The Union Parliament ICSE History

Section B -- Civics

Morning Star Class 10 Civics

The Union Parliament

Part A: Short Answer Questions..

1. Name the two types of authority in a federal set up in India.

Ans. (a) The Government of the whole country called the Central Government.

(b) Governments of the component units called the State Governments.

2. Name the Law making body of Union Government.

Ans. Union Legislature: Union Legislature is called Parliament or Sansad. The main law making body of Union Government are:

(i) Lok Sabha

(ii) Rajya Sabha.

3. Name the main constitutents of the Indian Parliament.

Ans.(a) President

(b) Lok Sabha

(c) Rajya Sabha.

4. Name the two Houses of the Indian Parliament.

Ans. Parliament consists of two houses viz, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha formerly known as House of people and the Council of States.

5. What is the maximum strength of members of the Lok Sabha?

Ans. The maximum strength of the Lok Sabha, provided by the Constitution is 552.

6. State the composition of the Lok Sabha.

Ans. Lok Sabha: The maximum strength of the Lok Sabha as provided by the Constitution is 552. Out of this 530 members shall represent the States, 20 member shall represent the Union Territories and two members of the Anglo - Indian may be nominated by the President to the Lok Sabha if they are not adequately represented. The members of the Lok Sabha are directly elected by the the people of the India.

7. By whom and on whose advice can the Lok Sabha be dissolved?

Ans. Lok Sabha may be dissolved by the President before the expiry of its terms on the advice of the Prime Minister.

8. Who is empowered to summon to dissolve the Lok Sabha?

Ans. Lok Sabha may be dissolved by the President before the expiry of its terms on the advice of the Prime Minister.

9. How many members can the President nominate in the Lok Sabha?

Ans. The president may nominate 2 members to the Lok Sabha.

10. How are the members of the Lok Sabha elected?

Ans. The members of the Lok Sabha are directly elected by the people. The principle of Universal adult franchise has been adopted which means that all citizens of the age of 18 and above have the right to vote, if not otherwise qualified under the law.

11. What is the quorum to hold the meetings of the Lok Sabha?

Ans. A Quorum implies the minimum number of members required to be present before a meeting is allowed to begin. The quorum of the Lok Sabha is one tenth of the total membership of each house.

12. How are the Speaker and deputy speaker of the Lok Sabha elected?

Ans. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is elected from among ruling party's own members soon after newly elected House meets for the first time.

The Deputy Speaker is elected in the same way as the Speaker.

13. Who presides over the meetings of the Lok Sabha?

Ans. The Speaker is the presiding officer of meetings of the Lok Sabha.

14. Mention the occasion on which the President addresses a joint session of Parliament.

Ans. (a) In case of disagreement between the two Houses.

(b) In case more than 6 months have elapsed without the Bill being passed by the other House.

15. Who presides over the joint sitting of both the Houses of the Parliament?

Ans. The Speaker presides over a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament.

16. Mention three important powers and functions of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

Ans. (i) The Speaker of the Lok Sabha presides over the meetings of the House and maintains discipline and decorum therein. All speeches and remarks made by members of the House are addressed to him.

(ii) The Speaker is the chief spokesperson of the House and reports to the President, the affairs of the House. He is, thus a link between the President and the House.

(iii) The Speaker decides the admissibility of questions and all resolutions. He is the final judge to decide on the admissibility of a Motion of Adjournment.

17. What are the advantages of Lok Sabha.

Ans. The Lok Sabha occupies a Central position in Indian polity. Its advantages are as follows:

(a) The Lok Sabha acts as the Mirror and Voice of the nation, as its members are elected directly by the people, who are the ultimate source of all power.

(b) It is the Lok Sabha, which actually controls the Executive. The Council of Ministers is responsible to the Lok Sabha. Infact, it is the vote of No-Confidence passed in the Lok Sabha that can oust the Government from office.

18. How are the member of the Rajya Sabha elected? Who presides over the Rajya Sabha? Who elects the Deputy Chairman?

Ans. The members of the Rajya Sabha are elected by elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies in accordance with a system of proportional representation by means of single transferable vote.

19. Who presides over the meetings of the Rajya Sabha in the absence of the Vice-President of India?

Ans. The Deputy Chairman performs all functions and duties of the Chairman, in his absence.

Question 20: What is the Quorum of the Lok Sabha?

Answer: The Quorum of the Lok Sabha is one-tenth of total number of members.

Question 21: What is the normal term of the Lok Sabha?

Answer: The normal term of the Lok Sabha is five years.

Question 22: Who elects the members of the Lok Sabha ?

Answer: The members of the Lok Sabha are directly elected by the people on the basis of adult franchise from single member constituencies.

Question 23: Mention any two devices through which the Lok Sabha exercises control over the Council of Ministers.

Answer: (i) Question Hour (ii) Vote of no Confidence.

Question 24: An adult Indian citizen holding an office of profit under the State Government wishes to contest for election to the Lok Sabha. Is he/she eligible? Give a reason to justify your answer.

Answer: No, he should not hold an office of profit under the government if he/she wishes to contest for election.

Question 25: What is the Constitutional provision with regard to the representation of the Anglo-Indian community in the Lok Sabha?

Answer: According to article 79 of the Indian Constitution, the President of India is empowered to elect the two representatives of the Anglo-Indian community in the Lok Sabha.

Question 26: How is the Speaker of Lok Sabha elected?

Answer: The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is elected from among its own members.

Question 27: Who presides over the proceedings of the Lok Sabha in the absence of the Speaker?

Answer: The Deputy Speaker presides over the proceedings of the Lok Sabha in the absence of the Speaker.

Question 28: Which is the Upper House?

Answer: Rajya Sabha is the Upper House. It represents States and Union Territories.

Question 29: Name the body, which elects the Rajya Sabha members.

Answer: The Legislative Assembly of the state elects the Rajya Sabha members.

Question 30: Who is the Ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha?

Answer: The Vice-President of India is the Ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

Question 31: Mention the maximum number of members in the Rajya Sabha.

Answer: The maximum number of members in the Rajya Sabha is 250.

Question 32: What is the tenure of the members of the Rajya Sabha?

Answer: The tenure of the members of Rajya Sabha is six years and 1/3rd of its members retire after every two years.

Question 33: Why cannot the Rajya Sabha be dissolved?

Answer: The Rajya Sabha is the Permanent House of the Parliament, thus it cannot be dissolved.

Question 34: Name the Bill that cannot originate in the Rajya Sabha.

Answer: The Money Bill cannot originate in the Rajya Sabha.

Question 35: Why is the Rajya Sabha called a permanent House?

Answer: The term of the members selected to Rajya Sabha is six years. However, every second year, one- third of the members retire and there are new entrants. Thus, the house is never empty and therefore is called a ‘Permanent House’.

Question 36: What is the Zero Hour?

Answer: The period before the lunch hour, viz., 12-00 p.m. to 1-00 p.m. is the Zero Hour. No permission is required for raising the questions in Zero Hours.

Question 37: What is a Motion?

Answer: Motion is a device or proposal used by the member of Parliament for eliciting opinion of the House on some issues of public importance.

Question 38: What is meant by the term question hours in the context of Parliamentary procedures in India?

Answer: Question hour is the first hour of a sitting in both houses for both asking and answering of questions.

Question 39: What do you understand by Adjournment Motion?

Answer: Adjournment Motion may be made by the members to draw attention of the Government on urgent matters.

Question 40: Mention the ways, how Parliament Control over the Executive?

Answer: The Parliament controls over the Executive through the following ways:

Question Hour

Adjournment Motion

Question 41: Mention two financial powers of the Union Parliament.

Answer: Two financial powers of the Union Parliament are:

(i) It passes the annual Union Budget.

(ii) No money can be raised or spent without the consent of the Union Parliament.

Question 42: What happens if either the Parliament or a State Legislature passes any law that is against the Constitution?

Answer: If any law is passed that is against the Constitution, it is declared invalid by the Supreme Court.

Question 43: How does Parliament exercise control over the Union Council of Ministers?

Answer: The Union Council of Ministers continue 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.

Question 44: How many members can the president nominate to the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

Answer: The president can nominate two members in the Lok Sabha and the 12 members in the Rajya Sabha.

Question 45: Who addresses the joint session of both the Houses?

Answer: The President addresses the joint session of both the Houses.

Question 46: Who decides whether a Bill is Money Bill or not?

Answer: The Speaker of the Lok Sabha decides whether a Bill is Money Bill or not.

Question 47: What is the difference between a Money Bill and Non-Money Bill?

Answer: A Money Bill is introduced only in the Lok Sabha. A Non-Money Bill can be introduced in either House of Parliament.

Question 48: What is the procedure adopted for resolving deadlock between the two houses of Parliament with regard to an Ordinary Bill?

Answer: The Bill goes for assent to the President. If the President returns the Bill for its reconsideration and Parliament repassess it again, the President has to give his assent to the Bill and it is considered as passed.

Question 49: What are Residuary Powers?

Answer: ‘Residuary Powers’ means the subject, which are not mentioned in any list of the Constitution.

Question 50: Which House is more powerful? Why?

Answer: Lok Sabha is more powerful than Rajya Sabha because in a democracy the House, which is composed of elected representatives of the people, is given more power by the constitution.

Question 51: What is understood by the term ‘Individual Responsibility’ in a Parliament Democracy?

Answer: ‘Individual Responsibility’ in a Parliamentary democracy means that a member of the Parliament is accountable for his or her actions and decisions. If the member fails to discharge f his or her responsibilities, then he or she alone is expect.

Short Questions – I

Question 1: Give any four qualifications necessary for an individual seeking election to the Lok Sabha.

Answer: He/She must be:

Citizen of India.

Not less then 25 years of age.

Mentally sound.

Possess qualifications prescribed by Parliament from time to time.

Question 2: What are the disqualifications laid down to be elected as the member of Lok Sabha?

Answer: The disqualifications for the members of the Lok Sabha are:

If he/she is a government contractor, etc.

If he/she is convicted by a court of law in India and sentenced to imprisonment for more than two years.

If a member of Parliament is found guilty of election offices or corrupt practices.

If he/she does not lodge an account of his election expenses.

Question 3: What are the facilities and allowances given to a Member of Parliament?

Answer: Members of Parliament are paid such salaries and allowances as are determined from time to time by the Parliament. The members are allowed a daily allowance when the Parliament is in session. They are entitled to free railway travel throughout India. They are also given amenities like housing, telephone, electricity etc.

Question 4: Differentiate between Unicameral and Bicameral Legislature.

Answer: Legislature is the law making organ of the State. If a legislature has two houses, Lower House and Upper House, it is called Bicameral Legislature where as if a Legislature has only one House, it is called Unicameral Legislature.

Question 5: Mention two Legislative powers of the Union Parliament.

Answer: (i) The Union Parliament has exclusive power of making laws on the Union list. The Union list comprises 97 subjects.

(ii) The Union Parliament has residuary power. ‘Residuary power’ means the subject is not mentioned under any list in the constitution.

Question 6: Mention any two privileges of the Member of the Parliament.

Or

Mention one privilege of a Member of Parliament.

Answer: (i) The MPs enjoy the freedom of the speech in the House. No member of the Parliament may be bought to Court for anything said or any vote cast in the Parliament.

(ii) The Member of Parliament also enjoys the freedom from appearing in courts as witness on: furors.

Question 7: Who elects the Members of the Rajya Sabha?

Answer: The Members of the Rajya Sabha are indirectly elected by the elected members of State Legislative Assemblies and Union territories according to the system of proportional representation by the means of Single transferable vote system.

Question 8: What is the duration of the Rajya Sabha?

Answer: Duration of House: The Rajya Sabha is not subject to dissolution. It is a permanent body like the American Senate, One-third of its members retire at the end of every second year. New members are elected to fill the seats thus vacated. It means that the members of the Rajya Sabha have a six-year term.

Question 9: Describe how Parliament controls the executive through Adjournment Motion?

Answer: Adjournment Motion: Motion for adjournment furnishes the opportunity to censure the acts of omission and commission of the Ministers. The following are some of the subjects on which Adjournment Motions were allowed:

(i) Killing of a senior IPS Officer in a place of worship.

(ii) Death of several persons due to the consumption of unlicensed liquor.

Question 10: What are the privileges and immunities of the members of the Lok Sabha?

Answer: (i) The members of both the Houses have absolute freedom of speech in their respective Houses. The legal proceedings cannot be made against them due to the speech or remark made by them on the floor of the House.

(ii) No civil proceedings can be conducted against them when the Parliament is in session. They enjoy the freedom from appearing in court as witness on furors.