Extra 30 short questions and answers from the chapter "Union Parliament" of Class 11 Political Science:

 

What are the three components of the Indian Parliament?
Answer: The Indian Parliament consists of:

Lok Sabha (House of the People)

Rajya Sabha (Council of States)

President of India

 

What is the maximum strength of Lok Sabha?
Answer: The maximum strength of Lok Sabha is 552 members (530 from states, 20 from Union Territories, and 2 nominated by the President).

 

What is the term of Lok Sabha?
Answer: The term of Lok Sabha is 5 years, but it can be dissolved earlier by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.

 

How are members of Lok Sabha elected?
Answer: Members of Lok Sabha are elected directly by the people of India through the first-past-the-post system.

 

What is the maximum strength of Rajya Sabha?
Answer: The maximum strength of Rajya Sabha is 250 members, out of which 238 are elected and 12 are nominated by the President.

 

Who elects the members of Rajya Sabha?
Answer: Members of Rajya Sabha are indirectly elected by the MLAs of State Legislative Assemblies using proportional representation.

 

Who presides over Rajya Sabha?
Answer: The Vice-President of India is the ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha.

 

What is the tenure of Rajya Sabha members?
Answer: Rajya Sabha is a permanent house, but one-third of its members retire every two years. The tenure of a Rajya Sabha member is 6 years.

 

Who is the presiding officer of Lok Sabha?
Answer: The Speaker of Lok Sabha presides over its sessions.

 

Who nominates the 12 members of Rajya Sabha?
Answer: The President of India nominates 12 eminent personalities from the fields of literature, science, arts, and social service.

 

What is the main function of Parliament?
Answer: The primary function of Parliament is to make laws, control the executive, approve the Budget, and amend the Constitution.

 

What is a Money Bill?
Answer: A Money Bill deals with taxation, borrowing, and government expenditure and can only be introduced in Lok Sabha.

 

Who decides whether a Bill is a Money Bill?
Answer: The Speaker of Lok Sabha decides whether a Bill is a Money Bill.

 

Which House of Parliament is more powerful in financial matters?
Answer: Lok Sabha is more powerful because Money Bills can only be introduced and passed in Lok Sabha. Rajya Sabha can only suggest changes.

 

What is an Ordinary Bill?
Answer: An Ordinary Bill is a bill that deals with any matter other than finance or constitutional amendment. It can be introduced in either house.

 

What is a Joint Sitting of Parliament?
Answer: A Joint Sitting is a combined session of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, presided over by the Speaker of Lok Sabha, to resolve deadlocks over ordinary bills.

 

What is a Constitutional Amendment Bill?
Answer: A Constitutional Amendment Bill is a bill that seeks to change the Constitution. It requires a special majority in both Houses of Parliament.

 

What is the role of Parliament in controlling the executive?
Answer: Parliament controls the executive through Question Hour, Adjournment Motions, No-Confidence Motions, and Budget discussions.

 

What is a No-Confidence Motion?
Answer: A No-Confidence Motion is a motion moved in Lok Sabha to test whether the government still has the majority’s support. If passed, the government must resign.

 

What is the importance of Parliamentary Committees?
Answer: Parliamentary Committees help in detailed examination of bills, financial matters, and executive actions. Examples include the Public Accounts Committee and Estimates Committee.

 

What is the first hour of a Parliament session called?
Answer: The first hour of a Parliament session is called Question Hour, where MPs ask questions to ministers.

 

What is Zero Hour in Parliament?
Answer: Zero Hour is the time immediately after Question Hour, when MPs raise urgent matters without prior notice.

 

 

What is the maximum gap allowed between two sessions of Parliament?
Answer: The maximum gap between two sessions of Parliament cannot exceed six months.

 

Who appoints the Pro-Tem Speaker of Lok Sabha?
Answer: The President of India appoints a senior MP as the Pro-Tem Speaker to conduct the first session of the newly elected Lok Sabha.

 

What is a Private Member Bill?
Answer: A Private Member Bill is a bill introduced by any MP who is not a minister.

 

What is the process of passing the Budget in Parliament?
Answer: The Budget is introduced in Lok Sabha, debated, and voted upon. Rajya Sabha can only discuss but not amend it.

 

Who has the power to dissolve Lok Sabha?
Answer: The President of India can dissolve Lok Sabha on the advice of the Prime Minister.

 

What is the role of the President in the law-making process?
Answer: The President gives assent to Bills passed by Parliament. A bill becomes law only after the President’s approval.

 

What is an Ordinance?
Answer: An Ordinance is a temporary law issued by the President when Parliament is not in session. It must be approved by Parliament within 6 weeks.

 

What is the difference between a Bill and an Act?
Answer:

A Bill is a proposed law introduced in Parliament.

Once passed by both Houses and signed by the President, it becomes an Act (law).