GOVERNMENT OF THE UNION

President

(Executives) (Legislature)
Council of Ministers Parliament

Council of States House of People

( Rajya Sabha) ( Lok Sabha)
1.Not more than 250 members 1.Not more than 550 members.
2.12 members are nominated by President among persons having 2.Lok Sabha is the house of people, the
special knowledge or practical experience in literature,science , members are directly elected by the people of
art and social service. India.
3. 238 members are elected by states in the Union. The 3.Term-5 years, however it can be dissolved
representstive of each State in RS is elected by the elected before the expiry of normal term by President
members of Legislative Assembly of each State in accordance on advice of Prime Minister.
with the system of proportional representation by means of 4.During proclamation of emergency the period
single tranferable vote. The representatives of UTs are chosen in of Lok Sabha may be extended by Parliament for
such a manner as Parliament may prescribe. The 3 1 year at a time. The new LS must be elected
representatives from Delhi are chosen by members of Legislative within six months after the national emergency
Assembly. is lifted
4. Term- It is permanent house and cannot be dissolved . Each 5.Composition :-
member of RS is elected for a period of 6 years and 1/3 rd of total
members retire after every 2 years. Members can be re-elected.
5. Composition:-

Nominated by President Representatives of States and UTs Representatives of States Representatives of UTs
12 Not more than 238 Not more than 530 Not more than 20
 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDURES

SESSIONS QUORUM QUESTION HOUR

Each House shall Quorum means the The first hour on every working day of LS is reserved for questions unless otherwise
meet at least twice a minimum number of decided by Speaker.It usually starts at 11am. It is intended to keep functioning of
year and the interval members required to be government open to scrutiny. A member may ask questions from govt on matters of
between two present in order to public interest. The right of the members to ask questions from govt is known as
consecutive sessions enable the House to interpellation. All questions are addressed to the Chair and if admitted the Govt is
shall be less than six transact its business. obliged to answer them. A member has to give 10 days notice for a question. 3
months.normally 3 The quorum for LS and types:-
sessions:- RS is 1/10th of total 1.Starred questions:- are those to which a member wishes to have an oral answer
1. Budget Session membership of each on the floor of the House.Such questions are indicated by an asterisk * mark.
Feb- May house . The house Supplementary questions may be asked after replies to such questions are given by
2. Monsoon Session cannot conduct ministers.
July- August proceedings or pass bills 2.Unstarred questions:-are questions to which answers are given in written form.
3. Winter Session without quorum.The No supplementary questions can be asked thereon.
Nov-Dec Speaker may adjourn 3.Short Notice questions:-relate to matter of urgent importance. Such questions are
the house or suspend asked with a notice of shorter than 10 days. The Minister concerned has to be asked
the meeting until there whether he can reply at a short notice and it is for him to accept or not short notice
is requisite quorum. questions
ZERO HOUR MOTION ADJOURNMENT AND PROROGATION OF THE HOUSE
The Zero Hour Motion is a formal proposal made by a member stating Adjournment of the House means suspension of the
refers to the period that the House should take up some particular matter sitting of the House by Speaker. The power of
which begins at 12 which is of public importance. adjournment rests with the Speaker or the Chairman
o’clock soon after 1.Adjournment motion- means a proposal to lay aside all as case may be.
the Question Hour other business and take up a definite matter of urgent Prorogation means termination of the session of
and continues till importance like a railway accident, natural calamity, Parliament. The power of prorogation belongs to the
the lunch break flood or a communal tension. President.
which begins at 1 2.No-Confidence Motion-is a proposal expressing lack of The House is also adjourned:
o’clock. Members confidence in the Ministry. No confidence in the 1.after the business for the day is over.
raise all types of Government is moved by the opposition.The House 2.when the death of a sitting/ex member of House
questions without grants leave to move No-Confidence Motion only when it occurs.
any permission or has the support of at least 50 members.On conclusion of 3.when there is so much disorder in the House thst it
prior notice. debate the Speaker puts the Motion to vote. If the becomes difficult to conduct business.
Motion is passed, the Government has to resign. 4.for want of quorum
5. as when Speaker finds it necessary
 POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE PARLIAMENT
1. CONSTITUTIONAL- Both the Houses of Parliament can amend the Constitution. The amendment must be
passed by each House by a majority of total membership and by a 2/3rd majority of members present and
voting.In some cases the amendment requires the ratification or approval of half of the Legislative
Assemblies of States.
2. EXECUTIVE- a) Interpellation: asking questions from govt during question hour.
b) Vote of no Confidence: govt can be voted out of office by passing vote of no confidence.
c) Adjournment Motion:to censure acts of omission and commission of Ministers.
d)Other Motions of Censure: againt a minister, rejection of a govt bill, passing of a private
member’s bill against wishes of govt.
e)Monetary Controls: During budget session a cut motion can be moved. Parliamentary
Committee on Public Accounts ensures that public money is spent in accordance with
Parliament’s decision. It examines reports of the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.
3. LEGISLATIVE- All Bills, other that the Money Bills, can originate in any House of Parliament. No bill can
become a law unless agreed to by both the Houses. In case of disagreement the President
may summon both the Houses of Parliament in a joint meeting. At the joint sitting, issues
are decided by a majority of the members of both the House present and voting.
a) Union List: make laws on all subjects in Union list-defence, banking, communication,
foreign affairs.
b)Concurrent List:make laws on concurrent list- education, forest, adoption ,succession,
trade union. In case of conflict between Union and State , the Union law will prevail.
c)Residuary Powers: make laws on all those matters not mentioned in any of 3 lists
d) Matters in State List:can legislate even on subjects in state list- agriculture, animal
husbandary, public health, local govt, police during- i) proclamation of emergency, ii)when
RS passes a resolution by 2/3rd majority that a subject in the State List has assumed national
importance. iii) when two or States are of the opinion that the Parliament should legislate
 on a subject given in State List, the Parliament may make an Act on that subject but that
would be applicable only to the consenting States.
4. Ordinances: