In this article you will learn about the Exclusive Powers of Rajya Sabha in Political Science.
Exclusive Powers of Rajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha is the upper house of the Indian Parliament and is also known as the Council of States. It is composed of members who are elected or nominated by the President of India. In some spheres, the Rajya Sabha is more powerful than the Lok Sabha.
1. Power of Declaring any State Subject as a subject of National Importance : The Rajya Sabha, by passing a resolution supported by 2/3rd majority, alone can declare any subject of the State List as a subject of national importance. In such a case, the Union Parliament gets the power to legislate on that subject of the State List for a period of one year. The Rajya Sabha can pass such a resolution repeatedly and enable the Union Parliament to legislate over a State subject.
2. Power of Creation or Abolition of any All India Service : The Rajya Sabha, by passing a resolution supported by 2/3rd majority under Article 312, can declare any public service as an All India Service. It can alone create a new or abolish an existing All India Service. Lok Sabha has been denied any share in this sphere.
3. Power of the Rajya Sabha to approve an Emergency Declaration when the Lok Sabha stands dissolved : In a situation when the Lok Sabha stands dissolved and a new Lok Sabha is yet to be elected there emerges the need to get approved an emergency declaration made by the President of India on the basis of his emergency powers, such a declaration has to be got approved from the Rajya Sabha. For this purpose, the President can call a special session of the Rajya Sabha.
A comparative study of the powers of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha brings out the fact that the former is decidedly more powerful than the latter. But at the same time, it would be wrong to assume that the Rajya Sabha is a secondary or a reactionary chamber. It also enjoys some special powers as well as equal powers. While the Lok Sabha (lower house) is considered to be the more powerful house, the Rajya Sabha also has several exclusive powers that are outlined in the Indian Constitution.
Approving Bills : One of the most important powers of the Rajya Sabha is its role in the legislative process. The Rajya Sabha has the power to review, amend and approve bills that are introduced in Parliament. However, in the case of a money bill, the Rajya Sabha can only discuss the bill and make recommendations, but cannot reject or amend it.
Impeachment : The Rajya Sabha has the power to initiate impeachment proceedings against the President, Vice President, and other officials of the Indian government. A motion to impeach can be introduced in the Rajya Sabha, which can then form a committee to investigate the charges against the official. If the committee finds the official guilty, the Rajya Sabha can then vote to remove them from office.
Constitutional Amendment : The Rajya Sabha has a significant role in the process of amending the Indian Constitution. Any amendment to the Constitution must be passed by both houses of Parliament with a two-thirds majority. However, in the case of certain important amendments, such as those related to federalism or the powers of the states, the Rajya Sabha must pass the amendment with a three-fourths majority.
Federal Matters : The Rajya Sabha is specifically responsible for matters related to the federal structure of India. This includes matters related to the distribution of powers between the central government and the state governments, as well as issues related to the appointment of governors and the administration of Union Territories.
Representation of States : The Rajya Sabha provides a platform for the states to have a say in the national legislative process. Each state is represented by a certain number of members in the Rajya Sabha, based on its population. This ensures that the smaller states also have a voice in the national Parliament.
Financial Matters : The Rajya Sabha has the power to discuss and approve the annual budget presented by the Finance Minister. It can also discuss and approve other financial bills related to taxation, borrowing, and expenditure. However, as mentioned earlier, the Rajya Sabha cannot make changes to a money bill passed by the Lok Sabha.
International Relations : The Rajya Sabha has the power to discuss and debate issues related to India's international relations. It can also approve treaties and agreements signed with other countries.
Emergency Powers : The Rajya Sabha has an important role to play during times of emergency. In case of a national emergency, the Rajya Sabha can authorise the President to issue emergency ordinances. It can also pass a resolution to revoke the emergency if it feels that it is no longer required.
In conclusion, while the Lok Sabha is considered to be the more powerful house of the Indian Parliament, the Rajya Sabha also has several important powers. It is responsible for representing the states, reviewing and approving bills, initiating impeachment proceedings, approving constitutional amendments, discussing financial matters, and debating issues related to India's international relations.
This article on Exclusive Powers of Rajya Sabha in Political Science is contributed by Dipshikha Anand. If you like LawStudyPoint.com do follow us on our Twitter handle.