than 530 members from states
Not more than 20 members from Union Territories.
2 members of Anglo-Indian Community nominated
by the President, if they are not adequately represented.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Current Composition of Lok Sabha is 545.
10

11. Q.9. What is the qualification required
to be a member of Lok Sabha?
• He should be an Indian citizen.
• He should be at least 25 years of age.
• He shouldn’t hold any Office of Profit under
Government of India.
• He should have his name in the electoral rolls in
any part of the country.
-----------------------------------------------------------
• He should be of sound mind.
• He shouldn’t be a proclaimed criminal.
• He shouldn’t be in debt.
11

12. Q.10. When can be a member of Lok
Sabha disqualified?
A member of Lok Sabha can be disqualified when:
• If he is not an Indian citizen.
• If he holds any Office of Profit under Government of
India.
• If he is of unsound mind.
• If he is in debt/ (insolvent)
• If he remains absent without permission of the
House, for a period of 60 days.
• If he is disqualified by any law made by Parliament.
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13. Parliamentary Procedures
Q.11. Who summons the sessions of both the
Houses of Parliament?
Answer:
The President summons the sessions of both the
Houses of Parliament.
Each house must meet at least twice a year.
(once in every 6months).
-----------------------------------------------------------
Normally ,there are Three Sessions in a year.
Budget Monsoon Winter
13
Feb March April May July Aug Nov Dec

14. Q.12 What do you mean by the term
Quorum?
Quorum means the minimum
number of members required to be
present in order to enable the House
to do its business.
14

15. Q.13. What is the Quorum of Lok
Sabha and RajyaSabha?
The Quorum of Lok Sabha and
RajyaSabha is one-tenth (1/10th) of
the total membership of each house.
In case if quorum isn’t present, then the house can not carry out its
proceedings, pass bills and resolutions.
15

16. Q.14. Explain the term
‘Interpellation.’
The right of the members of the
House to ask questions on
matters of public interest to the
Government is called as
Interpellation.
16

17. Q.15 What do you mean by the term
Question Hour?
The first hour on every working day of the House
is reserved for asking questions, this is called as
the Question Hour.
Speaker can decide to cancel it, if required.
10 days notice needs to be given by the member before
asking questions.
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18. Q.16 What are the types of questions
asked during the Question Hour?
Three types of questions are asked during the Question
Hour:
a) Starred 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. *
b) 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.
c) 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.
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19. Q.17. Explain the term ‘Zero Hour.’
The period which begins at 12 O’ Clock i.e. after
the Question Hour and continues till the Lunch
Break which begins at1 O’ Clock is called as
Zero Hour.
During this period, members ask all types of
questions without any permission or prior
notice.
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20. Q.18. Explain the term ‘Motion.’
A formal proposalmade by a member,
asking the House, to take up a matter
of public importanceis termed as
Motion.
20

21. Q.19. Explain the term ‘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.
21

22. Q.20. When can the Speaker, adjourn a
Session of House?
The Speaker can adjourn a Session of House:
a) After the business of the day is over
b) When death of a sitting/ex-member of the
House occurs
c) When there is extreme disorder in the House
d) For want of quorum
e) As & when the Speaker finds it necessary.
22

23. Q.21. Explain the term ‘No Confidence
Motion.’
• A proposal initiated by the opposition,
expressing lack of confidence in the Ministry is
called as No Confidence Motion.
• 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.
23

24. Q.22. What do you mean by
Prorogation of the House? Who can
prorogate session of Parliament?
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.
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25. Speaker
Q.23. Who the presiding officer of the
Lok Sabha?
Answer:
The Speaker is the presiding officer of the Lok
Sabha.
25

26. Q.24. How is the Speaker of Lok Sabha
elected? What is the term of the
Speaker of Lok Sabha? How can he be
removed?
• 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.
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27. Q.25. Who is the current speaker of
Lok Sabha?
27
Sumitra
Mahajan(
BJP)
*Mr. M. Thambudurai is the Deputy Speaker.

28. Q.26. The Speaker of Lok Sabha looks after the
Business of the House. Justify.
• 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 RajyaSabha or President.
• The Speaker decides whether the Bill is a Money Bill
or not.
• The Speaker decides the admissibility of all
questions and resolutions.
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The Role & Functions of the Speaker

29. Q.27. Explain the Administrative
Functions of the Speaker of Lok Sabha.
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.
29

30. Q.28. Explain the Disciplinary Functions of
the Speaker of Lok Sabha.
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.
30

31. Q.29. Explain the term ‘Anti Defection
Law.’
Anti Defection Law states that: When a
member of House gives up the membership of
his party or votes against his party, then he will
be disqualified from being a member of the
House.
This wouldn’t be true, if there is a split in the
party with at least one third of its members.
31

32. Q.30. The Speaker of Lok Sabha looks after
the Parliamentary Committees. Justify.
• 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.
32

33. Q.31. Explain the Miscellaneous Functions
of the Speaker of Lok Sabha.
• 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.
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34. Q. 32. What are the functions of the Speaker
of Lok Sabha?
The functions of the Speaker of Lok Sabha include:
• The Speaker maintains order in the House.
• Speaker can expunge (cut) indecent or
unparliamentary words used by a member from the
proceedings of the House.
• The Speaker presides all the meetings of the House.
• All the Bills passed by the House are signed by him
before it is sent to RajyaSabha or President.
• He communicates the decisions of the House to the
concerned authorities.
• He appoints the Chairmen of all the Committees of
the House.
• The Speaker presides over the joint sessions of both
the Houses of the Parliament.
34

35. Q.33. What is the composition of Rajya
Sabha?
•250 members
• 238 members are Elected from the states of the
Union.
• 12 members are Nominated directly by the
President
35
Rajya Sabha

36. Q. 34. How are the members of Rahya
Sabha elected?
• 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
36

37. Q.35. What is the term of the
members of Rajya Sabha?
•6years.
• 1/3rd of the total number of members retire after
every two year.
37

38. Q.36. What is the qualification
required to be the member of Rajya
Sabha?
• 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
38

39. Q.37. Who the presiding officer of the
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.
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Hamid Ansari

40. Q.38. State the Legislative Powers of
Parliament. (any 4)
1. Matters in the Union List: Parliament makes laws on all 97
subjects mentioned in Union List.
2. Matters in the Concurrent List: Parliament makes laws on all
47 subjects mentioned in Concurrent List
3. Residuary Powers: Parliament makes laws on all the subjects
which aren’t mentioned in any of the 3 lists:
Union/State/Concurrent List.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
40

41. Q.39. State the Financial Powers of
Parliament. (any 4)
1. The Budget: Parliament passes the Union Budget.
2. 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.’
3. 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.
4. Salaries: Parliament decides the salaries and
allowances of MPs, MLAs and other Ministers of
Parliament.
5. Permission for Taxes: No tax can be imposed by the
Government without approval of the Parliament.
41

42. Q.40. State the Control of Parliament
over Executive. (any 4)
1. Interpellation: During Question Hour & Zero Hour the
Government has to answer all the question related to
public importance.
2. 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.
3. Adjournment Motion: Motion of adjournment is
aimed at censuring the acts of omission and commission
of the Ministers.
4. Other Motions of Censure: Parliament controls the
Government by passing other motions like Motion of
Censure, rejection of a Government Bill etc.
5. Monetary Controls: Parliament keeps a check on the
public money spent by the Government. And it can pass
cut motion, if required.
42

43. Q.41. State the Judicial Powers of the
Parliament.
1. Impeachment of the President: Parliament can
impeach the President, when its approved by the
majority of both the Houses.
2. Removal of Judges etc: Parliament can remove
Judges of Supreme Court, High Courts, Chief
Election Commissioner etc.
3. Punishment: Parliament can punish a person who
obstructs the work of Parliament or a person who
shows disrespect to the House.
43

44. Q.42. State the Electoral Powers of the
Parliament.
1. Appointment of the President: Parliament along
with State Legislatures appoints the President of
India.
2. Appointment of the Vice-President :
Parliament appoints the Vice-President of India.
3. Appointment of Speaker/Deputy Speaker/
Deputy Chairman: Parliament elects Lok Sabha’s
Speaker & Deputy Speaker and Rajya Sabha’s
Deputy Chairman.
44

45. Q.43. Explain the Power of the
Parliament to Amend 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.
45

46. Q.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.
46

47. Q.44. 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.
47

48. 48
Q. 45. State the Differences
between Lok Sabha &
Rajya Sabha

49. 49
Lok Sabha Rajya Sabha
1. Term: 5 years (unless dissolved) 1.Term: 6 years
2. Composition: 552 (530+20+2) 2. Composition: 250 (238+12)
3. Qualification: 25 years, Indian, Not
Solvent, Shouldn’t held any Office of
Profit, Name in Electoral rolls.
3. Qualification: 30 years, Indian, Not
Solvent, Shouldn’t held any Office of
Profit, Name in Electoral rolls.
4. Presided by: Speaker. 4. Presided by: Ex-Officio Chairman of
Rajya Sabha i.e. Vice President of India.
5. Election: Members are elected
directly by the people.
5. Election: Members are elected
directly by the elected representative of
the State Legislative Assemblies.

50. 50
Lok Sabha Rajya Sabha
6. Money Bills are passed only in Lok
Sabha
6. Money Bills cant be introduced in
Rajya Sabha
7. Lok Sabha can be dissolved during
National Emergency.
7. Rajya Sabha can’t be dissolved. It’s a
permanent House. During National
Emergecy it assumes all powers of
Parliament.
8. Council of Ministers is more
responsible to Lok Sabha.
8. Council of Ministers is less
responsible to Rajya Sabha.
9. Lok Sabha has a upper hand on Rajya
Sabha as it has more members;
Example: in the cases of Election of
President/Vice-President,
Deadlock/Disagreement on Ordinary Bill
9. Rajya Sabha lacks in such matters
because of less numbers of members as
compared to Lok Sabha.
10. Lok Sabha can pass No Confidence
Motion, Adjournment Motion against
the Government.
10. Rajya Sabha can’t pass No
Confidence Motion, Adjournment
Motion against the Government.

51. Q.46. State the Similarities between
Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha
• Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha share Equal Powers
during Impeachment of President, Vice-
President, CJI, SC & HC Judges.
• Before Proclamation of National Emergency/
Proclamation of failure of Constitutional Machinery
in a state, needs to presented before both the
Houses.
• Every Presidential Ordinance needs to
presented before both the Houses.
• Ordinary Bills can originate in any House of the
Parliament.
• Amend the Constitution
51

52. • Quorum- meaning and number
• Interpellation
• Question Hour
• Federal Government
• Zero Hour
• Adjournment Motion
• Lok Sabha- Compositition, Election, Term, Presided
by, Qualification
• Rajya Sabha- Compositition, Election, Term,
Presided by, Qualification
• Anti-Defection Law
• Motion
• Residuary Powers
• No Confidence Motion
• Special Powers- Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
• Union Parliament- Meaning? Comprises of?
52