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.

Money billsParliamentary committeesLegislative proceduresRajya Sabha rulesState legislaturesImpeachment process

Legislature and Parliament Questions

Multiple choice civics citizens and citizenship citizens and citizenship state and citizen citizenship national symbols our national symbols

Right to vote in elections to the Lok Sabha and state legislative assembly is being given to   ___________ . 

  1. The Indian citizen

  2. The alien citizen

  3. Both A and B

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

Right to vote is a legal and Constitutional right available to the citizens of India to elect their representatives for Lok Sabha(Parliament) and State Legislative Assemblies. Every citizen of India who is of the age of 18 years has the right to vote.

Multiple choice civics citizens and citizenship citizens and citizenship state and citizen citizenship national symbols our national symbols

Parliamentary Privileges are not available to ____________________.

  1. Attorney-General when he participates in the proceeding of House of People

  2. Minister's speech made in a House of which he is not a member

  3. An individual who is called upon to testify before the House

  4. The citizen who distributes pamphlet in the House
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Parliamentary privileges are special rights, immunities, exceptions enjoyed by the members of the two houses of parliament and their committees. These privileges are classified into two categories, viz:

  • Those that are enjoyed by each House of Parliament collectively (collective privileges);
  • Those that are enjoyed by the members individually (individual privileges). 
The followings fall under parliamentary privileges:
Attorney General when he participates in the proceedings of the House of People.
Minister's speech made in a House of which he is not a member.
An individual who is called upon to testify before the House. 
However, the citizen who distributes pamphlets in the House does not enjoy the privilege and thus can be punished for the breach of the parliamentary privileges of the House or its member.

Multiple choice political science the indian parliament rajya sabha the rajya sabha indian administration act of 1935

If the Lok Sabha passes a resolution of no confidence, the Council of Ministers _________________.

  1. Can extend their tenure by 6 months

  2. Can remain in power for 6 months

  3. Must resign from office

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

The Union Council of Ministers continues in office as long as they enjoy the confidence of a majority of members in the Lok Sabha. The moment a vote of no confidence is passed against them they have to quit office.

Multiple choice political science the indian parliament rajya sabha the rajya sabha indian administration act of 1935

Which of the following bills cannot be introduced first in Rajya Sabha?

  1. Bills pertaining to the removal of the President by impeachment

  2. Bills pertaining to the powers of the Supreme Court of state judiciary.

  3. Bills bringing a state under the President's Rule.

  4. Money bills
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Money Bills can be introduced only in Lok Sabha. Money bills passed by the Lok Sabha are sent to the Rajya Sabha. The Rajya Sabha may not amend money bills but can recommend amendments. To make sure that Rajya Sabha doesn't amend the bill by adding some non-money matters, the Lok Sabha Speaker certifies the bill as a money bill before sending it to the upper house, and the decision of the Speaker is binding on both the Houses. A money bill must be returned to the Lok Sabha within 14 days or the bill is deemed to have passed both houses in the form it was originally passed by the Lok Sabha.

Multiple choice political science the indian parliament rajya sabha the rajya sabha indian administration act of 1935

The Upper House of the Indian Parliament is called _________.

  1. Rajya Sabha

  2. Lok Sabha

  3. Parliament

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

Rajya Sabha is the upper house of the Parliament. It consists of 250 members of which 230 are elected indirectly by the state legislatures by single transferable votes system while the President can appoint 12 members for their contributions to art, literature, science, and social services.

Multiple choice political science the indian parliament rajya sabha the rajya sabha indian administration act of 1935

Members of the Rajya Sabha are elected according to __________________.

  1. Cumulative Vote System

  2. Single Non-transferable Vote System

  3. Single Transferable Vote System

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

Members of the Rajya Sabha are elected according to Single Transferable Vote System and not by direct votes of citizens. Allowing for MLA-based voting, the Rajya Sabha election follows the “system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote.”, This basically means that the single vote cast by an MLA is transferable from one candidate to another in two scenarios. One is when a candidate obtains more than what is required for their win and therefore has an unnecessary surplus. The other is when a candidate polls so few votes that they have absolutely no chance. In both the cases, the extra votes are transferred so that there is no wastage.

Multiple choice political science the indian parliament rajya sabha the rajya sabha indian administration act of 1935

The Rajya Sabha can be dissolved by _______________.

  1. Lok Sabha

  2. Constitutional amendment

  3. President

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

The Rajya Sabha is a permanent body and unlike the Lok Sabha, it cannot be dissolved at any time. Each member of the Rajaya Sabha serves for a term of six years. But one third of its members retire at the expiration of every two years. The Vice-President of India is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

Multiple choice political science the indian parliament rajya sabha the rajya sabha indian administration act of 1935

Who among the following have the right to vote in the elections to both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha?

  1. Elected members to the Lower House of Parliament

  2. Elected members of the. Upper House of Parliament

  3. Elected members of the Upper House of State Legislature

  4. Elected members of the Lower House of State Legislature
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Elected members of the Lower House of State Legislature have the right to vote in the elections to both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Members of Rajya Sabha are not elected by the adult suffrage concept, they are elected by the legislative assemblies of the various states of India. Therefore (MLAs) Members of Legislative Assembly take part in the election of Rajya Sabha.
One of the required qualifications for becoming an MLA is that the age of a person must be 25 years and above.
Hence, it is very clear that an MLA has the right to vote in the Lok Sabha election because he/she has surely crossed the age of 18.
So, MLAs (Members of Legislative Assembly) can vote in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

Multiple choice political science the indian parliament rajya sabha the rajya sabha indian administration act of 1935

The Union Territories get representation in _______________.

  1. Lok Sabha

  2. Rajya Sabha

  3. both Houses of Parliament

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

Option C is the correct answer. 

The Union Territories get representation in both the Houses of the Parliament. Lok Sabha has 20 members from Union Territories. Delhi and Puducherry are the only two UTs which have representation in Rajya Sabha.

Multiple choice political science the indian parliament rajya sabha the rajya sabha indian administration act of 1935

Which of the following is correct?

  1. All the members of the Rajya Sabha are elected by State Legislative Assemblies

  2. Only a member of the Rajya Sabha can contest for the office of the Vice-President

  3. While a candidate to the Lok Sabha can contest from any State in India, a candidate to the Rajya Sabha should ordinarily be a resident of the State from where he is contesting

  4. The Constitution explicitly prohibits the appointment of a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha to the post of a Minister
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Option C is the correct answer. While a candidate to the Lok Sabha can contest from any State in India, a candidate to the Rajya Sabha should ordinarily be a resident of the State from where he is contesting.  While laying down the qualifications for a Rajya Sabha member, the Constitution framers said that the person should “ordinarily” be a resident of the state from where she seeks election.

Multiple choice political science the indian parliament rajya sabha the rajya sabha indian administration act of 1935

Which of the following is presided over by a non-member?

  1. Lok Sabha

  2. Rajya Sabha

  3. Vidhan Sabha

  4. Joint sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Rajya Sabha is the permanent house and is presided over by the Vice President of India, who is its ex-officio chairman. A Deputy Chairman is chosen from amongst the members of Rajya Sabha. Rajya Sabha cannot be dissolved.

Multiple choice political science the indian parliament rajya sabha the rajya sabha indian administration act of 1935

The members of the Rajya Sabha are ______________.

  1. Directly elected

  2. Indirectly elected

  3. Nominated

  4. Indirectly elected and nominated also
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The maximum strength of the Rajya Sabha can be 250 members. The members fall into two categories- nominated and elected. 
The nominated members are 12 in number who are nominated by the President from among persons having special knowledge in matters such as literature, art, science, etc.
238 members are elected by the States in the Union. 
The Rajya Sabha is a permanent House. Each member of the Rajya Sabha is elected for a term of six years.