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1St Lok Sabha Speaker – Ganesh Vasudev Mavalankar (1952-1956) •Following 17Th Lok Sabha Elections (2019 General Elections), Om Birla Is the Speaker of Lok Sabha 1

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1St Lok Sabha Speaker – Ganesh Vasudev Mavalankar (1952-1956) •Following 17Th Lok Sabha Elections (2019 General Elections), Om Birla Is the Speaker of Lok Sabha 1 Programme BA Subject Public administration Semester III-semester University University of Mysore Session 12-14 Content developer Shwetha K Parliament of India Loksabha Composition Powers and Function Learning objectives of the chapter To make the students to understand the Indian parliament Session outcomes Learners will be able to express their views and opinions on powers and functions of loksabha. The Organization of the Parliament 1.The Parliament consists of the President, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. 2.Lok Sabha is the Lower House (First Chamber or Popular House) and Rajya Sabha is the Upper House (Second Chamber or House of Elders). Composition • 1.The maximum strength of the Lok Sabha is fixed at 552. Out of this, 530 members are to be the representatives of the states, 20 members are to be the representatives of the union territories and 2 members nominated by the president from the Anglo-Indian community. • At present, the Lok Sabha has 545 members, 530 members directly elected by their respective constituencies,13 from Uts. • The voting age was reduced from 21 to 18 years by the 61st Constitutional Amendment Act, 1988. • Term • The normal term of loksabha is five years from the date of its first meeting after the general elections, after which it automatically dissolves. • This term can be extended for one year during an emergency. But fresh elections to the Lok Sabha must be held within six months of the end of emergency. • Further, the President can dissolve the Lok Sabha at any time when the Prime Minister may advise him to do so or when no party may be in a position to form a government. Qualifications for Membership of the Lok Sabha: • He must be a citizen of India. • He must not be less than 25 years of age. • He must not hold any office of profit in the Government. • He should not have an unsound mind or be a bankrupt. • He should possess all such qualifications prescribed by the Parliament. Method of Election of the Members of Lok Sabha: The members of the Lok Sabha are elected on the basis of the following principle • Universal Adult Franchise Every citizen who has attained the minimum age of 18 years has the right to vote in the elections to the Lok Sabha. Reservation • Presently 131 seats reserved (84 for SCs and 47 for STs). • Single Member Territorial Constituencies: Secret Ballot: • The members of the Lok Sabha are elected by secret ballot. Now EVMs are being used in recording votes. • Direct Election and Simple Majority Vote Victory system Sessions The President can call the session of Parliament at any time but the gap between two meetings of the Parliament cannot be of more than six months. Quorum For a meeting of the Lok Sabha the presence of at least 1/10th of its total members is essential. If 1/10th of the members are not present in a meeting of the Lok Sabha, the Speaker of the House can adjourn the meeting for lack of quorum. Presiding Officers of Lok Sabha: Speaker and Deputy Speaker: • The Speaker is the chairman and presiding officer of the Lok Sabha. In its very first meeting, every new Lok Sabha elects one of its members as the Speaker and another one as the Deputy Speaker. • The Speaker presides over the meetings of the Lok Sabha, conducts its proceedings and maintains discipline and decorum in the House. • • His authority is supreme in the House. Privileges of Members: • Lok Sabha MPs enjoy several privileges. They enjoy unrestricted freedom to express their views in the House. • No action can be taken against them for anything said by them in the House. • They cannot be detained for any civil offence during and 40 days before and after the session of the Lok Sabha. • Their arrest in criminal cases can be made only after the Speaker has been informed of it. Powers and Functions of the Lok Sabha Legislative Powers: • All ordinary bills can be introduced in loksabha. • Money bill must be introduced in loksabha only • It can make laws on union and concurrent lists and in a special circumstances on state list • Disagreement between the two houses can be resolved through joint sitting called by seaker Executive Powers: • The Council of Ministers are collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. • The ministers remain in office as long as they enjoy the confidence of majority in the Lok Sabha. • No confidence motion against ministers can be introduced in loksabha. • Members can check government by questioning, criticising and discussing executive policies • They can move and adopt several types of resolutions and motions (adjournment motion, call attention motion, censure motion and no- confidence motion) and can reject any bill of the government. Financial Powers • A money bill can be introduced only in the loksabha. • Rajya Sabha can hold it for a maximum period of 14 days. • In case of any dispute as to whether a particular bill is a money bill or not, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha gives the decision. • No tax can be levied or collected or changed or abolished without the approval of the Lok Sabha. • The fiscal policies of the government cannot be implemented without the consent of the Lok Sabha. Judicial Powers: • Impeachment of President for violation of constitution • Removal of judges of Supreme Court and High court • Removal of Vice- President and other cheifs • Punish members for breach of privileges like sitting in the house when the member knows he is not an eligible member, serving as member before taking oath etc. Electoral Functions: The elected members of the Lok Sabha take part in the election of the President. Members of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha together elect the Vice- President of India. The members of the Lok Sabha also elect a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker from amongst themselves. Some Other Powers of Lok Sabha • The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha jointly perform the following functions: • Approval of the ordinances issued by the President • Change of the boundaries of the states. State, creation of new states and change in the name of any state. • Changes in the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and the High Courts. • The setting up of Joint Public Service Commission for two or more states. • Passing of a resolution for abolishing or creating the upper chamber of a state legislature, • Approval of a Declaration of Emergency. Some facts of loksabha •1st Lok Sabha Election took place in 1952. There were 489 seats elected. Congress won 364 out of 489 seats. Jawaharlal Nehru became the first Prime Minister. •2019 Lok Sabha elections were country’s 17th General Elections. Elections took place for 552 seats. BJP won 303 seats out of 552. Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister. •In 1952, only 22 women were elected while in 2019 78 women candidates were elected. •Elections to Lok Sabha are carried out using a first-past-the-post electoral system •1st Lok Sabha Speaker – Ganesh Vasudev Mavalankar (1952-1956) •Following 17th Lok Sabha elections (2019 General Elections), Om Birla is the speaker of Lok Sabha 1. What is the maximum strength of Lok Sabha? A.552 B. 530 C. 489 D.545 Answer. A. 2. In which amendment voters age is reduced to 18 years ? A.86Th B. 61 st C. 72 nd D.42 nd Answer. B 3. Who is the presiding officer of Lok Sabha? A.Prime Minister B. Speaker C. Leader of opposition D.Chairman of Rajyasabha Answer. B 4. What is the quorum of Lok Sabha? A.1/10 B. 250 C. 1/5 D.None of the above Answer. A 5. A money bill can be introduced in in…………….. A.Rajyasabha B.Loksabha C. Both houses D. None of the above Answer. B Thankyou.
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