Rajya Sabha

Question 1

Equal status with LS

Answer 1

1. Introduction and passage of ordinary
   bills.
2. Introduction and passage of Constitutional
   amendment bills.
3. Introduction and passage of financial
   bills involving expenditure from the
   Consolidated Fund of India.
4. Election and impeachment of the
   President.
5. Election and , removal of the· Vice
   President. However, Rajya Sabha alone
   can initiate the removal of the vice-Pres·
   ident. Hel she is removed-by a resolution
   passed by the 1~1jya Sabha by an effec~
   tive majority and agreed to by the Lok
   Sabha by a simple majority.
6. Making recommendation to the President
   for the removal of Chief Justice and
   judges of Supreme Court and high
   courts, chief election commissioner and
   comptroller and auditor general.
7. Approval of ordinances issued by the
   President.
8. Approval of proclamation of all three
   types of emergencies by the President.
9. Selection of ministers including the
   Prime Minister. Under the Constitution,
   the ministers including the Prime
   Minister can be members of either
   House. However, irrespective of their
   membership, they are responsible only
   to the Lok Sabha.
10. Consideration of the reports of the constitutional bodies like Finance Commission,
    Union Public Service Commission, comp
    troller and auditor general, etc.
11. Enlargement of the jurisdiction of the
    Supreme Court and the Union Public
    Service Commission.

Question 2

Unequal status with LS

Answer 2

1. A Money Bill can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha and not in the Rajya Sabha.
2. Rajya Sabha cannot amend or reject a Money Bill. It must return the bill to the Lok Sabha within 14 days, either with recommendations or without recommendations.
3. The Lok Sabha can accept or reject all or any of the recommendations of the Rajya Sabha. In both cases, the Money Bill is deemed to have been passed by both Houses.
4. A Financial Bill (not containing solely the matters of Article 110) can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha, not in the Rajya Sabha. However, regarding its passage, both Houses have equal powers.
5. The final power to decide whether a bill is a Money Bill or not is vested in the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
6. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha presides over the joint sitting of both Houses.
7. In a joint sitting, the Lok Sabha, with a greater number of members, has an advantage, except when the combined strength of the ruling party in both Houses is less than that of the opposition parties.
8. Rajya Sabha can only discuss the Budget but cannot vote on the Demands for Grants (which is the exclusive privilege of the Lok Sabha).
9. A resolution for the discontinuance of a National Emergency can be passed only by the Lok Sabha and not by the Rajya Sabha.
10. The Rajya Sabha cannot remove the Council of Ministers by passing a no-confidence motion, as the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible only to the Lok Sabha. However, the Rajya Sabha can discuss and criticize the policies and activities of the government.

Question 3

Special powers of RS

Answer 3

1. The Rajya Sabha can authorize Parliament to make a law on a subject listed in the State List under Article 249.
2. The Rajya Sabha can authorize Parliament to create new All-India Services, common to both the Centre and the states, under Article 312.
3. The Rajya Sabha alone can initiate the process for the removal of the Vice-President. In other words, a resolution for the removal of the Vice-President can be introduced only in the Rajya Sabha and not in the Lok Sabha, as per Article 67.
4. If a proclamation of National Emergency, President’s Rule, or Financial Emergency is issued by the President, and the Lok Sabha is dissolved or dissolves within the approval period, the proclamation remains effective even if approved only by the Rajya Sabha, as per Articles 352, 356, and 360.