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

Given below are two statements

Assertion (A): Powers for conducting elections to the Parliament and state legislatures in a free and fair manner have been given to an independent body i.e. the Election Commission.

Reason (R): Power of removal of Election Commissioners is with the executive.

In the context of above, which one of the following is correct?

Codes :

  1. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A

  2. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A

  3. A is true but R is false

  4. A is false but R is true
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

 E.C. is an independent body so that the members of the body are not influnced by the legislators. They are appointed and removed by the President.

Multiple choice

Who can be the member of the Rajya Sabha but can speak both in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha?

  1. The Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha

  2. Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha

  3. Nominated members of the Rajya Sabha

  4. Ministers who are members of the Rajya Sabha
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Ministers can also be drawn from Rajya Sabha and they are responsible to the peoples' representation house i.e. the Lok Sabha. Hence, they speak in both the houses.

Multiple choice

The electoral college that elects the Vice-President of India consists of

  1. members of Rajya Sabha only

  2. elected members of both the Houses of the Parliament

  3. members of both the Houses of the Parliament

  4. members of the Rajya Sabha and the Legislative Assemblies of states
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Vice-President is elected by an electoral college consisting of members of both Houses of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha). Unlike the Presidential election, state legislators do not participate. This is specified in Article 67 of the Constitution.

Multiple choice

Rajya Sabha can delay the Finance Bill sent for its consideration by the Lok Sabha for a maximum period of

  1. one month

  2. 3 months

  3. seven days

  4. fourteen days
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

As per the provisions of Article 109 of the Constitution, the Rajya Sabha has limited powers with respect to Money Bills. A Money Bill after having been passed by the Lok Sabha, and sent to Rajya Sabha for its recommendations, has to be returned to the Lok Sabha by the Rajya Sabha, within a period of fourteen days from the date of its receipt, with or without recommendations.

Multiple choice

To be officially recognised by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha as an opposition group, a party or coalition of parties must have at least

  1. 55 members

  2. 60 members

  3. 80 members

  4. 1/3 of total members of the Lok Sabha
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

A political party is officially accorded the status of an opposition party in the Lok Sabha, only if it secures at least 10 percent of the seats. Maximum strength of the Lok Sabha is 552. So, opposition group has to have 55 members.

Multiple choice

A Money Bill in the Parliament can be introduced only with the recommendation of the

  1. President of India

  2. Union Cabinet

  3. Speaker of the Lok Sabha

  4. Union Finance Minister
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Under Article 117(3) of the Constitution, a Money Bill can only be introduced with the President's recommendation. This requirement ensures executive consent before taxation or spending measures are introduced. The President's recommendation is mandatory but cannot be refused in practice on ministerial advice.

Multiple choice

Who is eligible to cast the deciding vote over a bill in a Joint Parliamentary session?

  1. Chairman of the Rajya Sabha

  2. Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha

  3. Speaker of Lok Sabha

  4. Prime Minister
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

In a Joint Parliamentary Session of India's Parliament, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha presides and casts the deciding vote in case of a tie. The Chairman of Rajya Sabha does not preside over joint sessions. The Deputy Speaker and Prime Minister do not have this constitutional role.

Multiple choice

Representation of any state in Rajya Sabha is according to

  1. Area of the state

  2. Population of the state

  3. Number of representative in Lok Sabha from that state

  4. Fixed number of candidates from each state
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Rajya Sabha members are allocated based on each state's population, ensuring proportional representation. Larger states have more seats. It is not based on area, Lok Sabha strength, or fixed numbers. This population-based allocation is specified in the Constitution's Fourth Schedule.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is the status of the Nuclear Liability Bill that seeks to limit the liabilities in the event of an atomic accident?

  1. Not introduced in either houses of Parliament

  2. Introduced in Lok Sabha

  3. Passed by Rajya Sabha

  4. Passed by Lok Sabha

  5. Both (b) and (c)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill, 2010 that prescribes the liability of an operator in a nuclear accident and relief to the victims in such mishaps, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on May 7, 2010.

The Bill provides maximum liability in respect of each nuclear incident at a rupee equivalent of 300 million Special Drawing Rights (SDRs). The liability of an operator for each nuclear incident has been pegged at Rs 500 crore. The passage of the Bill is crucial for the operationalisation of the Indo-US Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement.
Multiple choice

What is the parliament of Japan called?

  1. Knesset

  2. Diet

  3. Congress

  4. Cortes
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Japan's national legislature is called the Diet, modeled after the German 'Bundestag'. The Knesset is Israel's parliament, Congress is the US legislature, and Cortes is the Spanish parliament. The term 'Diet' comes from the Latin for a legislative assembly.

Multiple choice

A law for preventive detention may be enacted by

  1. the Parliament

  2. the State Legislature

  3. By both Parliament as well as by State Legislature

  4. Only by means of ordinance promulgated by the President
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Article 229(3) of the Constitution clarifies that preventive detention laws fall under Entry 9 of List I (Union List), meaning only Parliament has the exclusive power to enact such laws. State legislatures cannot enact preventive detention laws under the constitutional scheme.

Multiple choice

What is 'zero hour'?

  1. When matters of utmost importance are raised

  2. When a Money bill is introduced in the Lok Sabha

  3. When the proposals of the opposition are considered

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Zero hour is the time immediately after Question Hour (around 12 noon) when MPs can raise urgent matters of public importance without prior notice. Unlike Question Hour, it's not formally mentioned in the rules of procedure.

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements:

A. Parliament has to approve proclamation of emergency under Article 352 before the end of one month from its date of issue. B. Parliament has to approve proclamation of President's rule under Article 356 before the end of one month from its date of issue. C. Parliament has to approve proclamation of financial emergency under Article 360 before the end of two months from its issue date.

Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?

  1. Only A and C

  2. Only A

  3. Only B

  4. A, B and C

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

Statement B is incorrect.