UNION PARLIAMENT (CIVICS)

Transcription

1 UNION PARLIAMENT (CIVICS) 1. Name the three constituents of the Union Legislature? The President and the two Houses of Parliament; Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. 2. Define the term: Parliament; Federal System of Government Parliament is the body of people s representatives who have supreme power of governance in a democratic country In a federal system of government, all the administrative powers are divided between the Central and State governments and both are supreme within their respective spheres. 3. State three necessary qualifications common to both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha? He should be an Indian citizen He should have his name in the electoral rolls in some part of the country He should not hold an office of profit under the government 4. Who is empowered to decide the disqualifications of members of either House of Parliament? The President s decision along with the opinion of the Election Commission shall be final. ( 1 )

2 5. What is the difference in term of both Houses of Parliament? Why is Rajya Sabha called a permanent house? Normal term of Lok Sabha members is five years Each Rajya Sabha member is elected for a six-year term Rajya Sabha is a permanent House and cannot be dissolved as One third of its members retire every two years. 6. How many members does the President nominate to Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha? Why? President nominates two members to Lok Sabha from the Anglo- Indian community, if they have not been adequately represented. President nominates twelve members to Rajya Sabha who have special knowledge or practical experience in Literature, Science, Art and Social Service. 7. Define the following Parliamentary terms: Sessions; Quorum A Session is a period during which the Houses of Parliament meet to conduct business. Sessions of both Houses are summoned by the President. The three sessions are Budget Session, Monsoon Session and Winter Session. Each House should meet at least twice a year and the interval between the two should not be more than six months Quorum means the minimum number of members required to be present in order to enable the House to conduct its business. Quorum of both Houses of Parliament is one- tenth of the total membership 8. Define Question Hour, Adjournment Motion, No-Confidence Motion? State how the Parliament controls the Government(Executive) through these procedures? ( 2 )

3 Question Hour: the first hour of every working day of the House is known as Question Hour. The right of members of both Houses to ask questions to the Ministers about the work of their departments, is called Interpellation. A member of the house may ask questions from the government on matters of public interest. It is intended to keep the functioning of the Government under check and open to scrutiny by the members. Adjournment Motion: It is a proposal to lay aside all other business and take up a definite matter of urgent importance such as a serious matter of a fatal railway accident, communal tension or natural calamity that has occurred. The normal business of the House is interrupted as it is obligatory for the Minister concerned to answer all questions regarding the functioning of his department. Such Motions are tabled to depict the inefficiency of the Government in handling particular situations. Thus each Minister is answerable to the Parliament for the department under his control. No-Confidence Motion: It is a proposal expressing lack of confidence in the ministry. No-Confidence in the Government is moved by the Opposition. The Speaker puts the motion to vote. If the Motion is passed, the Council of Ministers have to resign, as they are collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. 9. State how the following are elected: Lok Sabha members; Speaker; Rajya Sabha members Lok Sabha members: are directly elected by the people of India, through Secret ballot, Universal Adult Franchise and from territorial areas called Parliamentary constituencies. Speaker is elected from among the Lok Sabha members soon after the newly elected House meets for the first time, after the general elections ( 3 )

4 Rajya Sabha members are indirectly elected by the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote. 10. Mention four reasons when the Speaker can adjourn the Lok Sabha? After the business for the day is over. When the death of a sitting /ex-member of the House occurs When there is grave disorder and it is difficult to conduct the business For want of quorum 11. State four important functions of role of Speaker in conducting the business of the House? He presides over the meetings of the House. All speeches are addressed to him. His decision in all parliamentary matters is final. He decides whether a Bill is a Money Bill or not. All bills passed by the House are signed by him before they are sent to. the Rajya Sabha for consideration and then to the President for his assent. 12. State three disciplinary powers of the Speaker in the House? He maintains order in the House. He can suspend an unruly member. He can adjourn the House when there is grave disorder. His decision is final in case a member is disqualified under Anti- Defection Law. 13. What are his Administrative functions? He receives all petitions and documents in the House. He communicates the decisions to the concerned authorities. ( 4 )

5 He regulates the admission of visitors and Press correspondents to the galleries of the House. 14. Who is empowered to use a casting vote and on what condition? The Speaker of Lok Sabha and the Chairman of Rajya Sabha. They do not vote in the House, but give a casting vote only when the votes for or against the proposition are equal, and there is a tie. 15. Name the 3 lists which distribute the subjects of legislation between the Union and States? State how the Union is more powerful than the State in terms of legislation Union List: Parliament can make laws on all 97 subjects of the Union List eg: Defence, Finance and Communications Concurrent List: Along with the State Legislative Assemblies, Parliament can make laws on all 47 subjects listed in the Concurrent List. In case of conflict, Union Law will prevail. State List: There are 66 subjects that the State can legislate on. Parliament can legislate on the State list during a National Emergency. Parliament can legislate on a subject in the State List that has assumed national importance, if Rajya Sabha has passed a resolution to that effect Parliament can legislate on a subject in the state List, if two or more States request Parliament to do so, but that law will be applicable only to the consenting States 16. Explain the terms: Ordinance; Union Budget Ordinance: The President can issue an Ordinance when Parliament is not in session. It has the same status as an Act of Parliament. An Ordinance must be placed before Parliament as soon as it meets again, and if approved becomes a ( 5 )

6 Law. An Ordinance lapses if it has not been approved by Parliament within six weeks of re-assembly. Union Budget: The Parliament passes the Union Budget containing the estimates of receipts and expenditure of the government for a financial year. The Budget is presented in two parts, the General Budget and the Railway Budget. 17. Mention three functions of Parliament where both Houses enjoy co-equal powers? Electoral function: President is elected by the elected members of both Houses of Parliament and the State Legislative Assemblies Vice- President is elected by both Houses of Parliament and not the members of the State Legislative Assemblies. Judicial function: In case of violation of the Constitution or grave misconduct Parliament can impeach (remove from office) the President, Vice- President, the judges of the Supreme Court and the High Courts, the Chief Election Commissioner and the Comptroller and Auditor General of India Amendment of the Constitution: Both Houses of Parliament can amend the Constitution by a total majority in each House and a two third majority of members present and voting. 18. Rajya Sabha is a mere Constitutional formality with regards to Money Bills- Explain Money Bills can only originate in the Lok Sabha. After it is passed by the Lok Sabha it is referred to the Rajya Sabha for approval. It must be returned with or without recommendations within fourteen days. If Rajya Sabha ( 6 )

7 returns the bill within fourteen days with recommendations, Lok Sabha can either accept or reject the recommendations. If the bill is not returned, the bill is deemed to have been passed by both Houses. Ordinary Bills: can originate in either House of Parliament. When it is passed by both Houses, it becomes an Act, after the President signs it. If there is a deadlock (disagreement) between the two Houses, there is a joint session presided by the Speaker and the will of the Lok Sabha prevails due to its greater numerical strength. 19. State three special powers exclusive to the: Lok Sabha; Rajya Sabha Lok Sabha: Money Bills can only originate in the Lok Sabha No-Confidence Motion against the Government can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha In case of deadlock between the two Houses over an Ordinary Bill, will of the Lok Sabha prevails due to its greater numerical strength Rajya Sabha: If Rajya Sabha declares that the creation of new All India Services be made in national interest, Parliament may create new services It may empower the Parliament to make laws on a matter in the state List If Lok Sabha is dissolved before or after the declaration of an Emergency, Rajya Sabha becomes the sole de facto and de jure Parliament. It takes over the functions of the Parliament as it is a permanent House and cannot be dissolved. 20. How does Anti- Defection Law ensure a healthy parliamentary democracy? A member of the House elected from one political party would be disqualified from his membership if he joined (defected to) another political ( 7 )

8 party, or if he gave up membership of his political party or if he voted or abstained from voting in the House against the directions of his party. These measures ensure a healthy parliamentary democracy (We recommend a thorough reading of the text book ALSO) ( 8 )