Students must practice these AP Inter 2nd Year Civics Important Questions 4th Lesson Union Legislature to boost their exam preparation.
AP Inter 2nd Year Civics Important Questions 4th Lesson Union Legislature
Long Answer Questions
Question 1.
Describe powers and functions of the Lok Sabha Speaker. [March 2018; May ’17]
Answer:
Introduction:
The members of the Lok Sabha elect the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker from among themselves. Normally there is a convention that while the office of the Speaker is left to the party in power, Deputy Speakership is allotted to the parties having ideological understanding with the party in power.
Powers and functions of the Speaker:
The powers and functions of the Speaker may be explained as follows.
- The Speaker presides over the meetings of the Lok Sabha. He conducts the meetings with dignity, order and efficiency. He determines the agenda of the meetings with the prior consultation of the leader of the House.
- He allots time to the members to express their views on the Bills, conducts voting if necessary, and announces the results.
- He sends Bills to the Rajya Sabha after they are approved by the Lok Sabha. On the receipt of the bills from the Rajya Sabha, he certifies and sends them to the President of India for his consent.
- He acts as the representative of the Lok Sabha. He sends messages and directives to the members on behalf of the Lok Sabha.
- He takes steps for safeguarding the rights and privileges of the members and for up holding the respect of the House. He, by adopting equalitarian and impartial view towards the treasury benches and the opposition, ensures peaceful atmosphere in the House through his rulings whenever there is uproar.
- He has the privilege of determining whether a bill is Money Bill or not. He accords permission to the members for introducing various Bills in the House.
- He is empowered to (i) allow members to raise point of order on a Bill, (ii) permit tire members to move a no-confidence motion against the government, (iii) mention important public issues, (iv) postpone the meetings of the House and (v) decide the quorum in the House.
- He facilitates the members to express their views on the thanks-giving motion on President’s speech.
- He constitutes various House Committees and appoints their chairpersons. He acts as the Ex-officio Chairman of some Committees such as Rules Committee, Business Affairs Committee etc.
- He presides over the joint session of the Parliament.
- He acts as a member of Commonwealth Speakers Forum, Chairman of Indian Parliamentary Group and Head of the Lok Sabha Secretariat.
- He receives the electoral certificates of the new members, takes decisions on the member’s resignations, allots seats to the press, visitors, etc.
- He supervises the activities of marshals and other personnel in the premises of the House.
- He exercises his casting vote in case of a tie over a bill.
Question 2.
Explain the powers and functions of the Union Legislature. [March 2017,’16: May ’16]
Answer:
Introduction:
In the Indian political – administrative system, Parliament occupies a central position. It plays a key role in formulating laws for fulfilling the aims and aspirations of the people.
Powers and functions of the Union Legislature:
The Union Legislature, i.e., the Parliament exercises the following powers. They are:
1. Legislative Powers and Functions:
The primary function of the Parliament is to make laws for the governance of the country. It considers and approves bills on the subjects included in the Union and Concurrent Lists. Similarly, it approves bills on the subjects included in the State List during (i. national emergency, (ii. President’s rule and (iii. on the request of the Rajya Sabha and some State Legislative Assemblies. It approves bills in the place of ordinance. Normally, the bills are introduced in either of the two Houses. Every bill shall be sent to the President. In case of deadlock in accepting any bill, the President convenes a joint session of the two Houses of the Parliament.
2. Executive Powers and Functions:
In Parliamentary form of government, the real executive is responsible to the Parliament. Hence, the Indian Parliament exercises control over the Union Executive (the Union Council of Ministers). It ensures that the ministers, including the Prime Minister, owe individual, joint and collective responsibility for their acts. Its members exercise control over the executive through several means such as questions, supplementary questions and by moving cut motions and finally no-confidence motion.
3. Financial Powers and Functions:
No tax can be collected and no expenditure can be incurred by the executive except under the authority and with the approval of Parliament. The Indian Parliament sanctions the money required for carrying out the affairs of the Union Government. It approves the money bills proposed by the union ministry. The Union Government shall impose new taxes, revise old taxes or abolish the existing taxes only with the approval of the Parliament.
4. Judicial Powers and Functions:
Indian Parliament is empowered to impeach the President, the Vice-President, the Chief Justice and other Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts on specific grounds of allegations of corruption, inefficiency etc. It plays a decisive role in the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners, Chairman and Members of the Union Public Service Commission, Comptroller and Auditor General of India and other higher officers of the Union Government.
5. Constitutional Powers and Functions:
The Constitutional powers of the Parliament are not unlimited subjects to the basic structure of the Constitution. Article 368 empowers Indian Parliament to amend the provisions of the Indian Constitution. The Parliament takes initiative to bring out proper changes in the Constitution without affecting its basic structure. For instance, recently the Parliament considered the constitution (One hundred second Amendment. Bill for conferring statehood to Delhi.
6. Electoral Powers:
Indian Parliament elects the President and the Vice-President. The members of the Lok Sabha elect the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker from among themselves. Similarly, the members of the Rajya Sabha elect the Deputy Chairman from among themselves. They also elect the members of various Parliamentary Committees.
7. Deliberative Powers and Functions:
The Indian Parliament serves as the apex forum of the deliberations and public opinion. It discusses at length the contemporary national and international issues. Matters concerning redressal of public grievances, steps taken by the Union Government in addressing the current problems, the working pattern of political and administrative heads, etc. are all discussed in the Parliament.
8. Other Powers and Functions:
The Indian Parliament discusses bills relating to the (i) alteration of boundaries of states, (ii) creation or abolition of Legislative Councils and (iii) changes in the name of states. It serves as a training centre for the newly elected members in understanding the legislative procedures.
Question 3.
Examine the role of Financial Committees in Parliament. [March-2019]
Answer:
Introduction:
There are several committees working under the Parliament to lighten the burden of Parliamentary affairs. Of all the committees, financial committees are more significant because they play vital role in Parliamentary Financial Control in India. There are three financial committees. They are
- Public Accounts Committee
- Estimates Committee
- Committee on Public undertakings
1. Public Accounts Committee:
Public Accounts Committee was set up in 1921. It consists of 22 members. Out of them, 15 members belong to the Lok Sabha and 7 members to the Rajya Sabha. Their term of office is one year. They are elected by means of proportional representation and single transferable vote.
The Functions of the Committee are:
- The Committee examines the annual audit reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG. of India.
- It examines Public Expenditure not only from legal and formal point of view to discover technical irregularities but also from the point of view of economy prudence, wisdom and propriety.
- It brings out the appropriation accounts and the finance accounts of the Union Government and any other accounts laid before the Lok Sabha.
- It examines whether the public funds are disbursed properly.
2. Estimates Committee:
The origin of this committee can be traced to the Standing Financial Committee setup in 1921. The Estimate Committee was at first constituted in April 1950 in free India. It consists of 30 members of the Lok Sabha. The Rajya Sabha has no representation in this Committee. These members are elected by the Lok Sabha every year from among its own members according to the principle of proportional representation by means of single transferrable vote. The members hold their office for a year.
The functions of the Committee are:
- It offers suggestions in regard to the economy in expenditure, improvement in organization and efficiency of the Union Government.
- It examines as to whether the public funds are disbursed as per the estimates.
- It also examines the matters assigned to it by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
- It examines whether the money is well laid out within the limits of the policy implied in the estimates. Hence, it has been described as a ‘continuous economy committee’.
3. Committee on Public Undertakings:
The Committee on Public Undertaking was created in 1964 on the recommendations of Krishna Menon Committee. It consists of 22 members, out of which 15 are from Lok Sabha and 7 from Rajya Sabha. The members of the committee are elected by the Parliament every year from amongst its own members according to the principle of proportional representation by means of single transferable vote.
This Committee exercises the following functions:
- To examine the reports and accounts of Public Undertakings.
- To examine the reports of the Comptroller and Audit of General on undertakings.
- To examine whether the affairs of the public undertakings are being managed in accordance with sound business principles and practices.
- To exercise such other functions vested in the Public Accounts Committee and the Estimates Committee.
Short Answer Questions
Question 1.
Write about the composition of the Lok Sabha.
Answer:
Composition:
The Lok Sabha is popularly known as the House of the People or the Lower House. It represents the people of India. It is directly elected by the people of India. It is a powerful, democratic and fully representative House of the Union Legislature. It enjoys very strong position and plays a significant role in the Union Legislature. It acts as a source of laws and policies meant for the wellbeing of the people and the progress and development of the country.
At present, the maximum strength of Lok Sabha is 552. Its members belong to the states, union territories and nominated category. Out of the total members, 530 members represent the states, 20 members represent of union territories and the remaining two members belonging to Anglo-Indian Community are to be nominated by the President.
Question 2.
Explain the election of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
Answer:
The members of the Lok Sabha elect the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker from among themselves. Normally there is a convention that while the office of the Speaker is left to the party in power. Deputy Speaker is alloted to the parties having ideological understanding with the party in power. But sometimes the party in power may retain the two offices. When no single party secures majority or when a coalition ministry is formed, the coalition partners will make efforts for deciding the candidature for the office of the Speaker. Sometimes coalition partners may hand over that office to a candidate selected by the parties that declare support from outside.
Question 3.
What do you know about the Composition and qualifications of the members of the Rajya Sabha?
Answer:
Composition:
Rajya Sabha consists of not more than 250 members. The Vice-President of India is its Ex-officio Chairman. One of the members in the Rajya Sabha is elected as its Deputy Chairman. At present there are 245 members in the Rajya Sabha. Of them 233 members belong to the elected from the states and the remaining 12 members belong to the nominated by the President. Of the total elected members, 229 members represent the 29 States, 3 members belong to the National Capital Territory of Delhi and one member represents the Union Territory of Puducherry. The President of India nominates 12 members having special knowledge or practical experience in respect of matters such as literature, science, arts and social service.
Qualifications:
A person to be elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha shall possess the following qualifications:
- He shall be a citizen of India.
- He shall have completed 30 years of age.
- He shall be a resident of the state for a minimum of six months.
- He should not hold any office of profit under the Government of India or of the state government.
- He should not be insane or bankrupt.
- He shall possess such other qualifications as prescribed by the Parliament.
Question 4.
Write a note on the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
Answer:
Chairman of Rajya Sabha:
The Presiding Officer of Rajya Sabha is popularly known as the Chairman. The Vice-President of India acts as the Ex-Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. He is not a member of the House. The members of Parliament elect him for every five years as the Vice-President of India. It implies that both the members of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha cast their vote in the Vice-Presidential election. At present he is paid Rs. 1,40,000/- towards monthly salary and allowances.
Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha:
The Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha is elected by the members of the Rajya Sabha amongst the members. The Deputy Chairman receives a monthly salary of Rs. 90,000/-. In the absence of the Chairman, the Deputy Chairman acts as Chairman and presides over the meetings of the Rajya Sabha. Whenever the office of the Deputy Chairman falls vacant, the members of Rajya Sabha will elect another member to fill the vacancy.
Question 5.
Mention any three powers and functions of the Indian Parliament.
Answer:
The three powers and functions of the Indian Parliament are
1. Legislative Powers and Functions:
The primary function of the Parliament is to make laws for the governance of the country. It considers and approves bills on the subjects included in the Union and Concurrent Lists. Similarly, it approves bills on the subjects included in the State List during (i) national emergency, (ii) President’s rule and (iii) on the request of the Rajya Sabha and some State Legislative Assemblies. It approves bills in the place of ordinance. Normally, the bills are introduced in either of the two Houses. Every bill shall-be sent to the President. In case of deadlock in accepting any bill, the President convenes a joint session of the two Houses of the Parliament.
2. Executive Powers and Functions:
In Parliamentary form of government, the real executive is responsible to the Parliament. Hence, the Indian Parliament exercises control over the Union Executive (the Union Council of Ministers). It ensures that the ministers, including the Prime Minister, owe individual, joint and collective responsibility for their acts. Its members exercise control over the executive through several means such as questions, supplementary questions and by moving cut motions and finally no-confidence motion.
3. Financial Powers and Functions:
No tax can be collected and no expenditure can be incurred by the executive except uner the authority and with the approval of Parliament. The Indian Parliament sanctions the money required for carrying out the affairs of the Union Government. It approves the money bills proposed by the union ministry. The Union Government shall impose new taxes, revise old taxes or abolish the existing taxes only with the approval of the Parliament.
Question 6.
Write a note on the types of Bills.
Answer:
A Bill is a proposed law under consideration by a legislature. A bill does not become law until it is passed by the legislature. Once a bill has been enacted into law, it is called an Act or Statute. Bills introduced in the Parliament are of two types. 1. Public Bill (Government Bill. and 2. Private Bills (Private Member’s Bills). The Public Bills are introduced by the Ministers in the Parliament whereas the Private Bills are introduced by any Member of Parliament other than a Minister. The bills introduced in the Parliament may also be classified into four categories.
- Ordinary Bill
- Money Bill
- Finance Bill
- Constitutional Amendment Bill
Ordinary Bills are concerned with any matter other than financial subjects. Money Bills are concerned with the financial matters like taxation, public expenditure, etc. The Financial Bills are also concerned with financial matters but are different from money bills. These Bills deed with fiscal matter, i.e., revenue or expenditure. Constitutional Amendment bills are concerned with the provisions of the Constitution.
Question 7.
Explain briefly about the stages of Law-making procedure in Indian Parliament.
Answer:
Every bill has to pass five stages to become a law.
Those five stages are –
- Stage-1: In the first stage the bill will be drafted and will be introduced in the Parliament with the permission of the Speaker.
- Stage -2: Three Readings take place in this stage on the bill in the House. Discussions will be completed and the voting can be conducted on the bill in the first house.
- Stage-3: In the third stage, the bill will be transmitted to the Second House for its concurrence. The Second House, like the First House, considers the bill at various stages.
- Stage-4: In case of a deadlock the President of India convenes a joint session of the two Houses. The fate of the bill will be decided by the decision of the majority members in the both Houses of Parliament.
- Stage-5: When a bill is passed by the two Houses, the Speaker sends the bill to the President for his assent. When the President gives his assent, the bill becomes law and comes into force.
Question 8.
What do you know about Public Accounts Committee?
Answer:
Public Accounts Committee was set up in 1921. It consists of 22 members. Out of them, 15 members belong to the Lok Sabha and 7 members to the Rajya Sabha. Their term of office is one year. They are elected by means of proportional representation and single transferable vote.
The Functions of the Committee are:
- The Committee examines the annual audit reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG. of India.
- It examines Public Expenditure not only from legal and formal point of view to discover technical irregularities but also from the point of view of economy prudence, wisdom and propriety.
- It brings out the appropriation accounts and the finance accounts of the Union Government and any other accounts laid before the Lok Sabha.
- It examines whether the public funds are disbursed properly.
Question 9.
Describe the composition and functions of Estimates Committee.
Answer:
Composition of the Estimates Committee:
The origin of this committee can be traced to the Standing Financial Committee setup in 1921. The Estimate Committee was at first constituted in April 1950 in free India. It consists of 30 members of the Lok Sabha. The Rajya Sabha has no representation in this Committee. These members are elected by the Lok Sabha every year from among its own members according to the principle of proportional representation by means of single transferrable vote. The members hold their office for a year.
The functions of the Committee are:
- It offers suggestions in regard to the economy in expenditure, improvement in organization and efficiency of the Union Government.
- It examines as to whether the public funds are disbursed as per the estimates.
- It also examines the matters assigned to it by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha,
- It examines whether the money is well laid out within the limits of the policy implied in the estimates. Hence, it has been described as a ‘continuous economy committee’.
Very Short Answer Questions
Question 1.
Composition of Indian Parliament.
Answer:
The Union Legislature, popularly known as Parliament consists of two Houses namely (i) the House of People (Lok Sabha) and (ii) the Council of States (Rajya Sabha). Lok Sabha is also known as Lower House and it represents the people and Rajya Sabha also known as the Upper House at it represents the States and Union Territories in India.
Question 2.
Qualification of Rajya Sabha member. [May-2017]
Answer:
- He shall be a citizen of India.
- He shall have completed 30 years of age.
- He shall be a resident of the State for a minimum of six months.
- He should not hold any office of profit under the union or any state government.
- He should not be insane or bankrupt.
- He should possess such other qualifications as prescribed by the Parliament.
Question 3.
Quorum of Lok Sabha.
Answer:
The Quorum for conducting the meetings of Lok Sabha is l/10th of the total members of the House.
Question 4.
The Speaker of Lok Sabha. [March-2019]
Answer:
The Indian Constitution provides for a Speaker for Lok Sabha. He is elected by the Lok Sabha from amongst its members. He enjoys supreme authority and power on the floor of the House. The Speaker presides over the meetings of the Lok Sabha. He exercises his casting vote in case of a tie over a bill.
Question 5.
Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha.
Answer:
Article 93 of the Indian Constitution provides for Deputy Speaker for conducting the proceedings of the Lok Sabha in the absence of the Speaker. The Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha is elected by the members of Lok Sabha from among themselves. If he is a member of one of the Parliamentary Committees, he will act as the Chairman of that committee.
Question 6.
Committee on Public Undertakings. [March-2017]
Answer:
The Committee on Public Undertakings was created in 1964 on the recommendations of the Krishna Menon Committee. It consists of 22 members, out of which 15 are from Lok Sabha and 7 are from Rajya Sabha. It examines the reports and accounts of Public Undertakings.
Question 7.
Panel of Speakers.
Answer:
The Speaker nominates some of the members of the Lok Sabha as panel speakers. Maximum strength of panel of Chairpersons (Speakers) will be 10. If both Speaker and Deputy Speaker are absent at a particular time, one of the members from the panel of Chairpersons (Speakers) will act as the Speaker.
Question 8.
Pro-Tern (PRO-TEM) Speaker.
Answer:
The President appoints the Pro-tern Speaker for presiding over the meeting at the first session of the Parliament after general elections. Normally, the President appoints the senior most member in terms of age, knowledge of legislative rules or more number of terms elected as the Pro-Tern Speaker. He administers the oath of office on the elected members. Pro-Tern speaker post is dissolved the soon after the election of new Speaker.
Question 9.
Question Hour. [Mar. ’19,’18,’16; May ’17,’16]
Answer:
In both the Houses of Parliament, first hour is allotted to Question Hour. Usually, Parliament meeting commences at ll o clock in the morning. The members, by giving notice to the presiding officer, can ask questions pertaining to public issues, administrative inefficiency or about the role of the Government.
Question 10.
Adjournment Motion.
Answer:
Adjournment motion is tabled in the Parliament to draw attention of the House to a definite matter of urgent public importance and needs the support of 50 members to be admitted. The discussion on an adjournment motion should last for not less than two hours and thirty minutes.
Question 11.
Whip [March-2017]
Answer:
Every political party whether ruling or opposition has its own whip in the Parliament. He is appointed by the concerned party to serve as an assistant floor leader. He is charged with the responsibility of ensuring the attendance of his party members in large numbers.
Question 12.
No-Confidence Motion.
Answer:
According to Article 75 of the Constitution, no-confidence motion can be tabled in the Parliament by the opposition parties through written notice supported by at least 50 members and there will be a discussion on the motion. After the discussion, there will be voting. If the no-confidence motion is passed or approved in the House, the cabinet has to resign.