Civics Polity

Legislature and Parliament

1,426 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.

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Legislature and Parliament Questions

Multiple choice

Which among the following is the Upper House of the Indian Parliament?

  1. Lok Sabha

  2. Rajya Sabha

  3. State Legislative Assembly

  4. State Legislative Council
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Rajya Sabha is the Upper House of the Indian Parliament, also known as the Council of States. It represents the interests of the states and has a continuing nature (with one-third members retiring every two years). Lok Sabha is the Lower House (House of the People), while State Legislative Assembly and Council are state-level bodies, not part of Parliament.

Multiple choice

The 'Indian Parliament' comprises

  1. the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha

  2. the Rajya Sabha, the Lok Sabha and the President

  3. the Rajya Sabha, the Lok Sabha and the Council of Ministers

  4. the Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha and the Cabinet
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Article 79 of the Indian Constitution defines Parliament as consisting of the President, the Rajya Sabha, and the Lok Sabha. While the President is not a member of either House, they are an integral constituent of Parliament. The President summons and prorogues sessions, can address both Houses, and must give assent to bills before they become law. Options C and D incorrectly include the Cabinet or Council of Ministers, which are part of the executive, not legislature.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not a legislative power of the President of India?

  1. No bill passed by the two houses of the Parliament can become a law without his assent.

  2. He can dissolve the Parliament.

  3. No money bill can be introduced in the Parliament without his consent.

  4. No law of a municipal board can be enforced without his assent.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Correct Answer: No law of a municipal board can be enforced without his assent.

Multiple choice

In a particular case, the advice tendered by the Council of Ministers is sent back by the President for reconsideration. If the Council of Ministers adheres to its earlier advice, what is the option before the President?

  1. He can ask for reconsideration of the advice once more.

  2. He can ask for reconsideration of the advice any number of times.

  3. He can reject the advice.

  4. He has no option but to accept such advice.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Article 74 states that the President shall act on aid and advice of the Council of Ministers. If the President sends back advice for reconsideration and the Council resends the same advice, the President has NO option but to accept it. This is based on the 42nd Constitutional Amendment (ministers' advice is binding).

Multiple choice

What is the primary purpose of the passage?

Directions: Read the following passage and then answer the question that follows:

PASSAGE – I

By setting up a Group of Ministers (GoM) to study the possibilities of a Constitution Amendment Bill to provide for job reservation to the forward castes on economic grounds, the Union Government has set the ball rolling for yet another controversy on the concept of quotas. The Prime Minister's commitment came in response to a resolution orchestrated by the Chief Minister recommending statutory changes to reserve 14 per cent of Government jobs for the poor among the forward castes. The Chief Minister's shrewd move put immense pressure on parties and groups across the political spectrum. A campaign on the same issue by the Social Justice Front has been in full swing for some time; it gained strength after Jats were included in the list of Other Backward Classes a couple of years ago.

In a State where the forward castes continue to play a significant role in determining election outcomes, CM's move set the terms of the discourse. The high level of unemployment is a general problem, but it is particularly severe among people belonging to the forward castes. The proportion of educated unemployed should, after all, be higher among the forward castes than among castes kept out of the education system over the years. Political parties across the spectrum can hardly afford to gloss over this reality in a context where the Government continues to be seen as the provider of jobs. Add to this the sense of power that comes with Government jobs in most parts of India and one can understand the desperation in the quest for such opportunities.

A constitutional amendment, however, is not as simple as it is made out to be. A proposal to include the poor among the forward castes in the reservation bracket was made by the Congress party in the context of implementing the Mandal Commission's recommendation. The Narasimha Rao Government's proposal to reserve 10 per cent of Government jobs for the poor among the forward castes was struck down as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1992. Article 15 (4) of the Constitution, inserted by the Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951, is very specific. The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes aside, it sanctions special provisions for the advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes. Article 16 (4) sanctions reservation in Government jobs for any backward class of citizens, which, in the opinion of the State, is not adequately represented in the services under the State. Article 340 relates to the appointment of a Commission to investigate the conditions of backward classes. What is established by a series of Supreme Court judgments is that only social and educational circumstances can be taken as determinants of backwardness. The proposal now is to amend the Constitution, but amendments are subject to judicial review and need to avoid falling foul of the `basic structure' doctrine propounded and refined by the Supreme Court. A consensus among political parties might turn out to be a necessary but insufficient condition for making reservation for the poor among the forward castes a feasible proposition.

 

  1. To compare the job reservation of the backward castes with that of the forward castes.

  2. To state the need of constitutional amendment to provide job reservation to the forward castes on economic grounds and to mention the problems it might face.

  3. To highlight the circumstances that led to a need for job reservation for the forward castes.

  4. To highlight the controversy between the legislature and the judiciary.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The passage is about the bill “to provide for job reservation to the forward castes on economic grounds.

Answer: (2)

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the ordinance-promulgating power of the President of India?

  1. The President can promulgate an ordinance only when both the Houses of Parliament are not in session.
  2. Once an ordinance is passed, it should be placed before both the Houses of Parliament and approved by them within six months.

  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

Ordinance Making Powers of the President of India (Article 123)

Normally, Parliament has powers to make laws and it alone can pass laws on Union List matters. However, there may be some conditions when the Parliament is not in session and it becomes necessary to make laws. In these cases, our constitution under Article 123 gives special legislative powers to the President of India by promulgating ordinance under certain circumstances.

Generally, the President promulgates ordinances when both the Houses of Parliament are not in session, but even if one of the Houses of Parliament is not functioning, the President can pass an ordinance.
Once an ordinance is passed, it should be placed before both the Houses of Parliament and approved by them within six weeks of their respective dates of reassembly. Thus, the approval time limit is six months and six weeks.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements are incorrect?

(1) The Speaker cannot be removed without a 2/3rd majority of the total membership of the House. (2) The decision of the Speaker whether a particular Bill is a Money Bill is not final unless ratified by the President. (3) No court of law can go into the merits of a ruling given by the Speaker. (4) Not all the proceedings of the House are addressed to the Speaker.

  1. Only 1 and 2

  2. Only 2 and 4

  3. Only 1, 2 and 4

  4. Only 2. 3 and 4
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is wrong: The Speaker may be removed with an effective majority of the total membership of the House.

Statement 2 is wrong: The decision of the Speaker whether a particular Bill is a Money Bill is final. The President has nothing to do with it.

Statement 3 is correct. Statement 4 is wrong: All the proceedings of the House are addressed to the Speaker.
Multiple choice

Under which of the following circumstances may an elected Member of the Parliament be disqualified on the ground of defection?

I. If he voluntarily gives up his membership of a political party. II. If he votes or abstains from voting contrary to any direction issued by his political party without prior permission of the political party.
III. If he speaks against the political party. IV. If he joins a political party other than the party on whose ticket he contested and got elected.

  1. Only I, II and III

  2. Only III and IV

  3. Only I, III and IV

  4. Only II, III and IV
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Grounds of Defection

The grounds on which disqualification can be incurred are as under:

(i) Members belonging to political parties
A member of a House belonging to any political party shall be disqualified for being a member of House—
(a) if he has voluntarily given up his membership of such political party; or
(b) if he votes or abstains from voting in such House contrary to any direction issued by the Political party to which he belongs or by any person or authority authorised by it in this behalf, without obtaining, in either case, the prior permission of such political party, person or authority and such voting or abstention has not been condoned by such political party, person or authority within fifteen days from the date of such voting or abstention.
(ii)  Member elected otherwise than as candidate set up by any political party
An elected Member of a House who has been elected as such otherwise than as a candidate set up by any political party shall be disqualified for being a member of the House if he joins any political party after such election.
(iii) Nominated Members Nominated member of a House shall be disqualified for being a member of the House if he joins any political party after the expiry of six months from the date on which he takes his seat after complying with the requirements of article 99 or as the case may be, article 188.

Multiple choice

Which of the following are the special prerogatives of the Rajya Sabha?

  1. Art 67
  2. Art 201
  3. Art 249
  4. Art 312

  1. 1 and 4

  2. 1, 2 and 4

  3. 1, 3 and 4

  4. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Art 67 – A resolution seeking removal of the Vice-President can originate only in the Rajya Sabha.       

Art 201 – Bills are reserved by the Governors for the assent of the President.       

Art 249 – A resolution seeking legislation on any subject of the State List can only originate in the Rajya Sabha.        Art 312 – Any resolution seeking creation of any or more All-India Services can only be initiated in the Rajya Sabha.

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements regarding Special Powers and Position of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha:

  1. Determines whether a bill is a 'Money Bill' or not
  2. Prorogues and adjourns the House for some time
  3. Presides over the joint sittings of the two Houses
  4. Acts as the Secretariat of the Lok Sabha

Which of the above given statements are true for the Speaker?

  1. 1 and 2

  2. 1, 2 and 3

  3. 1, 3 and 4

  4. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Except function/power (2), all other are enjoyed by the Speaker. Students need to understand the difference between 'prorogation' and 'adjournment'. Where 'adjournment' is a short period within a session of the Parliament and called by the Speaker, 'prorogation' is done by the President on the advice of the Council of Ministers. It brings a session of the Parliament to an end.

Hence, option 3 is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

A ‘starred question’ in Lok Sabha is listed for

  1. a written reply with provision for supplementary questions

  2. an oral reply with provision for supplementary questions

  3. an oral reply followed by a written communication, but without provision for supplementary questions

  4. an oral reply followed by a written communication and with provision for supplementary questions
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Members have a right to ask questions to elicit information on matters of public importance within the special cognizance of the concerned Ministers. The questions are of four types: (i)   Starred Questions  (ii)  Unstarred Questions  (iii) Short Notice Questions  (iv) Questions to Private Members  A Starred Question is the one to which a member desires an oral answer from the Minister in the House and is required to be distinguished by him/her with an asterisk. Answer to such a question may be followed by supplementary questions by the members.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

  1. The Parliament, under Article 169, is empowered to create or abolish the Legislative Council in a State.
  2. For this, the concerned State Legislative Assembly should pass a resolution to this effect by simple majority.

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Both of these

  4. Neither of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: Under Article 169 of the Indian constitution, the Parliament is empowered to create or abolish the Legislative Council in a state. Statement 2 is incorrect: For this, the concerned State Legislative Assembly should pass a resolution to this effect by a majority of not less than 2/3rd of the members present and voting, not simple majority, which is just more than 50% of the total strength of the House.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is/are the power(s) of State Legislature?

  1. It plays a role in amendment of the fundamental provisions of the constitution.
  2. It considers reports of the State Public Service Commission.
  3. It takes part in the election of the President.

  1. Only 2

  2. Only 1 and 2

  3. Only 2 and 3

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

Statement 1 is wrong: State Legislature has no role in amendment of the fundamental provisions of the constitution. Any amendment to the Constitution of India can only be made by the Parliament, i.e. the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

Statement 2 is correct: Reports of the State Public Service Commission are considered by the State Legislature. Statement 3 is correct: The President of India is elected by an electoral college that consists of elected members of both the Houses of the Parliament and the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies.

Multiple choice

Which types of Bills can be reserved by the Governor for the consideration of the President?

  1. Bills that are ultra vires
  2. Bills that are opposed to the DPSPs
  3. ls that endanger the position of the State High Court
  4. Bills dealing with the compulsory acquisition of property under Article 31 IA of the Constitution

  1. Only 2 and 3

  2. Only 1, 2 and 3

  3. Only 2

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Under Article 201 of the Indian Constitution, the Governor of a State can reserve following types of Bills for consideration of the President:

1. Bills that are ultra vires, that is, against the provisions of National importance

2. Bills that are opposed to the DPSPs
3. ls that endanger the position of the State High Court 4. Bills dealing with the compulsory acquisition of property under Article 31 IA of the Constitution