Civics Polity

Legislature and Parliament

1,499 Questions

Legislature and Parliament topics cover the structure, functions, and legislative procedures of the lawmaking bodies. This collection focuses on the passage of bills, parliamentary committees, and the roles of different houses. These questions are highly relevant for civil services and state public service commission examinations.

Money billsParliamentary committeesLegislative proceduresRajya Sabha rulesState legislaturesImpeachment process

Legislature and Parliament Questions

Multiple choice

The Parliamentary Committee which scrutinizes the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India?

  1. Estimates Committee

  2. Select Committee

  3. Public Accounts Committee

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) scrutinizes the CAG's reports to ensure government funds were spent as authorized. It has 22 members (15 from Lok Sabha, 7 from Rajya Sabha) and is concerned with financial regularity. The Estimates Committee examines budget estimates, while Select Committees examine specific bills.

Multiple choice

Who can preside but cannot vote in one of the Houses of Parliament?

  1. Speaker

  2. Deputy Speaker

  3. Vice President

  4. Vice Chairman
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Vice President of India is ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha and presides over its sessions but cannot vote except in case of a tie. This is similar to the US Vice President's role in the Senate. The Speaker and Deputy Speaker preside over Lok Sabha and can vote, while Vice Chairman presides in the Chairman's absence.

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements regarding Indian polity-

  1. In Indian, a State cannot have more than 500 members in its Legislative Assembly.
  2. The Legislative Council of a State in India cannot be larger in size than half of the Legislative Assembly of that particular State.
  3. To be a member of State Legislative Assembly, a citizen must not be less than 25 years of ago.
  4. The Governor of a State nominates the Chairman for Legislative Council of that particular State. Which of these statement is/are correct?

  1. 1, 2, 3, and 4

  2. 2, 3, and 4

  3. 1, 2, and 4

  4. 1 and 3
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Article 164(1)(b) caps State Legislative Assembly membership at 500 (or fewer as specified by law). The minimum age for MLA membership is 25 years (Article 173). The Legislative Council cannot exceed one-third of Assembly strength, not half. The Council Chairman is elected by Council members, not nominated by Governor.

Multiple choice

When a Bill is referred to a joint sitting of both the Houses of Indian Parliament, it has to be passed by-

  1. A simple majority of members present and voting.

  2. Three-fourths majority of members present and voting.

  3. Two-thirds majority of the Houses.

  4. Absolute majority of the total membership of the Houses.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Article 108 of the Constitution states that when a Bill is referred to a joint sitting (for resolving deadlock between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha), it is passed by a simple majority of members present and voting. Special majorities are not required for joint sitting decisions.

Multiple choice

The national parliament of USA is called

  1. Congress

  2. White House

  3. Upper House

  4. Diet
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The United States national legislature is called Congress, which consists of two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate. The White House is the executive residence (President's home), 'Upper House' is a generic term not specific to USA, and Diet is the name of Japan's legislature.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are correct in the light of provisions of Article 356?

  1. President must proclaim emergency only on the basis of a report from the Governor of the State.

  2. Governor can recommend President to proclaim emergency on the basis of personal information suggesting large scale defection of legislators.

  3. President can proclaim emergency only on the advice of Council of Ministers.

  4. All of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Under Article 356, the President's Rule can be proclaimed only on the advice of the Council of Ministers (Article 74). While the Governor's report is usually the basis, it is not the only way - the President can act on other information too. Option B is incorrect because personal information alone is insufficient; there must be a proper constitutional breakdown. Option A is wrong as the President is not bound solely by the Governor's report. The correct answer is C as the President must act on Ministerial advice.

Multiple choice

Parliament of India shall consist of

  1. two houses

  2. two houses and ministers

  3. two houses, ministers and Attorney General

  4. two houses and the President
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Article 79 of the Constitution states that 'Parliament shall consist of the President and two Houses to be known respectively as the Council of States and the House of the People.' The President is an integral part of Parliament, though they do not sit in or vote in either House.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not a Constitutional body?

  1. Election commission

  2. Planning commission

  3. Finance commission

  4. Comptroller and Auditor-General
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Election Commission, Finance Commission, and Comptroller and Auditor-General are all Constitutional bodies established under specific articles of the Constitution. The Planning Commission (now replaced by NITI Aayog) was an extra-constitutional body established by an executive resolution in 1950 and not mentioned in the Constitution.

Multiple choice

Which of the following directly elected the members of the constituent assembly?

  1. Legislative assembly of provinces
  2. Union Legislature
  3. Public of India Use the following code to mark correct answer Codes:

  1. Only 3

  2. Only 1

  3. Only 1 and 3

  4. Only 1 and 2
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The members of the Constituent Assembly were elected by the provincial Legislative Assemblies. This included both the provinces of British India and the princely states. The Assembly was not directly elected by the general public (the 'Public of India'), nor was it elected by the Union Legislature. Each provincial legislative assembly elected representatives through the single transferable vote system.

Multiple choice

Rajya Sabha is a

  1. permanent body

  2. permanent body but subject to dissolution

  3. rigid body

  4. flexible body subjected to dissloution
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Rajya Sabha is a permanent body i.e it cannot be dissolved. But after every 2 years 1/3rd of the members retire and new members are elected.

Multiple choice

In order to change the process of election of President of India,

  1. simple majority of both the houses of parliament is required

  2. 1/4 majority of both the houses of parliament is required

  3. 2/3 majority of both the houses of parliament is required but state ratification is not required

  4. 2/3 majority of both the houses of parliament and ratification of atleast half the number of states is required
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

To change the process of election of the President of India, 2/3 majority of both the houses of parliament is required. This has to be approved by at least half of the total number of states.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. Lok Sabha is not subject to dissolution.

  2. The President cannot be reelected.

  3. Rajya Sabha is not subject to dissolution.

  4. The Prseident cannot be removed from office.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Rajya Sabha is a permanent body and is not subject to dissolution.

Multiple choice

Indian legislature is bicameral because

  1. every citizen has a single vote

  2. there are two houses for the running of the government

  3. the Lok Sabha MP’s are elected

  4. 12 members out of the 250 members of Rajya Sabha are nominated by the president
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

India's government is bicameral; Rajya Sabha is the upper house and Lok Sabha is the lower house.