Insights Static Quiz -18, 2018

• Solution (c)

  Powers of Rajya Sabha: Considers and approves non money bills and suggests amendments to money bills. Approves constitutional amendments. Exercises control over executive by asking questions, introducing motions and resolutions. It can alone initiate the procedure for removal of Vice President. It can give the Union parliament power to make laws on matters included in the State list.

  Reference : Page 109(Indian Constitution at Work Class XI)

Solution (d)

In all other spheres, including passing of non-money bills, constitutional amendments, and impeaching the President and removing the Vice President the powers of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are co-equal. Participates in the election and removal of the President, Vice President, Judges of Supreme Court and High Court.

Reference :Page 109,110 (Indian Constitution at Work Class XI)

Solution (c)

Only Lok Sabha can initiate, reject or amend money bills. If it is a money bill, the Rajya Sabha can either approve the bill or suggest changes but cannot reject it. If it takes no action within 14 days the bill is deemed to have been passed. Amendments to the bill, suggested by Rajya Sabha, may or may not be accepted by the Lok Sabha.

The Constitutional Amendment Bills can only be ratified i.e., it cannot be rejected or returned.

Reference : Page 110, 113 (Indian Constitution at Work Class XI)

Solution (d)

Instruments of Parliamentary Control

The legislature in parliamentary system ensures executive accountability at various stages: policy making, implementation of law or policy and during and post implementation stage. The legislature does this through the use of a variety of devices:

1. Deliberation and discussion- Zero Hour where members are free to raise any matter that they think is important (though the ministers are not bound to reply), half-an – hour discussion on matters of public importance, adjournment motion etc. are some instruments of exercising control.
2. Approval or Refusal of laws
3. Financial control- before granting money the Lok Sabha can discuss the reasons for which the government requires money. It can enquire into cases of misuse of funds on the basis of the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Public Accounts committees.
4. No confidence motion: The most powerful weapon that enables the Parliament to ensure executive accountability is the no-confidence motion. As long as the government has the support of its party or coalition of parties that have a majority in the Lok Sabha, the power of the House to dismiss the government is fictional rather than real.

Reference : Page 116, 117 (Indian Constitution at Work Class XI)

Solution (c)

Standing Committees not only supervise the work of various departments but also their budget, their expenditure and bills that come up in the house relating to the department.

It is a permanent and regular committee which is constituted from time to time according to the provisions of an Act of Parliament or Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business. The work done by the Indian Parliament is not only voluminous but also of a complex nature, hence a good deal of its work is carried out in these Parliamentary Committees. There are two types of Parliamentary Committee, the Standing Committee and the Ad hoc Committee. Public Accounts Committee is an example of Standing Committee. Members of the Standing committees are selected from both Houses, except for Estimates Committee where all the members are from Lok Sabha Only.

Reference : Page 118, 119 (Indian Constitution at Work Class XI)& Wikipedia.