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

As per the Indian constitution, the strength of the Legislative Assembly of a state should be between 60 and 500. Which of the following states are exceptions to this guideline?

  1. Uttar Pradesh
  2. Sikkim
  3. Tamil Nadu
  4. Goa

  1. Only 1 and 4

  2. Only 2 and 4

  3. Only 1 and 3

  4. Only 2 and 3

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

As per the Indian constitution, the strength of the Legislative Assembly of a state should be between 60 and 500, but the President has the power to alter this number as the number also depends upon the size of the population of the state. In India, Sikkim (32), Goa (40) and Mizoram (40) are the states that have less than 60 members in their Legislative Assemblies.

Multiple choice

The Indian Parliament can invade the State List if I. a subject in the State List assumes National importance II. a proclamation of emergency has been issued by the President of India III. it becomes important to implement some international treaty or agreement or convention

Which of the following is/are correct?

  1. II and III

  2. I and II

  3. I and III

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

Enforcement over the state list by the Union -  

The constitution gives the Central government authority to interfere in State list under special circumstances:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
At the Resolution of Rajya Sabha - 
The Union Parliament will be authorized to pass a law on a subject of state list about which the Rajya Sabha passes a resolution with 2/3rds majority of the members present and voting saying that subject has attained national importance.
Request of the states -
Failure of the constitutional machinery - 
The Parliament is empowered to pass laws on the state subject for the state in which emergency has been proclaimed because of the failure of constitutional machinery.
During emergency -
The Parliament has the authority to pass laws on any subjects of the state list during the emergency proclaimed because of war and external aggression etc.
Enforcement of International treaties -
The Parliament has the power to make law on any item of the state in order to implement some international treaty or agreement or convention.
Assent of President is essential - Some Bills are reserved by the Governor for the signature of the President after being passed by the state Legislature e.g. Bills concerning restrictions as the powers of High Courts and Bills concerning acquisitions on property by the state by paying compensation etc. The President has the power of absolute veto over the Bills which are thus reserved by the Governors for his signature.

Multiple choice

Provisions relating to disqualification of the members of Parliament and State Legislatures on the ground of anti-defection are carried in the

  1. Sixth Schedule

  2. Ninth Schedule

  3. Tenth Schedule

  4. Twelfth Schedule
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Anti-Defection Law is contained in the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, which was introduced by the 52nd Amendment in 1985 during the tenure of Rajiv Gandhi. Earlier, the 10th schedule was related to association of Sikkim with India. Once, Sikkim became full fledged state, this schedule was repealed via the 36th Amendment Act.

Multiple choice

Every resolution approving the proclamation of emergency or its continuance must be passed by either House of Parliament by a/an

  1. special majority

  2. simple majority

  3. effective majority

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

Parliamentary approval of emergency proclamation requires a special majority (not simple or absolute). Special majority means: (a) majority of total membership + (b) 2/3 of members present and voting. This higher threshold prevents misuse of emergency powers. Simple majority is insufficient for such a serious matter.

Multiple choice

A resolution approving the proclamation of financial emergency can be passed by either House of the Parliament only by a

  1. simple majority

  2. effective majority

  3. absolute majority

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

Article 360 specifies that a resolution approving the proclamation of financial emergency requires only a simple majority of members present and voting in each House. Unlike other constitutional provisions requiring special majority, financial emergency approval has a lower voting threshold.

Multiple choice

At present, a proclamation of emergency can be revoked

  1. by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha by a subsequent proclamation

  2. by the Lok Sabha with a resolution passed by simple majority

  3. jointly by the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha with a resolution passed by simple majority

  4. ointly by the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha with a resolution passed by special majority
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Per Article 352, a proclamation of emergency can be revoked by a resolution of the Lok Sabha passed by simple majority. Rajya Sabha consent is not required for revocation, unlike initial approval which requires both Houses. The President can also revoke directly by subsequent proclamation.

Multiple choice

On which of the following aspects does a “Proclamation of Emergency” have its effects?

  1. Centre-State Relationship
  2. The life of the Union Parliament and State Legislative Assembly
  3. Fundamental Rights

  1. Only 3

  2. Only 2 and 3

  3. Only 1 and 3

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

A “Proclamation of Emergency” has drastic and wired ranging effects on the political system. These consequences can be grouped into three categories:

  1. Effects on the Centre-State Relationship
  2. Effects on the life of the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies
  3. Effects on the Fundamental Rights Note: The Union Parliament consists of the Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha and the President of India. A “Proclamation of Emergency” does not have any effect on the life of the Rajya Sabha or on the tenure of the President of India. It affects only the life of the Lok Sabha.
Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

  1. A proclamation of emergency may be revoked by the President at any time by a subsequent proclamation.
  2. Such a proclamation does not require any parliamentary approval.

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Both of these

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

Statement 1 is correct: The President can revoke an emergency at any time by issuing a subsequent proclamation (Article 352). Statement 2 is correct: Such a revocation proclamation does not require parliamentary approval, as clarified by the 44th Amendment. Unlike initial approval, revocation is solely an executive prerogative.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

  1. While a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation, the Parliament can enact laws even on the subjects enumerated under the State List as the Legislatures of the State are suspended for the time being.
  2. While a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation, the administration gets converted into a unitary system.

  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

Statement 1 is incorrect: While a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation, the Parliament can enact laws even on the subjects enumerated under the State List. But, it should be noted that the Legislatures of the State are not suspended; it is only the distribution of the Legislative powers between the Union and the States that is suspended for the duration of the Emergency.

Multiple choice

The President can promulgate an ordinance

  1. when the Lok Sabha has been dissolved

  2. when there is a conflict between the two Houses regarding a particular bill

  3. when a bill passed by the Lok Sabha is not passed by the Rajya Sabha

  4. when both the Houses of the Parliament are not in session
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Article 123 of the Indian Constitution grants the President certain law-making powers to promulgate ordinances when either of the two Houses of Parliament is not in session and hence, it is not possible to enact laws in the Parliament.

Multiple choice

The Indian Constitution has opted for Parliamentary System of Government. Which of the following are the features of the Indian parliamentary system?

  1. Majority party rule
  2. Dissolution of the Upper House
  3. Leadership of the Prime Minister or the Chief Minister
  4. Sovereignty of the Parliament
  5. Membership of the ministers in the Legislatures

  1. Only 1, 3 and 5

  2. Only 1, 3, 4 and 5

  3. Only 1, 2, 3 and 4

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

It should be noted that the Upper House or the Rajya Sabha is a permanent House and can never be dissolved. Besides, the Indian parliamentary system is different from that of the Britain. In Britain, the British Parliament is supreme, but in India it is the Constitution itself that is supreme. Sovereignty of the Parliament is subjected to the content of the Constitution.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

  1. The territory of the units of the Indian federation may be altered by the parliament by a simple majority.
  2. Consent of the state legislative is necessary before the parliament redistributes territory of the concerned state.
  3. The President’s consent is necessary for introducing a bill on redistributing territory of any state in the parliament.4. The President must receive the state’s opinion before recommending a bill on altering the name of a state.

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 1 and 2

  3. Only 1, 3 and 4

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

The territory of the units of the Indian federation may be altered by the parliament by a simple majority. Consent of the state legislative is not necessary before the parliament redistributes territory of the concerned state. The President’s consent is necessary for introducing a bill on redistributing territory of any state in the parliament.No specific time period within which states have to send their decision back to the centre has been mentioned in the Constitution. The central government can specify the time period while referring the matter. The Constitution does not mention that the state legislatures have to agree to the proposed creation/alteration of states. The Parliament can therefore, pass a law creating a new state even if affected states do not agree to the proposal.

Multiple choice

On those subjects which are not covered by any of the three Lists, the power to legislate belongs to

  1. the Union Parliament

  2. the State Legislatures

  3. both on the Union Parliament and State Legislatures

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

The subjects that are not mentioned in any of the three lists are known as Residuary Subjects. Subject to the provisions of the constitution, the power to legislate on these, rests with parliament or state legislative assembly as the case may be per Article 245.

Multiple choice

Members of Legislative Bodies enjoy privilege of exemption from arrest or detention in prison

  1. only under civil process and during the continuance of a joint sitting/meeting/conference or joint committee of Houses of Parliament or Houses of State Legislature as the case may be and during 40 days before and after such sitting/meeting/conference

  2. under civil as well as criminal process and as all times save with the permission of the Speaker of the Chairperson as the case may be

  3. under civil as well as criminal process but only when the House is in session

  4. do not enjoy any exemption
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Members of Legislative Bodies enjoy privilege of exemption from arrest or detention in prison under civil as well as criminal process, but only when the House is in session.