Class 11 Political Science Short Questions With Answers - Legislature

Q1: What is Legislature?
Ans: The legislature is one of the three organs of the Government of the modern state. Although its main function is to make a law it performs a number of other functions like representational and deliberate functions. The legislature has financial and administrative control over the executive.

Q2: Who presides over the meetings of the Rajya Sabha?
Ans: Vice President of India is the Capacity of ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha who presides over, the meetings of Rajya Sabha and conducts the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha.

Q3: What constitutes the Indian parliament?
Ans: The Indian Parliament consists of three main components:

• Lok Sabha (House of the People): This is the lower house of Parliament, where representatives are directly elected by the public.
• Rajya Sabha (Council of States): This is the upper house, which represents the states and union territories of India. Members are elected by the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies.
• President: The President of India is a crucial part of Parliament, responsible for summoning and proroguing sessions, as well as giving assent to bills passed by both houses.

Q4: What is a bicameral legislature?
Ans: There are two types of legislatures. Where there is only one house, they are known as the unicameral legislature, and where there are two houses, they are known as a bicameral legislature. India has a bicameral legislature in the center and in six states.

Q5: What is the role and significance of the Legislature in a democracy?
Ans: The legislature plays a pivotal role in a democracy. It serves as the platform for extensive discussions, debates, deliberations, cooperation, and opposition on important decisions and policy matters. These activities ensure transparency and accountability in governance. A genuine democracy is unimaginable without an efficient, representative, and responsible legislature. Moreover, it empowers citizens by enabling them to hold their representatives accountable. Thus, the legislature is of immense importance in a representative democracy.

Q6: Give four arguments against the bicameral legislature.
Ans: 1. Bicameral legislatures are often deemed unnecessary, as a single legislative chamber can effectively perform the same functions.
2. They can cause avoidable delays in the legislative process, leading to inefficiencies.
3. Such systems result in unnecessary expenditure and overhead costs that can burden taxpayers.
4. Bicameral legislatures may be unrepresentative in nature, failing to reflect the diverse views of the population effectively.

Q7: Write the composition of Lok Sabha.
Ans: The Lok Sabha consists of representatives directly elected by the people through Universal Adult Suffrage. As per the Indian Constitution, the House can have a maximum of 550 members, with 530 representing the States and 20 representing the Union Territories. Currently, the Lok Sabha comprises 543 elected members.

Q8: What are the functions of the speaker of Lok Sabha?
Ans: The presiding officer of the Lok Sabha is known as the speaker of Lok Sabha who is elected by the members of Lok Sabha from themselves. Speaker conducts the proceeding of the house and maintains discipline and decorum in the house.

Q9: Name the states which have bicameral legislation.
Ans: Following six  states of India have bicameral legislation

• Andhra Pradesh
• Telangana
• Bihar
• Karnataka
• Maharashtra
• Uttar Pradesh

Q10:   What is the composition of the Rajya Sabha, and what is its maximum capacity?
Ans: The Rajya Sabha is the upper house of the Indian Parliament, often referred to as the Council of States due to its role in representing the interests of the states. Its maximum capacity is 250 members, of which 238 are elected by the members of the State Assemblies, while 12 members are nominated by the President of India. These nominated members are individuals who have distinguished themselves in fields such as science, literature, art, social service, cinema, and sports.

Q11: In which areas Rajya Sabha is weak in comparison to Lok sabha.
Ans: Rajya Sabha is weaker in comparison to Lok Sabha in the following areas:

• Legislative Power: The Lok Sabha has more significant legislative powers, particularly in financial matters.
• Control over the Executive: The Lok Sabha holds greater control over the government, as it can pass votes of no confidence.
• Representation: The Lok Sabha represents a larger segment of the population, making it more directly accountable to the electorate.
• Duration: The Lok Sabha has a shorter term of five years, which allows for more frequent elections and changes in representation.

Q12: What is Bill and when it becomes Law?
Ans: The proposal to make a law is called a bill. When it is passed by both the Houses of Parliament and get the assent of the Indian President it became law.

Q13: Who amends the Indian constitution?
Ans: The Parliament has the authority to amend the Indian Constitution by following the specific procedure outlined in Article 368. However, the State Assemblies have limited powers when it comes to constitutional amendments.

Q14: Give four arguments in favor of the bicameral legislature.
Ans:  Bicameral legislature plays a significant role in enhancing the efficiency and fairness of the legislative process. The key arguments in its favor are:

• It provides an opportunity to revisit and discuss a bill in detail, particularly if it was hastily passed in the lower house.
• It aids in shaping public opinion by allowing more thorough debates and discussions.
• It is a crucial component of a federal system of government.
• A bicameral legislature ensures adequate representation for minorities.

Q15: Write two special power of Rajya Sabha.
Ans: The Rajya Sabha, as the upper house of Parliament, has certain special powers that distinguish it from the Lok Sabha. These include:

• The Rajya Sabha can declare a subject of national importance through a resolution passed by a two-thirds majority.
• It can also pass a resolution with a two-thirds majority to declare a particular service as an All India Service.

Q16: Why do large and diverse countries prefer a bicameral legislature?
 Ans: Countries with large size and much diversity usually prefer to have two houses of the national legislature to give representation to all sections in the society and to all geographical regions or parts of the country. A bicameral legislature also makes it possible to have every decision reconsidered, ensuring a double check on every matter.

Q17: How are Government Bills and Private Member Bills different?
Ans: A Government Bill is introduced by a minister and reflects the policies and priorities of the ruling party. These bills generally have a higher chance of being passed as they align with the government's agenda. On the other hand, a Private Member Bill is introduced by any member of Parliament who is not a minister, typically reflecting the views or concerns of the opposition or individual members. These bills usually have a lower chance of passing, as they may not have the same support from the ruling party.

Q18: How the parliament exercises control over the executive?
Ans: The Parliament exercises administrative and financial control over the executive in the following ways:

• It approves the budget and allocates funds, ensuring that the executive operates within the limits set.
• Parliament can question the executive through debates and interpellations, holding them accountable for their actions.
• It conducts inquiries and investigations into the executive's decisions and policies to ensure transparency.
• Parliament can pass legislation that governs the actions of the executive, thereby controlling its powers.

Q19: Write main functions of Parliament.
Ans: The Parliament performs several key functions, which include:

• Legislation: Parliament is responsible for making laws that govern the country.
• Representation: It represents the interests and views of the public.
• Oversight: Parliament monitors the actions of the government to ensure accountability.
• Budget Approval: It approves the national budget, determining how public funds are allocated.
• Debate: Parliament provides a forum for discussing important national issues.

Q20:In which areas does the Rajya Sabha have equal powers with the Lok Sabha?
Ans: The Rajya Sabha shares equal powers with the Lok Sabha in the following areas:

• Both houses participate equally in discussions and debates on public issues, contributing to the formation of public opinion.
• In matters of constitutional amendments, both houses must separately pass the amendment for it to become law. An amendment bill can be introduced in either house of Parliament.
• In judicial matters, both houses have equal powers to initiate impeachment proceedings against the President, Vice President, and judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts.
• The Rajya Sabha also shares emergency powers with the Lok Sabha.

Q21: Write the various steps in the Lawmaking process.
Ans: Following are the various stages in the law-making process:

• Proposal: A bill is proposed, often by a member of parliament.
• Discussion: The bill is discussed in detail, allowing for debate and amendments.
• Voting: Members vote on the bill, which must receive majority support.
• Approval: The bill is sent to the upper house (if applicable) for further consideration.
• Presidential Assent: Once both houses approve, the bill is sent to the president for final approval.
• Enactment: After receiving assent, the bill becomes law and is enforced.

Q22: How does the system of representation in Rajya Sabha differ from the USA Senate? 
Ans: In the USA, every state has equal representation in the Senate, with each state having two senators regardless of population size, ensuring equality among states. In contrast, the Rajya Sabha provides representation based on population, as outlined in the fourth schedule of the Constitution. States with larger populations, such as Uttar Pradesh with 31 members, have more representatives, while smaller states like Sikkim have only one seat. This system prevents discrepancies where a small state like Sikkim (population 6.10 lakhs) would have equal representation to a populous state like Uttar Pradesh (population 1998.12 lakhs), reflecting India's diverse demographic needs rather than a uniform state equality approach.

Q23: Differentiate between
1. Government bill and Private member bill
2. Ordinary bill and a money bill
3. Private bill and ordinary bill
Ans: 1. A Government Bill is introduced by a government minister, whereas a Private Member Bill is introduced by a member of the legislature who is not a part of the government.
2. A Money Bill deals exclusively with matters related to income and expenditure, such as taxation or government spending. In contrast, an Ordinary Bill deals with all other legislative matters that are not related to financial issues.
3. A Private Bill is a bill that affects a specific group, individual, or locality, such as local laws or corporate regulations. An Ordinary Bill is a general law that applies to the entire public and addresses issues of general interest.

Q24: Should Rajya Sabha be scrapped?
Ans: Rajya Sabha is the upper house of Parliament and is often referred to as the permanent house because it is not subject to dissolution. It acts as the council of the states, representing the interests of the states. However, due to its weaknesses in areas such as legislative, financial, and executive functions, some consider the Rajya Sabha to be a useless and unnecessary body, advocating for its scrapping.

Despite this perspective, the demand to abolish the Rajya Sabha lacks substantial support for several reasons:

• It provides a platform for states to voice their concerns at the national level.
• It allows for a more thorough review of legislation, contributing to the legislative process.
• It helps maintain a balance of power between different regions and interests within the country.

Q25: Write the legislative powers of the Indian President.
Ans: The President is a vital organ of the Indian Parliament and holds significant powers over the legislative process. Some of their key powers include:

• The authority to summon and prorogue Parliament sessions.
• The power to give assent to bills, which is essential for them to become law.
• The ability to return a bill, except for money bills, for reconsideration.
• The right to address Parliament and provide important information.
• The capacity to issue ordinances when Parliament is not in session, which have the force of law.