Indian Parliament consists of two Houses. The Rajya Sabha is the Upper House and the Lok Sabha is the Lower House. The composition and powers of the Rajya Sabha are given below:
Composition of Rajya Sabha: According to the Constitution, the maximum strength of the Rajya Sabha has been put at 250 members. Out of 250 members, 12 members are nominated by the President. These members shall consists of persons having special knowledge or practical experience in literature, science, art and social service. The remaining 238 members represent the State and the Union Territories. The representatives of the states are elected by the elected members of their Legislative Assembly in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of single transferable.
Tenure: Like the Senate of the U.S.A. the Rajya Sabha is a permanent House. It is not subject to dissolution. Members retiring after every two years.
Officials of the Rajya Sabha: The Vice-President of India is the ex-officio Chairman of the Upper House (Rajya Sabha).
The Rajya Sabha elects a Deputy Chairman from among its own members and the presides in the absence of the Chairman or during the period when the Vice-President is discharging the functions of the President.
Powers and Functions of the Rajya Sabha:
1. Legislative Powers: The Rajya Sabha is an integral part of the Indian Parliament. Since the main responsibility of the Parliament is to make laws, hence the Rajya Sabha takes part in the making of laws. Except Money Bills, all Bills can originate in the Rajya Sabha. No Bill can become a law unless agreed to by both the Houses. The Lok Sabha by itself cannot pass a Bill and send it to the President for his assent. In case of disagreement between the two Houses on a Bill or on the amendments made in the Bill, the President has been empowered to summon a joint meeting of the two Houses on a Bill or on the amendments made in the Bill, the President has been empowered to summon a joint meeting of the two Houses for the purpose of deliberating and voting on the Bill. At a joint sitting questions are decided by a majority of the members of both Houses present and voting. A decision taken at a joint sitting shall mean the decision of both Houses. All the time of the joint sitting the Speaker of the Lok Sabha presides. The President can also summon the joint sitting when a Bill passed by one House is not considered by the other House for six months. For the purpose of summoning the joint sitting it does not matter when the Bill was introduced first in the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha.
2. Administrative Powers: The Rajya Sabha does not control the Executive as the Constitution makes the Council of Ministers collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. But this does not mean that the Rajya Sabha can exert no influence over the Executive. Some of the Ministers are taken from the Rajya Sabha. The members of the Rajya Sabha have the right to ask questions and supplementary questions from the Ministers. They can elicit information about the actions of Government and can move resolutions impressing on the Government the desirability of pursuing a particular line of policy. As said, the Council of Minister can be ousted from office by the Lok Sabha only. The Rajya Sabha can condemn the Government but it cannot kick the Government out of office.
3. Financial Powers: In financial matters, it is the Lok Sabha which enjoys a pre-eminent position. The Rajya Sabha has not been given any substantial power with regard to finance. No Money Bill or Financial Bill can first be introduced in the Rajya Sabha. It is the privilege of the Lok Sabha to pass the Money Bill first and send it to the Rajya Sabha for its recommendations. It should be noted that the Bill is transmitted to the Rajya Sabha for its recommendation and not for its approval. The Rajya Sabha can make amendments in the Money Bill it may ever reject the Money Bill. It has no effect on the Bill. The Lok Sabha is not bound to accept the recommendations made by the Rajya Sabha. In case the Lok Sabha rejects the recommendations of the Rajya Sabha the Bill is deemed to have been passed by both Houses in the form in which it was passed by the Lok Sabha. Likewise, if the Rajya Sabha does not return the Money Bill to the Lok Sabha within 14 days, it will be considered to have been passed by both Houses in the form in which it was passed by the Lok Sabha. Thus, Lok Sabha possesses complete control over the purse of the nation.
Yogita Ingle 4 years, 10 months ago
Indian Parliament consists of two Houses. The Rajya Sabha is the Upper House and the Lok Sabha is the Lower House. The composition and powers of the Rajya Sabha are given below:
Composition of Rajya Sabha: According to the Constitution, the maximum strength of the Rajya Sabha has been put at 250 members. Out of 250 members, 12 members are nominated by the President. These members shall consists of persons having special knowledge or practical experience in literature, science, art and social service. The remaining 238 members represent the State and the Union Territories. The representatives of the states are elected by the elected members of their Legislative Assembly in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of single transferable.
Tenure: Like the Senate of the U.S.A. the Rajya Sabha is a permanent House. It is not subject to dissolution. Members retiring after every two years.
Officials of the Rajya Sabha: The Vice-President of India is the ex-officio Chairman of the Upper House (Rajya Sabha).
The Rajya Sabha elects a Deputy Chairman from among its own members and the presides in the absence of the Chairman or during the period when the Vice-President is discharging the functions of the President.
Powers and Functions of the Rajya Sabha:
1. Legislative Powers: The Rajya Sabha is an integral part of the Indian Parliament. Since the main responsibility of the Parliament is to make laws, hence the Rajya Sabha takes part in the making of laws. Except Money Bills, all Bills can originate in the Rajya Sabha. No Bill can become a law unless agreed to by both the Houses. The Lok Sabha by itself cannot pass a Bill and send it to the President for his assent. In case of disagreement between the two Houses on a Bill or on the amendments made in the Bill, the President has been empowered to summon a joint meeting of the two Houses on a Bill or on the amendments made in the Bill, the President has been empowered to summon a joint meeting of the two Houses for the purpose of deliberating and voting on the Bill. At a joint sitting questions are decided by a majority of the members of both Houses present and voting. A decision taken at a joint sitting shall mean the decision of both Houses. All the time of the joint sitting the Speaker of the Lok Sabha presides. The President can also summon the joint sitting when a Bill passed by one House is not considered by the other House for six months. For the purpose of summoning the joint sitting it does not matter when the Bill was introduced first in the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha.
2. Administrative Powers: The Rajya Sabha does not control the Executive as the Constitution makes the Council of Ministers collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. But this does not mean that the Rajya Sabha can exert no influence over the Executive. Some of the Ministers are taken from the Rajya Sabha. The members of the Rajya Sabha have the right to ask questions and supplementary questions from the Ministers. They can elicit information about the actions of Government and can move resolutions impressing on the Government the desirability of pursuing a particular line of policy. As said, the Council of Minister can be ousted from office by the Lok Sabha only. The Rajya Sabha can condemn the Government but it cannot kick the Government out of office.
3. Financial Powers: In financial matters, it is the Lok Sabha which enjoys a pre-eminent position. The Rajya Sabha has not been given any substantial power with regard to finance. No Money Bill or Financial Bill can first be introduced in the Rajya Sabha. It is the privilege of the Lok Sabha to pass the Money Bill first and send it to the Rajya Sabha for its recommendations. It should be noted that the Bill is transmitted to the Rajya Sabha for its recommendation and not for its approval. The Rajya Sabha can make amendments in the Money Bill it may ever reject the Money Bill. It has no effect on the Bill. The Lok Sabha is not bound to accept the recommendations made by the Rajya Sabha. In case the Lok Sabha rejects the recommendations of the Rajya Sabha the Bill is deemed to have been passed by both Houses in the form in which it was passed by the Lok Sabha. Likewise, if the Rajya Sabha does not return the Money Bill to the Lok Sabha within 14 days, it will be considered to have been passed by both Houses in the form in which it was passed by the Lok Sabha. Thus, Lok Sabha possesses complete control over the purse of the nation.
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