Parliamentary procedures - class-VIII

A parliament session is a duration in which its business is conducted. There are three parliament sessions in a year:

• Budget Session: February to May
• Monsoon Session: July to September
• Winter Session: November to December

If the house feels that the government does not enjoy majority, then they can move a 'no-confidence' motion. It can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha. The motion is admitted for discussion when a minimum of 50 members of the house supports the motion. If the motion is passed, the Government is bound to vacate the office.

Adjournment of the House means suspension of the work for a specified time which may be hours, days or weeks. It is done by the presiding officer of the house. It does not affect the bills or any other business pending before the House and the same can be resumed when the House meets again.

Most national Acts in India are applicable to the whole of India.

The time immediately following the Question Hour has come to be known as "Zero Hour". It starts at around 12 noon (hence the name) and members can, with prior notice to the Speaker, raise issues of utmost importance during this time.

The correct meanings are as follows:

• Starred Question: One for which an oral answer is required to be given by a minister on the floor of the House
• Unstarred Question: One for which the Concerned minister has to lay on the table a written answer
• Short Notice Question: One asked by a member on matters of public importance of an urgent nature.
  

Unlike other institutions, Parliament does not work throughout the year. Indian constitution specifies that ‘six months shall not intervene’ between the last sitting of one session and the first sitting of the next. This provision effectively ensures that Parliament meets at least twice a year. Over the years, parliamentary convention has evolved towards having three sessions in a year— the Budget (February to May), Monsoon (July to August/September) and Winter (November to December) sessions.

The quorum required to hold meetings of the legislative chambers is one-tenth of the total membership of the House. Article 100 of the Constitution of India stipulates that at least 10% of the total number of members of the House must be present to constitute the quorum to constitute a meeting of either House of Parliament. For example, if the House has the total membership of 250, at least 25 members must be present for the House to proceed with its business.

Option C is the correct answer. The quorum for Joint Sitting of the Indian Parliament is One-tenth of the' total number of members of the House. The quorum required to hold meetings of the legislative chambers is one-tenth of the total membership of the House. Article 100 of the Constitution of India stipulates that at least 10% of total number of members of the House must be present to constitute the quorum to constitute a meeting of either House of Parliament. For example, if the House has the total membership of 250, at least 25 members must be present for the House to proceed with its business.

Option A is the correct answer. In Lok Sabha, a no-confidence motion has to set out the grounds on which it is based.  A no-confidence motion can be moved only in the Lok Sabha. If the government has to demonstrate its strength on the floor of the House, it can have a motion of confidence. However, the opposition parties (or any member) can move a motion expressing want of confidence (no confidence) in the Council of Ministers.

Prorogation is the end of a session. A prorogation puts an end to a session. The time between the Prorogation and reassembly is called Recess. Prorogation is the end of a session and not the dissolution of the house {in case of Lok Sabha, as Rajya Sabha does not dissolve}.

The international treaties and agreements are negotiated and concluded on behalf of the President. However, they are subject to the approval of the Parliament. It is the diplomatic power of the President.

Option B is the correct answer. With reference to the conduct of government business in the Parliament of India, the term 'closure' refers to a rule of legislative procedure under which further debate on a motion can be halted. Closure is one of the means by which a debate may be brought to a close by a majority decision of the House, even though all Members wishing to speak have not done so. 

Option D is the correct answer. 50 members of the Lok Sabha must support a motion of 'no confidence' in the government, before it can be admitted by the Speaker. . In Lok Sabha, a no-confidence motion has to set out the grounds on which it is based.  A no-confidence motion can be moved only in the Lok Sabha. If the government has to demonstrate its strength on the floor of the House, it can have a motion of confidence. However, the opposition parties (or any member) can move a motion expressing want of confidence (no confidence) in the Council of Ministers.

The Parliament is the supreme law making body of the Indian Nation. It makes law as per needs and for welfare of the people. It has power to carry out amendments in existing laws to make them time operable and effective. Parliament can amend the constitution itself subject to certain limitations.

A member of the House may ask questions from the Government on matters of public interest. The first hour on every working day of the House is reserved for questions unless otherwise decided by the Speaker. This hour is known as Question Hour. There are three types of questions:
i) Starred questions ii) Unstarred questions iii) Short notice questions.

Sometimes the members get the normal work of the State Legislature suspended temporarily to discuss matters of urgent public importance this extraordinary  procedure called as Adjournment motion. Subject to the provisions of these rules , a motion for an adjournment of the business of the House for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance maybe made with the consent of the Speaker.

A Starred Question is one to which a member desires an oral answer in the House and which is distinguished by an asterisk mark. When a question is answered orally, supplementary questions can be asked thereon. Only 20 questions can be listed for oral answer on a day.

Violation of constitution is the only ground on which a President can be impeached. The impeachment charges can be initiated in either of the houses of the Parliament with at least one-fourth members of that house signing the charges. To pass the motion each house has to pass the resolution with not less two-thirds of majority.

In the parliamentary parlance, it is referred as the time gap between the end of Question Hour and the beginning of the regular business. Zero Hour doesn’t find a mention in the Rules of Procedure and hence it’s considered an informal procedure for the members of Parliament to raise matters of serious importance. The other rationale behind naming it so can be traced to the fact that it starts at 12 noon.

Zero Hour is a parliamentary device in India where members can raise matters of urgent public importance without prior notice. It starts immediately after the Question Hour.

President summons each House of the Parliament. Our Parliament comprises of the President and the two Houses — Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Summoning is the process of calling all members of the Parliament to meet. It is the duty of President to summon each House of the Parliament from time to time. The Parliament should meet at least twice a year.

A member of the House of Parliament may ask questions from the government on matters of public interest. The ‘Question Hour’ is an important part of the parliamentary proceedings which gives the institution of Parliament the great significance it possesses. Asking of questions is an inherent and unfettered parliamentary right of members. It is during the Question Hour that the members can ask questions on every aspect of administration and Governmental activity. Government policies in national as well as international spheres come into sharp focus as the members try to elicit pertinent information during the Question Hour.

A member of House of Parliament may ask questions to the government on a particular day of the session or may just take part in the proceedings of the parliament while other members are presenting their questions.

The Monsoon session of the Parliament is called between July-August. The monsoon session is dedicated largely to discussions on matters of public interest. It is during the monsoon session that the members of the Parliament, including the ministers, can bring forward the legislative proposals in the form of a Bill. 

The formal request made by a member of the parliament to the government is called Interpellation.

Each House of the Parliament shall meet at least twice in a year. The maximum gap between two sessions of Parliament cannot be more than six months. In other words, the Parliament should meet at least twice a year. The President has the power to summon or prorogue either or both Houses of Parliament.

The quorum of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha is One-tenth of the total membership of each house. The quorum to constitute a sitting of the House is one-tenth of the total number of members of the House, for both Lok Sabha as well as Rajya Sabha. If there is no quorum, it shall be the duty of the chairman or speaker to adjourn the house or suspend the meeting.  Constitution has fixed one-tenth strength as a quorum for both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The term of individual members is six years.  Casual vacancies whenever occurring, are filled through bye-elections for the remaining term only. 

The first hour of the sitting session of Lok Sabha is the question hour. The government is obliged to answer the questions raised in this hour. The government can furnish answers orally or in writing.

The interval between two consecutive sessions shall be less than six months. The sessions of Parliament are convened at the discretion of the President. The President in his role as head of the legislature has full powers to summon and prorogue either house of Parliament. However, there should not be a gap of more than six months between two sessions. 

Quorum indicates the members present in the parliament to conduct its proceedings. The constitution mandates that one-tenth of the total members must be present in the house to begin the proceedings of the parliament.

Zero Hour denotes the time immediately following the Question Hour in both Houses of Parliament. It starts at around 12 noon and members can, with prior notice to the Speaker, raise issues of importance during this time. Mainly discussions on important Bills, the Budget, and other issues of national importance take place from 2 pm onwards.

The question hour is the time when members of the parliament exercise their right to interpellation or raising requests and questions to the government.

Adjournment motions are raised only in Lok Sabha and raise a definite and factual matter of urgent and public importance. They do not cover more than one matter.

The ministers are collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha which implies that the Lok Sabha can remove the ministry from office by passing a vote of no confidence. The no confidence motion can only be introduced in Lok Sabha. Hence, the ministry stays in office so long as it enjoys the confidence of the majority of the members of the Lok Sabha.

An Adjournment Motion is introduced in the Parliament to draw the attention of the House to a definite matter of urgent public importance by interrupting the normal business of the House.

These are questions to which written answers are given by Ministers which are deemed to have been laid on the Table of the House at the end of the Question Hour. Also called an Urgent question, is a written question that the mover demands should be answered in the course of the sitting in progress.

A Starred question is one to which a member desires an oral answer in the House and which is distinguished by an asterisk mark. Only 20 questions can be listed for oral answer on a day. The member is allowed to ask a supplementary question, with the permission of the Speaker, after the reply is obtained from the Minister concerned.

If a house feels that the government does not enjoy majority, then they can move a 'no-confidence' motion. It can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha. The motion is admitted for discussion when a minimum of 50 members of the house supports the motion.  If the motion is passed, the Government is bound to vacate the office.

Zero hour is neither mentioned in the Constitution nor the Rules of Procedure of the Houses. It is an Indian innovation in the field of parliamentary procedures and has been in existence since 1962. It is an informal device available to the members of the Parliament to raise matters without any prior notice. It starts immediately after the question hour and lasts until the agenda for the day is taken up.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is chaired by leader of opposition and elected members of Parliament, constituted by the Parliament of India, for the auditing of the revenue and the expenditure of the Government of India.

Option C is the correct answer. Appropriation Bill gives power to the government to withdraw funds from the Consolidated Fund of India for meeting the expenditure during the financial year. The Appropriation Bill is intended to give authority to Government to incur expenditure from and out of the Consolidated Fund of India. It cannot be amended to vary the amount of any charged expenditure.

A Finance Bill is a Money Bill as defined in Article 110 of the Constitution. A money bill can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha with prior permission by the President of India. Money bill cannot be returned by the President to the parliament for its reconsideration, as it is presented in the Lok Sabha with his permission.

Option B is the correct answer. 

Members of Parliament have freedom of speech in Parliament. No member is liable to any proceedings in any court for anything said or any vote given by him in Parliament or its committees.

Prorogation is a notification issued by the President which terminates the sitting and session of the House. It does not affect the bills or any other business pending before the House and the same can be resumed when the House meets again. Same happens when the house is adjourned. When Lok Sabha is dissolved all of its pending business, motion lapse.

The Constitution states that the Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. It means that ministers stay in office so long they enjoy the confidence of the majority of the members of Lok Sabha. Lol Sabha cab removes the council of ministers from office by passing a no-confidence motion in the Lok Sabha. It needs the support of 50 members to be admitted. The time lapse between passing one no confidence motion and other one is 6 months at least.

The first No Confidence motion was moved during the third Lok Sabha in 1963 when J.N Nehru was the Prime Minister. It was moved by a minister Acharya J.B Kriplani and was backed by 40 MPs. The motion however, was defeated.

Joint sitting is an extraordinary provision provided by the constitution to resolve a deadlock between the two Houses over a bill. Deadlock occurs if a bill is passed by one house and transmitted to others and it has rejected by the other house, or there are disagreements or if more than 6 months have passed without passing of bill.

Under Article 100 of the Constitution of India, the quorum to constitute a meeting of either House of the Parliament shall be one tenth of the total number of members of that House.

Zero hours is neither mentioned in the Constitution nor the Rules of Procedure of the Houses. It is an Indian innovation in the field of parliamentary procedures and has been in existence since 1962. It is an informal device available to the members of the Parliament to raise matters without any prior notice.

Adjournment motion involves an element of censure against the government and hence Rajya Sabha is not permitted to make use of this device. There is a similar tool in Rajya Sabha which is called “Calling Attention”. Calling attention has no such element. It is introduced in the Parliament by a member to call the attention of a minister to a matter of urgent public importance, and to seek an authoritative statement from him on that matter.