Parliament and State Legislatures

🟢 Lite — Quick Review (1h–1d)

Rapid summary for last-minute revision.

Parliament and State Legislatures — Key Facts for KPSC KAS • Bicameral Parliament: Lok Sabha (House of the People — 543 seats; directly elected; 5-year term; power over money bills); Rajya Sabha (Council of States — 245 seats; 233 elected by MLAs; 12 nominated by President; 6-year terms, 1/3 rotate every 2 years). • Parliament’s Powers: Legislative — passes laws; Financial — controls finances, Money Bill certification; Constitutional — can amend constitution (2/3rd majority); Elective — elects President, Vice President; Judicial — can impeach President (for violations). • Rajya Sabha special powers: Art. 249 — can pass resolution enabling Parliament to legislate on state subjects if in national interest (1 year at a time); Art. 312 — can create new All-India Services (IAS, IPS); Art. 67(b) — election of Vice President. • State Legislatures: Unicameral (most states — single house); Bicameral (UP, Bihar, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh — have Legislative Councils); Karnataka Legislative Council (75 seats). • Speaker of Lok Sabha: Presides over Lok Sabha; Ganesh Prasad (first, 1952); Om Birla (current); loksabha.nic.in.

⚡ Exam tip: KPSC KAS frequently asks about Parliamentary procedures, money bill vs ordinary bill, and legislative powers. Questions on Rajya Sabha’s special powers, legislative process, and Karnataka Legislative Council are common.

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🟡 Standard — Regular Study (2d–2mo)

Standard content.

Parliament and State Legislatures — KPSC KAS Study Guide

Parliament — Structure and Powers

Lok Sabha — House of the People

Composition:

• 543 seats (after 2024 delimitation); directly elected by adult franchise
• 5-year term; dissolved early if PM loses majority or in emergency
• Qualification (Art. 82): 25+ years old; Indian citizen; not holding office of profit; sane

Powers:

• Financial control: Money Bill originates here; voting on demands for grants
• Executive accountability: Lok Sabha can pass no-confidence motion (only Lok Sabha can bring)
• Election of President: Votes counted with Rajya Sabha votes (UT MPs added)

Current Lok Sabha (17th): NDA majority (BJP-led); Om Birla as Speaker; session at New Parliament Building (2023)

Rajya Sabha — Council of States

Composition:

• 245 seats (233 elected + 12 nominated)
• Elected by MLAs: Single transferable vote; each MLA gives 1 vote (value varies by state population)
• 12 nominated by President: For expertise in literature, art, science, social service
• 6-year terms; 1/3 retire every 2 years (rotation)

Special Powers (unique to Rajya Sabha):

• Art. 249: Can pass resolution (by 2/3rd majority) allowing Parliament to legislate on state subjects for 1 year (national interest)
• Art. 312: Can pass resolution to create new All-India Services (IAS, IPS model)
• Art. 67(b): Elects Vice President (by single transferable vote)

Ordinary Rajya Sabha powers:

• Cannot reject money bills (can only suggest recommendations within 14 days)
• Cannot bring no-confidence motion
• More deliberative than legislative

Legislative Process

Ordinary Bill:

• Drafting → Introduction → First Reading (read title) → Second Reading (general discussion) → Committee Stage → Report Stage → Third Reading → Lok Sabha votes → Rajya Sabha passes → President Assent → Law

Money Bill (Art. 110):

• Certificate by Speaker: Speaker certifies as Money Bill; final determination by Speaker
• Lok Sabha only: Originate only in Lok Sabha; Rajya Sabha can only recommend within 14 days
• Not amendable by Rajya Sabha: Must accept Lok Sabha’s version or reject with recommendations
• Examples: Finance Bill, Appropriation Bill, Tax Bill

President’s Assent:

• President can withhold assent (return bill for reconsideration — once)
• If passed again, President must give assent
• Ordinary bills: President can also send for Constitutional review (after K.M. Kaishiv. case)

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🔴 Extended — Deep Study (3mo+)

Comprehensive coverage.

Parliament and State Legislatures — Comprehensive KPSC KAS Notes

Parliamentary Committees, Procedures, and State Legislatures

Standing and Select Committees

Financial Committees:

• Public Accounts Committee (PAC): Examine govt. accounts; 22 members (15 from Lok Sabha by proportional representation, 7 from Rajya Sabha); opposition chair traditionally
• Estimates Committee: Examine budget estimates; 30 members; report on efficiency
• Committee on Public Undertakings: Examine PSU performance

Standing Committees:

• Committee on Law and Justice: Examines legal affairs
• Committee on Petitions: Examines public petitions

Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSC):

• 24 standing committees (one for each ministry); examine bills, budgets

Parliament’s Control over Executive

Question Hour:

• First hour of each sitting; MPs ask questions; Minister must answer
• Starred Question: Answered orally; supplementary questions possible
• Unstarred Question: Answered in writing (no supplementary)
• Short Notice Question: At short notice on urgent matters

Zero Hour:

• After Question Hour; raising of matters of public importance
• Since 1962 tradition; not in Rules of Procedure

Adjournment Motion:

• Motion to adjourn House to discuss definite matter of urgent public importance
• Debate on motion; if passed, Lok Sabha discusses for 2.5 hours
• Only in Lok Sabha; used sparingly

Censures and No-Confidence Motions:

• Censure motion: Expresses disapproval of government policy; PM can be censured
• No-confidence motion: States Lok Sabha has no confidence in government; if passed, PM must resign

Karnataka Legislative Council

Karnataka Legislative Council (Upper House):

• 75 seats (as per Karnataka Legislative Council Act 1984)
• Composition: 25 elected by MLAs; 7 by graduates constituency; 7 by teachers constituency; 1 by Governor; 2 nominated by Governor; remaining 23 by local authorities’ constituency
• Terms: 6 years; 1/3rd rotates every 2 years
• Functions: Deliberative; can delay money bills (1 month); can return bills with recommendations

Karnataka Legislative Assembly:

• 224 seats (largest legislative assembly in South India)
• Speaker: K.G. BEML? (current — various)
• Sessions: Winter session (Belgaum — traditional); monsoon session; first session (Bangalore)

Bicameral justification:

• For: Provides check on populist legislation; represents local government and professional voices
• Against: Delays legislation; expensive; undemocratic (not directly elected)
• Karnataka context: Council seen as unnecessary by many; demands for abolition

Parliamentary Privileges

Art. 105 — Powers of Parliament:

• Freedom of speech: MPs cannot be questioned outside Parliament for speech inside
• Right to publish proceedings: Cannot be subject to court proceedings
• Disqualification: Parliament can disqualify member for moral turpitude (Art. 102)
• Contempt: Parliament can punish for contempt

Karnataka Legislature Privileges:

• Similar to Parliament under Art. 194
• Karnataka Legislative Assembly has privilege to punish contempt
• Speaker’s powers: Decision on disqualification cases (under 10th Schedule)

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Examination Strategy

KPSC KAS commonly asks:

1. Distinguish between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha powers
2. Explain the legislative process and types of bills
3. Analyse parliamentary control over the executive
4. Discuss Karnataka’s bicameral legislature
5. Evaluate parliamentary privileges

Key distinctions:

• Money Bill vs Financial Bill vs Ordinary Bill (certificate, amendment rights, origination)
• Rajya Sabha special powers (Art. 249, 312) vs ordinary powers (delaying)
• Lok Sabha (popular chamber) vs Rajya Sabha (representative chamber — states, expertise)
• Motion of Thanks vs Adjournment Motion vs No-Confidence Motion

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