Parliamentary Procedures and Control Mechanisms

Jul 21, 2024

Lecture Notes: Parliamentary Procedures and Control Mechanisms

Introduction

  • Explanation of simple majority required for bill amendments.
  • Concept of amendments in context of bill discussions.
  • Importance of majority agreement for changes.

Parliamentary Control Over Executive

Structure of Parliament

  • Members of Parliament exert control over the executive (government).
  • This control is exercised through regulation and asking questions.

Procedures and Sessions

  • Parliament functions involve structuring activities like question hours, discussions, and sessions.
  • Quorum: Essential for Parliament sessions to start.
  • Ministerial Responsibilities: Ministers are responsible for various departments and answerable to MPs.

Question Hour

  • Timing: Fixed every day from 11 AM to 12 PM.
  • Purpose: MPs ask questions to ministers, can raise supplementary questions for more information.
  • Question Types:
    • Starred Questions: Require oral answers, marked with a star, allowed during the Question Hour.
    • Unstarred Questions: Require written answers, discussed during session but no supplementary questions allowed.
    • Short Notice Questions: Asked with less than 10 days' notice, require immediate answers.

Zero Hour

  • Immediately follows the Question Hour (around 12 PM).
  • Unofficial period for members to raise urgent public issues without prior notice.
  • Permission from the Speaker is required.

Sessions and Interruptions

  • Parliament has three sessions: Monsoon, Winter, and Budget sessions.
  • Adjournment Motion: Used to draw attention to urgent public issues, requires stopping regular business.
  • Procedure: If admitted by the House, discussion starts at 4 PM and cannot be stopped until the issue is resolved.

Types of Motions

Motion of Thanks

  • Presented after the President's address outlining government policies and programs.
  • Can be amended and reflects Parliament's opinion on government policy.

Adjournment Motion

  • Brings urgent public importance issues to the House.
  • Must be approved by the Speaker and then discussed.

Censure Motion

  • Criticizes the government, individual ministers, or the executive's actions.
  • Requires setting out specific grounds and is debated in Parliament.

No-Confidence Motion

  • Reflects lack of confidence in the government.
  • Requires support of at least 50 MPs to be admitted and debated within 10 days.

Confidence Motion

  • Brought by the government to prove its majority and confidence in the House.
  • Usually in response to a Censure or No-Confidence motion.

Key Points on Motions

  • Censor vs. No-Confidence:
    • Censure: Can target individual ministers, requires specific reasoning, and criticizes policies or failures.
    • No-Confidence: Targets the entire government, no specific grounds required, focuses on government's overall capacity.
  • Outcome: A successful Censure or No-Confidence Motion indicates the government's failure and could lead to its resignation.

Practical Aspects of Motions and Sessions

  • Preparation: Motions and questions are submitted in formats and through proper channels like Lok Sabha Secretariat.
  • Admission and Debate: Controlled by Business Advisory Committee and Speaker.
  • Public Scrutiny: Importance of Parliament's role in holding government accountable through debates and records.

Summary

  • Understanding the mechanisms of parliamentary control is crucial for democracy.
  • Different types of motions serve varied purposes in regulatory oversight.
  • Effective functioning of Question Hour, Zero Hour, and various motions ensure government accountability.

Note: Always review detailed examples and real parliamentary proceedings for a practical understanding.