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 final stage in a bill becoming a law is

  1. royal assent

  2. third reading by the House of Commons or Provincial legislature

  3. proclamation by the government

  4. approval by the senate

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

(3) The final stage in a bill becoming a law is proclamation by the government.

Multiple choice

The Supreme Court invalidated a "legislative veto" in INS v. Chadha (1983). Has this decision significantly hampered efforts in Congress to control the work of federal administrative agencies?

  1. No, because the Chadha opinion spoke only about a rarely-used "committee veto" and left in place any one-house or two-house vetoes.

  2. Yes, because there are too many agencies for Congress to effectively monitor their budgets.

  3. No, because Chadha only applied to legislative meddling in what was essentially an adjudication about an individual’s immigration status.

  4. No, because Congress still passes legislation restricting agency spending and limiting their authority to make rules on certain subjects.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

No, because Congress still passes legislation restricting agency spending and limiting their authority to make rules on certain subjects.

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements:

  1. In India, whether the expenditure is charged on the Consolidated Fund of India or it is an amount voted by the Lok Sabha, no money can be issued out of the Consolidated Fund of India unless the expenditure is authorized by an Appropriation Act.

  2. The Rajya Sabha has no power of amending or rejecting the Appropriation Bill or the Annual finance Bill.

  3. The Rajya Sabha has no further business with the annual financial statement beyond the general discussion.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. 1,2 and 3

  2. Only 1 and 2

  3. Only 2 and 3

  4. Only 1 and 3

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: Article 266 of the Constitution mandates that no money can be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund without Parliamentary authorization through an Appropriation Act. Statement 2 is correct: Rajya Sabha has no power to amend or reject Money Bills including the Appropriation Bill - it can only make recommendations which Lok Sabha may reject. Statement 3 is correct: Rajya Sabha's role in the budget process is limited to general discussion; it cannot amend the Annual Financial Statement. All three statements accurately reflect Rajya Sabha's limited financial powers.

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements:

  1. Administrative expenses of the Supreme Court of India are not subject to a vote in the Parliament.
  2. No discussion on the conduct of a Judge of the Supreme Court of India can take place in Parliament except upon a motion for an address to the President of India for removal of the Judge. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Both 1 and 2

  4. Neither 1 nor 2

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: Under Article 112(3), administrative expenses of the Supreme Court are charged on the Consolidated Fund of India and are not voted upon by Parliament - this ensures judicial independence. Statement 2 is correct: Article 121 prohibits discussion in Parliament on the conduct of a Supreme Court Judge except upon a motion for removal of the Judge. Both statements correctly protect judicial independence from Parliamentary interference.

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements:

  1. The Estimate Committee comprises 20 members elected each year by the Lok Sabha from its elected members and 10 members elected each year by the Rajya Sabha from its elected members.
  2. The Estimate Committee has no role in suggesting the form in which the estimates shall be presented to the Parliament as that is a function of the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Both 1 and 2

  4. Neither 1 nor 2

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Estimates Committee has 30 members from Lok Sabha only (not 20 from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha) - Rajya Sabha has NO representation in this committee. Statement 2 is incorrect: The Estimates Committee DOES suggest the form in which estimates shall be presented - this is one of its key functions, not the CAG's role. The CAG audits, the Estimates Committee recommends on estimate forms. Both statements are factually wrong.

Multiple choice

When the Lok Sabha makes any grant in advances in respect of the estimated expenditure for a part of any financial year pending for the completion of the procedure prescribed in the Constitution of India, this is called

  1. Vote on account

  2. Vote of credit

  3. Supplementary grant

  4. Additional grant

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Vote on account is a special provision allowing the Lok Sabha to authorize expenditure in advance for a part of the financial year when the full budget process cannot be completed in time. It enables the government to meet essential expenses pending approval of the full budget. Vote of credit is different (lumpsum for undefined purposes), while supplementary/additional grants are for excess expenditure during the year.

Multiple choice

Regarding the municipalities, who makes the provisions with respect to the composition and the territorial area of a Wards Committee?

  1. Municipal Commissioner

  2. District Collector

  3. State Legislature by law

  4. State Election Commissioner

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Under Article 243P of the Constitution, the State Legislature has the power to make laws regarding the composition and territorial area of Wards Committees within municipalities. Municipal Commissioners and District Collectors are administrative officers, not legislative bodies. The State Election Commissioner conducts elections but does not determine ward boundaries.

Multiple choice

Which one of the following statements is not correct in respect of the Union Public Service Commission?

  1. The Constitution of India does not specify the number of members of the Union Public Service Commission while it specifies the number in case of the Supreme Court Judges

  2. As nearly as may be one-half of the members of the Union Public Service Commission must have held office for at least ten years either under the Government of India or under the Government of a state prior to their joining the commission

  3. On ceasing to hold office, a member of the Union Public Service Commission other than the chairman is eligible for appointment as the Chairman is eligible for appointment as the chairman of a State Public Service Commission

  4. Before creation of a new Group 'A' post under the Central Government, a clearance from the Union Public Service Commission is required

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

UPSC clearance is required before filling Group A posts, NOT before creating them. This is a common misconception - UPSC's role is recruitment (Article 320), not administrative decision-making about organizational structure. Statement A is correct (Constitution doesn't specify UPSC size). Statement B is partially correct (the 10-year requirement is for chairman, not half the members).

Multiple choice

The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India has the power to audit which of the following?

  1. All expenditure from the Contingency Fund and the Public Account of the Union..

  2. All expenditure from the Contingency Fund and the Public Account of a state.

  3. All expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of each Union Territory having a Legislative Assembly of its own.

  4. Accounts of all Government companies set up under the Indian Companies Act.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  1. 1,2,3 and 4

  2. Only 1 and 2

  3. Only 3 and 4

  4. Only 1,2 and 3

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Under Article 149, CAG can audit all expenditure from Contingency Fund and Public Account of Union AND states. CAG can audit Consolidated Fund of UTs with Legislative Assemblies (Article 149(3)). CAG can audit government companies under Section 619 of Companies Act (now Section 139). Therefore, all four statements are correct.

Multiple choice

Which one of the following committees scrutinizes and reports to the Parliament whether the power to make rules and regulations conferred by the Constitution or Statutes is being properly exercised by the delegated authority?

  1. Committee on Government Assurances

  2. Committee on Subordinate Legislation

  3. Rules Committee

  4. General Purposes Committee
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Committee on Subordinate Legislation examines whether rules and regulations made by executive authorities (delegated legislation) comply with the enabling Act and Constitution. It checks for ultra vires actions, excessive delegation, and violation of legislative intent. Other committees listed serve different purposes - Government Assurances tracks fulfilled promises, Rules Committee manages House procedures, and General Purposes handles miscellaneous administrative matters.

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements:

  1. The Constitution of India classifies the members of the Council of Ministers at the centre into different ranks.

  2. A member of one house of the Parliament who has been chosen as a Union Minister does not have the right to vote in the house of which he is not a member.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Both 1 and 2

  4. Neither 1 nor 2
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Constitution does not classify Council of Ministers into Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State, and Deputy Ministers - these are administrative classifications made by the Prime Minister, not constitutional ranks. However, Statement 2 is correct - a Minister who is a member of one House can only vote in that House, not the other House, though they can speak in both. Thus only statement 2 is correct.