Polity Set 69
π
π Parliament β’ Sessions
Q.1) The maximum gap allowed between two sessions of Parliament is:
Ans > C) Six months
- Constitutional Mandate: Article 85 of the Indian Constitution expressly mandates that there should not be a gap of more than six months between two consecutive sessions of Parliament. This critical provision ensures that the legislature meets regularly to pass laws and hold the executive government accountable.
- Conventional Sessions: While the Constitution technically only requires Parliament to meet twice a year, by established democratic convention, the Indian Parliament conducts three distinct sessions annually: the Budget Session (February to May), the Monsoon Session (July to September), and the Winter Session (November to December).
- Summoning Authority: The power to summon both Houses of Parliament rests exclusively with the President of India. However, the President exercises this power based entirely on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, which dictates the exact dates.
π Parliament β’ Quorum
Q.2) What is the quorum required to constitute a meeting of either House of Parliament?
Ans > B) One-tenth of the total number of members
- Constitutional Provision: According to Article 100(3) of the Constitution, the quorum to constitute a meeting of either House of Parliament shall be one-tenth of the total number of members of that House. This rule ensures that a small minority cannot pass critical national legislation unobserved.
- Numerical Breakdown: Including the presiding officers, this means a minimum of 55 members must be present in the Lok Sabha (which has a maximum strength of 550) and a minimum of 25 members must be present in the Rajya Sabha (which has a maximum strength of 250) to conduct any business.
- Presiding Officer’s Duty: If there is no quorum during a meeting of the House, it is the constitutional duty of the Chairman or Speaker (or the person acting as such) to either adjourn the House or suspend the meeting until the minimum required number of members is present.
π Parliamentary Terms β’ Adjournment
Q.3) Which term refers to the termination of a sitting of the House without naming a day for reassembly?
Ans > B) Adjournment sine die
- Latin Terminology: The phrase “sine die” is a Latin term that literally translates to “without assigning a day.” In parliamentary procedure, it means the sitting of the House is terminated for an indefinite period, effectively pausing the legislative work without a scheduled restart date.
- Authority of the Speaker/Chairman: The power of adjournment, as well as adjournment sine die, lies exclusively with the presiding officer of the House (the Speaker in the Lok Sabha and the Chairman in the Rajya Sabha). They usually declare this when the business of a session is fully completed.
- Reassembly Power: Even after a House has been adjourned sine die, the presiding officer retains the absolute authority to call a sitting of the House before the date or time to which it has been previously adjourned, should an urgent national matter require immediate legislative attention.
π Parliamentary Terms β’ Prorogation
Q.4) While adjournment only terminates a sitting, which action terminates a session of the House and is done by the President?
Ans > B) Prorogation
- Executive Action: Prorogation is an executive action taken by the President of India under Article 85(2)(a) of the Constitution. While the presiding officer adjourns the House sine die upon completion of business, it is the President who issues the formal notification for the prorogation of the session within a few days.
- Impact on Legislative Business: Unlike the dissolution of the Lok Sabha, prorogation does not affect the bills or any other business pending before the House. However, all pending notices (other than those for introducing bills) officially lapse on prorogation and fresh notices must be given for the next session.
- Session vs. Sitting: It is crucial to distinguish between a sitting and a session. An adjournment merely pauses a daily sitting to resume later, while prorogation completely ends the entire session (e.g., officially concluding the Budget Session).
π Parliamentary Proceedings β’ Question Hour
Q.5) The first hour of every parliamentary sitting is slotted for which proceeding?
Ans > B) Question Hour
- Procedural Priority: Under the Rules of Procedure of both Houses of Parliament, the first hour of every sitting (usually from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM) is strictly devoted to the Question Hour. This is a vital mechanism for parliamentary scrutiny of executive actions.
- Types of Questions: During this hour, Members of Parliament (MPs) ask questions to ministers to hold them accountable. These questions are broadly categorized into three main types: starred questions (requiring oral answers), unstarred questions (requiring written answers), and short notice questions (asked with less than 10 days’ notice).
- Ministerial Accountability: The Question Hour is the most visible manifestation of the principle of collective and individual ministerial responsibility. It forces the government to explain its policies, reveal data, and address public grievances directly on the floor of the House.
π Parliamentary Proceedings β’ Questions
Q.6) During the Question Hour, which type of question requires an oral answer and allows supplementary questions to follow?
Ans > C) Starred question
- Oral Defense: A “Starred Question” is one for which a Member of Parliament desires an oral answer from the concerned Minister on the floor of the House. It is distinguished from other questions by an asterisk (*) mark printed next to it on the question list.
- Supplementary Probing: Because the minister answers orally, members are allowed to ask supplementary questions based on the minister’s reply. This makes starred questions a powerful tool for instantly grilling the government and forcing them to clarify incomplete or evasive answers.
- Daily Limits: Due to the time-consuming nature of oral debates, there is a strict limit on how many starred questions can be listed for a single day. In the Lok Sabha, a maximum of 20 starred questions are generally permitted to be listed for a given daily sitting.
π Parliamentary Proceedings β’ Zero Hour
Q.7) Which parliamentary device is an Indian innovation in the field of parliamentary procedures and has been in existence since 1962?
Ans > B) Zero Hour
- Indian Procedural Innovation: Unlike the Question Hour, which is borrowed from British parliamentary conventions, the “Zero Hour” is an entirely Indian innovation. It does not exist in the traditional parliamentary rulebooks of other major Westminster-style democracies.
- Historical Origins: The Zero Hour came into existence in the Indian Parliament organically around 1962. It earned its name because it traditionally begins at exactly 12:00 noon, immediately following the Question Hour, acting as a bridge before the regular legislative business of the day begins.
- Informal Mechanism: Crucially, the Zero Hour is an informal device and is not mentioned in the official Rules of Procedure. Members use this time to raise matters of urgent public importance without requiring the mandatory 10-day advance notice needed for standard parliamentary questions.
π Motions β’ Adjournment Motion
Q.8) An Adjournment Motion is introduced in the Parliament to draw attention to a definite matter of urgent public importance. It needs the support of how many members to be admitted?
Ans > B) 50 members
- Purpose and Gravity: The Adjournment Motion is an extraordinary parliamentary device used to set aside the normal business of the House to discuss a definite, urgent matter of extreme public importance (like a major natural disaster or a massive security failure).
- Support Threshold: Because it interrupts the scheduled legislative agenda, it requires a high threshold for admission. A member must gather the signatures and support of at least 50 members of the Lok Sabha before the Speaker will consider admitting the motion for discussion.
- Element of Censure: This motion can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha, not the Rajya Sabha. This is because passing an Adjournment Motion involves an element of censure against the government, implying that the administration has failed to handle an urgent crisis effectively.
π Motions β’ No-Confidence
Q.9) Article 75 states that the Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. Which motion can be moved in the Lok Sabha to test this responsibility?
Ans > C) No-Confidence Motion
- Constitutional Bedrock: Article 75(3) of the Indian Constitution enshrines the core principle of parliamentary democracy: the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the House of the People (Lok Sabha). They remain in office only as long as they enjoy the majority support of the House.
- Testing the Majority: The No-Confidence Motion is the ultimate tool used by the opposition to test this majority. It does not need to state the specific reasons for its adoption. If the motion is successfully passed, the entire Council of Ministers is bound to resign immediately.
- Admission Criteria: Similar to the Adjournment Motion, a No-Confidence Motion requires the support of at least 50 members of the Lok Sabha to be admitted by the Speaker. It cannot be moved in the Rajya Sabha, as the government is not constitutionally responsible to the upper house.
π Motions β’ Censure Motion
Q.10) Unlike a No-Confidence Motion, which can only be moved against the entire Council of Ministers, which motion can be moved against an individual minister or a group of ministers for their specific policies?
Ans > C) Censure Motion
- Targeted Accountability: While a No-Confidence Motion targets the entire government, a Censure Motion can be moved against an individual minister, a specific group of ministers, or the entire council. It is used to strongly reprimand them for specific policies or actions.
- Requirement of Reasons: Unlike the No-Confidence Motion, which needs no stated justification, a Censure Motion must explicitly state the reasons and charges for which it is being moved in the Lok Sabha. The opposition must clarify exactly what failure they are censuring.
- Consequences of Passing: If a Censure Motion is passed in the Lok Sabha, the Council of Ministers is not strictly bound to resign. However, it is a severe political embarrassment and usually prompts the government to immediately seek a vote of confidence to prove they still hold a majority.
π Motions β’ President’s Address
Q.11) The first session after each general election and the first session of every fiscal year is addressed by the President. This address is discussed in both Houses on a motion called the:
Ans > A) Motion of Thanks
- Constitutional Duty: Under Article 87 of the Constitution, the President must address both Houses of Parliament assembled together at the commencement of the first session after each general election to the Lok Sabha, and at the commencement of the first session of each year.
- Policy Statement: The President’s address is drafted by the cabinet and outlines the government’s policies, past achievements, and future legislative agenda. It is fundamentally a statement of the ruling government’s intent for the upcoming year.
- Political Survival: The subsequent “Motion of Thanks” is debated and voted upon in both Houses. If this motion is defeated in the Lok Sabha, it amounts to a defeat of the government’s policy and is treated as a loss of confidence, forcing the government to resign.
π Legislative Procedure β’ Public Bills
Q.12) Bills introduced in the Parliament by a minister are known as public bills. What advance notice period is required for the introduction of a public bill?
Ans > C) 7 days
- Public vs. Private: In parliamentary terminology, a “Public Bill” (or Government Bill) is one introduced by a Minister, reflecting the policies of the ruling government. A “Private Member’s Bill” is one introduced by any MP who is not a minister, regardless of their party affiliation.
- Notice Period: A minister must give a 7-day advance notice before introducing a public bill. In contrast, a private member must give a full one-month advance notice to introduce their bill, highlighting the procedural priority given to government legislation.
- Drafting Responsibility: Public bills are drafted by the relevant government department in consultation with the Law Ministry. They have a high probability of being passed due to the government’s majority, whereas Private Member’s Bills are drafted by the member’s own staff and rarely become law.
π Legislative Procedure β’ Money Bills
Q.13) A Money Bill can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha. Under which Article is the definition of a Money Bill provided?
Ans > B) Article 110
- Strict Definition: Article 110 of the Constitution provides a highly specific definition of a Money Bill. It states that a bill is a Money Bill only if it contains provisions dealing exclusively with taxes, borrowing of money by the government, or expenditures from the Consolidated Fund of India.
- Speaker’s Absolute Authority: If a dispute arises over whether a specific bill is a Money Bill or not, the decision of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha is final and binding. This decision cannot be questioned in any court of law, nor by the President or the Rajya Sabha.
- Exclusive Domain: A Money Bill can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha, and it can only be introduced on the prior recommendation of the President. This ensures the elected representatives of the people have ultimate control over national taxation and expenditure.
π Legislative Procedure β’ Money Bills
Q.14) If a Money Bill is transmitted to the Rajya Sabha, the Rajya Sabha must return the bill to the Lok Sabha with or without recommendations within what timeframe?
Ans > A) 14 days
- Restricted Powers: The Rajya Sabha has severely restricted powers regarding Money Bills. It cannot reject or amend a Money Bill; it can only discuss it and make non-binding recommendations.
- Strict Time Limit: Once a Money Bill is passed by the Lok Sabha and transmitted to the Rajya Sabha, the upper house is constitutionally mandated to return it within a strict window of 14 days. This prevents the upper house from indefinitely stalling vital financial legislation.
- Default Passage: If the Rajya Sabha fails to return the bill within the 14-day limit, the bill is deemed to have been officially passed by both Houses in the exact form it was originally passed by the Lok Sabha. The Lok Sabha is also free to accept or reject any of the Rajya Sabha’s recommendations.
π Legislative Procedure β’ Joint Sitting
Q.15) Which Article provides for a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament in case of a deadlock over an ordinary bill or a financial bill?
Ans > A) Article 108
- Mechanism for Deadlocks: Article 108 of the Constitution establishes the mechanism of a joint sitting to resolve deadlocks between the two Houses. A deadlock occurs if a bill passed by one House is rejected by the other, if they disagree on amendments, or if six months pass without the bill being acted upon.
- Presidential Summons: Only the President of India has the authority to summon a joint sitting of both Houses to vote on the disputed bill. The bill must be passed by a simple majority of the total members of both Houses present and voting.
- Exceptions to the Rule: A joint sitting can only be summoned for Ordinary Bills or Financial Bills. It cannot be summoned for Money Bills (where the Lok Sabha has overriding power) or for Constitutional Amendment Bills (which must be passed by each House separately with a special majority).
π Financial Procedure β’ Budget
Q.16) The Constitution refers to the budget as the ‘Annual Financial Statement’. In which Article is it mentioned?
Ans > B) Article 112
- Constitutional Terminology: Interestingly, the word “Budget” is nowhere mentioned in the Indian Constitution. Instead, Article 112 refers to it officially as the “Annual Financial Statement.” This is the foundational document of the government’s economic policy for the year.
- Presidential Duty: Article 112 states that the President shall, in respect of every financial year, cause to be laid before both Houses of Parliament a statement of the estimated receipts and expenditures of the Government of India for that year.
- Departmental Execution: While it is laid in the President’s name, the Annual Financial Statement is actually prepared by the Budget Division of the Department of Economic Affairs, which operates under the Ministry of Finance, currently overseen by the Finance Minister.
π Financial Procedure β’ Appropriation
Q.17) No money can be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund of India except under appropriation made by law. This is done by passing the:
Ans > B) Appropriation Bill
- Constitutional Safeguard: Article 114 of the Constitution provides a massive safeguard against arbitrary government spending. It dictates that not a single rupee can be legally withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund of India without an appropriation made by a law passed by Parliament.
- Legislative Authorization: The Appropriation Bill is introduced in the Lok Sabha to provide this exact legal authority. It authorizes the government to withdraw funds to meet both the grants voted by the Lok Sabha and the expenditures permanently charged on the Consolidated Fund.
- No Amendments Allowed: No amendment can be proposed to the Appropriation Bill in either House of Parliament that would have the effect of altering the destination of any grant or varying the amount of any expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund.
π Financial Procedure β’ Vote on Account
Q.18) Since passing the budget takes time (usually until the end of April), the Lok Sabha can authorise an advance grant to meet expenses for a part of the financial year. What is this called?
Ans > C) Vote on Account
- Bridging the Fiscal Gap: The financial year begins on April 1, but passing the Budget and the Appropriation Bill often takes until late April or May. Under Article 116, the “Vote on Account” allows the government to draw temporary funds to keep the administration running during this interim period.
- Standard Quantum: Normally, the Vote on Account is granted for two months and is equivalent to exactly one-sixth of the total estimated expenditure for the entire year. It is passed after the general discussion on the budget is completed.
- Election Year Variations: During a general election year, the outgoing government cannot present a full budget. Instead, they present an “Interim Budget” and take a Vote on Account for a longer period, usually three to four months, until the new government is formed and presents a full budget.
π Financial Procedure β’ Funds
Q.19) Which fund is placed at the disposal of the President to meet unforeseen expenditures pending authorisation by Parliament?
Ans > C) Contingency Fund of India
- Emergency Reservoir: Authorized by Article 267 of the Constitution, Parliament established the Contingency Fund of India in 1950. This fund functions as an emergency imprest account to meet urgent, unforeseen expenditures (like natural disasters) when Parliament is not in session.
- Presidential Disposal: The fund is held by the Finance Secretary on behalf of the President of India. Advances from this fund require the President’s approval, but this expenditure must subsequently be authorized by Parliament during its next session.
- Fund Replenishment: Once Parliament officially authorizes the unforeseen expenditure via an Appropriation Act, an equivalent amount is transferred from the Consolidated Fund of India back into the Contingency Fund to restore its original fixed corpus.
π Committees β’ Public Accounts
Q.20) The Public Accounts Committee consists of 22 members. How are these members distributed between the two Houses?
Ans > B) 15 from Lok Sabha and 7 from Rajya Sabha
- Historical Legacy: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is the oldest parliamentary committee in India, originally set up in 1921 under the provisions of the Government of India Act of 1919. It has remained a vital watchdog of government spending ever since.
- Proportional Representation: The 22 members are elected every year by the Parliament from amongst its members according to the principle of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote. This ensures all major parties are represented.
- Opposition Leadership: By a strong parliamentary convention established in 1967, the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee is invariably selected from the Opposition parties. The committee’s primary role is to audit the reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India.
π Committees β’ Estimates
Q.21) Which Parliamentary Committee is the largest and consists of 30 members, all of whom are from the Lok Sabha?
Ans > B) Estimates Committee
- Exclusive Lok Sabha Control: The Estimates Committee is unique because it is the largest parliamentary committee, and its entire 30-member roster is drawn exclusively from the Lok Sabha. The Rajya Sabha has no representation on this committee at all.
- Post-Independence Origin: The first Estimates Committee in the post-independence era was constituted in 1950 on the recommendation of John Mathai, who was the Finance Minister at the time. It serves as a continuous economy committee for the government.
- Examining Efficiency: The primary function of this committee is to examine the estimates included in the budget and suggest alternative policies to bring about efficiency and economy in the administrative machinery of the government. Ministers cannot be members of this committee.
π Committees β’ COPU
Q.22) The Committee on Public Undertakings was created in 1964 on the recommendation of which committee?
Ans > B) Krishna Menon Committee
- Purpose of Creation: The Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU) was created in 1964 specifically to relieve the Public Accounts Committee and the Estimates Committee of the heavy burden of examining the complex reports and accounts of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).
- Krishna Menon’s Vision: It was established based on the strong recommendations of the Krishna Menon Committee. The goal was to ensure that the autonomy and efficiency of government-owned corporations were scrutinized by a dedicated parliamentary body.
- Evolution of Strength: Originally, the committee had 15 members (10 from Lok Sabha and 5 from Rajya Sabha). In 1974, its membership was expanded to 22 members (15 from Lok Sabha and 7 from Rajya Sabha) to mirror the exact composition of the Public Accounts Committee.
π Committees β’ DRSCs
Q.23) Under the Departmentally-Related Standing Committees (DRSCs) system introduced in 1993 and restructured in 2004, there are currently how many standing committees?
Ans > C) 24
- Systemic Overhaul: To ensure deep, continuous, and specialized parliamentary scrutiny over the executive, the Indian Parliament introduced a full-fledged system of Departmentally-Related Standing Committees (DRSCs) in 1993. Originally, 17 committees were created.
- Expansion in 2004: In 2004, recognizing the growing complexity of government departments and ministries, the system was significantly expanded and restructured, bringing the total number of standing committees to 24.
- Jurisdictional Divide: Out of these 24 committees, 8 committees operate under the jurisdiction of the Rajya Sabha (managed by the Chairman), and the remaining 16 committees operate under the jurisdiction of the Lok Sabha (managed by the Speaker).
π Committees β’ DRSCs
Q.24) Each Departmentally-Related Standing Committee (DRSC) consists of 31 members. How are they distributed?
Ans > A) 21 from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha
- Bicameral Representation: Every single one of the 24 DRSCs has exactly 31 members. To ensure fair representation from both houses, 21 members are nominated from the Lok Sabha and 10 members are nominated from the Rajya Sabha.
- Nomination Process: Unlike the Public Accounts Committee where members are elected, members of the DRSCs are nominated. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha nominates the 21 lower house members, while the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha nominates the 10 upper house members.
- Annual Term: The term of office for all members of these standing committees is exactly one year. They are reconstituted annually, usually around August, to review departmental budgets, national policies, and relevant bills proposed by their respective ministries.
π Parliamentary Terms β’ Lame-ducks
Q.25) Which term refers to the members of the existing Lok Sabha who could not get re-elected to the new Lok Sabha?
Ans > B) Lame-ducks
- Political Slang: The term “lame-duck” is a piece of global political jargon referring to an elected official whose successor has already been elected or will be soon, leaving the current official with diminished political power and influence.
- The Lame-Duck Session: In the context of the Indian Parliament, a “Lame-duck session” refers specifically to the final session of the existing Lok Sabha that is convened after the election of the new Lok Sabha has already taken place but before it is officially constituted.
- Transition of Power: The members of the outgoing Lok Sabha who failed to secure re-election in the recent polls are formally referred to as the “lame-ducks.” This brief session is usually held just to wrap up essential administrative transitions before the new house takes over.
π Parliamentary Terms β’ Whip
Q.26) The office of the ‘Whip’ is mentioned in which of the following?
Ans > D) None of the above; it is based on conventions of the parliamentary government
- Unwritten Convention: The office of the ‘Whip’ is a fascinating aspect of Indian politics because it is neither mentioned in the Constitution of India nor in the official Rules of the House. It operates entirely on the unwritten conventions of the parliamentary form of government.
- Party Discipline Enforcer: Every major political party appoints a Whip. Their primary responsibility is to ensure party discipline, ensure the attendance of party members for crucial votes, and direct them on how to vote (usually by issuing a formal written directive, also called a whip).
- Anti-Defection Link: While the office itself is conventional, defying a formal party whip during a parliamentary vote is a severe offense. Under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution (Anti-Defection Law), defying the whip is primary grounds for the disqualification of a Member of Parliament.
π Parliamentary Procedure β’ Closure
Q.27) In the parliamentary procedure of ‘Closure Motion’, when the undiscussed clauses of a bill or resolution are put to vote along with the discussed ones due to want of time, it is called:
Ans > D) Guillotine closure
- Time Management Tool: A closure motion is generally moved by a member to cut short the debate on a matter before the House. If the motion is approved, debate halts, and the matter is put to an immediate vote.
- The Guillotine Mechanism: The “Guillotine closure” is an extreme form of this tool. When the time allotted for discussing a bill or the budget expires, the Speaker groups all the remaining, entirely undiscussed clauses together and puts them to a direct vote alongside the discussed ones.
- Budgetary Necessity: This procedure is most famously used during the passing of the Annual Budget. Due to time constraints, the demands for grants of several ministries are often “guillotined”βmeaning they are passed by the Lok Sabha without any debate on the last allotted day.
π Parliamentary Procedure β’ Closure
Q.28) Which type of closure motion allows only the important clauses to be debated and voted on, skipping the intervening clauses?
Ans > C) Kangaroo closure
- Leaping Over Clauses: The “Kangaroo closure” gets its name because the legislative process metaphorically “jumps” over sections of a bill, much like a kangaroo. It is designed to save parliamentary time when dealing with massive, complex legislation.
- Discretion of the Chair: Under this procedure, the presiding officer (the Speaker or Chairman) exercises significant discretionary power. They select only the most important clauses or amendments of a bill for active debate and voting.
- Automatic Passage: The intervening, unselected clauses that are skipped over are simply taken as passed by default once the selected important clauses are approved. This procedure originated in the British House of Commons and was adapted into Indian procedure.
π Parliamentary Procedure β’ Discussions
Q.29) To whom does a member of the Lok Sabha submit notice for a ‘Half-an-hour discussion’ for matters of sufficient public importance?
Ans > D) The Secretary-General
- Procedural Requirement: According to Rule 55 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, a member wishing to raise a matter during a Half-an-hour discussion must give formal written notice directly to the Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha.
- Purpose of the Discussion: This parliamentary device is used for elucidating factual matters of sufficient public importance that have recently been the subject of a question (either oral or written) in the House, and where the member feels the minister’s answer was incomplete or evasive.
- Speaker’s Discretion: While the notice is submitted to the administrative head (the Secretary-General), the ultimate authority to decide whether the matter is of sufficient public importance to warrant the discussion rests solely with the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
π Committees β’ Ethics
Q.30) Which committee examines the cases of misconduct and recommends appropriate action in order to maintain discipline and decorum in Parliament?
Ans > B) Ethics Committee
- Origin in the Rajya Sabha: The Ethics Committee was first constituted in the Rajya Sabha in 1997 to oversee the moral and ethical conduct of members. The Lok Sabha followed suit and constituted its own Ethics Committee much later, in the year 2000.
- Enforcing the Code of Conduct: The primary mandate of the Ethics Committee is to enforce the official Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament. It investigates complaints of unethical behavior, misconduct, or conflicts of interest involving sitting members.
- Distinct from Privileges: It is vital to distinguish this from the Committee of Privileges. While the Privileges Committee deals with actions that breach the specific, legally defined privileges of the House (like defying a summons), the Ethics Committee deals with broader moral misconduct and indiscipline that harms the dignity of Parliament.
π Quick Summary β Polity Set 69
- Parliament Sessions: The maximum gap allowed between two sessions is six months.
- Quorum: One-tenth of total members is required to constitute a meeting.
- Adjournment sine die: Terminates a sitting without naming a reassembly day.
- Prorogation: Terminates an entire session, enacted by the President.
- Question Hour: The first hour of a parliamentary sitting, meant for executive scrutiny.
- Starred Question: Requires an oral answer and allows supplementary questions.
- Zero Hour: An informal Indian innovation in parliamentary procedure since 1962.
- Adjournment Motion: Needs the support of 50 members to be admitted in the Lok Sabha.
- No-Confidence Motion: Tests the collective responsibility of the Council of Ministers.
- Censure Motion: Moved against individual ministers or the council for specific policies.
- Motion of Thanks: Used to discuss the President’s address to Parliament.
- Public Bills: Require a 7-day advance notice for introduction by a minister.
- Money Bills Definition: Specifically defined under Article 110 of the Constitution.
- Money Bills Timeframe: Rajya Sabha must return them within a strict 14-day window.
- Joint Sitting: Provided under Article 108 to resolve deadlocks on ordinary/financial bills.
- Budget: Constitutionally referred to as the ‘Annual Financial Statement’ under Article 112.
- Appropriation Bill: Authorizes legal withdrawal of money from the Consolidated Fund.
- Vote on Account: Authorizes advance grants pending the final passage of the budget.
- Contingency Fund: Placed at the President’s disposal for unforeseen expenditures.
- Public Accounts Committee: Comprises 22 members (15 from Lok Sabha, 7 from Rajya Sabha).
- Estimates Committee: The largest committee (30 members), entirely from the Lok Sabha.
- COPU: Formed in 1964 on the Krishna Menon Committee’s recommendation.
- DRSCs: There are currently 24 Departmentally-Related Standing Committees.
- DRSC Composition: Each has 31 members (21 from LS, 10 from RS).
- Lame-ducks: Outgoing Lok Sabha members who fail to get re-elected.
- Whip: Enforces party discipline based solely on parliamentary conventions.
- Guillotine Closure: Groups undiscussed clauses with discussed ones for an immediate vote.
- Kangaroo Closure: Skips intervening clauses to debate only the important ones.
- Half-an-hour Discussion: Notice for this is submitted to the Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha.
- Ethics Committee: Maintains discipline by examining cases of member misconduct.
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