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

When does the case of Hung Parliament occur?

  1. A parliament after a general election in which two major political parties get equal number of seats

  2. A parliament after a general election in which no party gets an absolute majority

  3. A parliament after a general election in which every party claims to from a government

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

In a parliamentary system of government, a Hung Parliament is a colloquial expression to describe a state of a Parliament when no single political party has an absolute majority of seats in the Parliament.

Multiple choice

In Indian parliament there are

  1. Rajya Sabha & Lok Sabha

  2. Rajya Sabha , Lok Sabha & Supreme Court

  3. Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha & president

  4. Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha & Atterny general
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Parliament of India consists of the President of India and the two houses: the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the Lok Sabha (House of the People).

Multiple choice

Rajya Sabha has equal powers with Lok Sabha in the matter of

  1. Creating new All India Services

  2. Amending the Constitution

  3. Removal of the Government

  4. Making cut motions
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Under Article 368, the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha have equal powers in the process of amending the Constitution, as both houses must pass the amendment.

Multiple choice

With reference to the Indian Parliament, consider the following statements:

A. A member of Lok Sabha can not be arrested by the police under any case when the Parliament is in session.

B. Members of the Indian Parliament have the privilege of exemption from attendance as witnesses in the law courts.

Which of these statements is/are correct?

  1. A only

  2. B only

  3. Both A & B

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

Statement A is incorrect because parliamentary privilege only grants immunity from arrest in civil cases, not criminal cases. Statement B is correct as members have the privilege of not being compelled to attend court as witnesses while the house is in session.

Multiple choice

The Parliament consists of

  1. the President, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha

  2. the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha

  3. the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha

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

According to Article 79 of the Indian Constitution, the Parliament of India consists of the President and the two Houses, known as the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and the House of the People (Lok Sabha).

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are correct about the Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill, 2010 passed by both Houses of the Parliament during the Monsoon session concluded recently?

  1. The Bill provides voting rights to Non-Resident Indians (NRIs)

  2. The Bill provides for government audit of election expenses

  3. The Bill allows Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to contest elections in India

  4. The Bill provides for e-filing of election papers by candidates

  5. Both (1) and (3)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill, 2010, allowed NRIs who are Indian citizens and have not acquired citizenship of any other country to register as voters in their home constituency.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not among the Bills passed by both houses of Parliament in the Monsoon session concluded in 2010-11?

  1. The State Bank of India (Amendment) Bill, 2010

  2. The Personal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2010

  3. The National Educational Tribunals Bill, 2010

  4. The Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2010

  5. The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill, 2010
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The National Educational Tribunals Bill, 2010 was introduced but faced significant opposition and was not passed by both houses during the Monsoon session of 2010.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is the correct position regarding the legislative powers of the President?

  1. The President can refuse to sign a bill.

  2. Once the cabinet has passed a bill, the President must sign it.

  3. The President can send a bill back for reconsideration once.

  4. The President can send a bill back to the cabinet for unanimous recommendation.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

All bills passed by the Parliament can become laws only after receiving the assent of the President. The President can return a bill to the Parliament, if it is not a money bill or a constitutional amendment bill, for reconsideration. When after reconsideration, the bill is passed and presented to the President, with or without amendments, President is obliged to assent to it. 

Multiple choice

Which of the following courses is most appropriate for the Governor if he receives a Bill passed by the Legislative Assembly for resettlement of state citizens affecting the general laws of citizenship of India?

  1. Exercise veto over the Bill

  2. Refer the Bill to the President

  3. Keep the Bill pending

  4. Give assent to the Bill
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

One of the important functions of the Departmentally Related Standing Committees is to examine Bills introduced in either House as are referred to them by the Chairman, Rajya Sabha or the Speaker, Lok Sabha, as the case may be, and make report thereon in the given time. Normally, a time period of three months is given to the Committees for presentation of report. 

Multiple choice

One of the characteristics of a parliamentary system of Government in India is that

  1. the ministry is responsible to the parliament as well as the President

  2. the ministry is collectively responsible to both the Houses of the Parliament

  3. the ministry is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha

  4. the ministry is responsible to the Head of the State
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Parliamentary government is the 'fusion' of powers between the executive and parliament. The first feature of parliamentary government is that governments are formed as a result of parliamentary elections, based on the strength of party representation in the commons. The party with the majority in the commons forms the government. 

Multiple choice

When can the Governor of a State reserve a bill for the consideration of the President?

  1. If it initiates entirely a new policy which was not followed by the previous governments

  2. If the bill enhances the prestige and position of the ruling party in the state

  3. If it undermines the authority of the High Court

  4. If he feels that the bill is against the interests of the opposition parties
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Under Article 200, the Governor can reserve a bill passed by the legislature for reconsideration of the President. A bill can be reserved under the following circumstances: (i) if the bill is unconstitutional (ii) if it is against the larger interest of the country (iii) if it is in direct opposition to the Directive Princi­ples of State Policy (iv) if the bill passed by the state legislature is of grave national importance (v) if it endangers the position of the High Court (vi) if the bill deals with the compulsory acquisition of property under Article 31(3)