In this article you will learn about the Powers of Lok Sabha in Political Science.
Powers of Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha is the lower house of the Indian parliament, which represents the people of India. It has the power to make laws, hold the government accountable, and oversee the functioning of the executive branch. The powers of the Lok Sabha are outlined in the Indian Constitution, which defines the responsibilities and functions of the house.
The Lok Sabha has several powers and functions that enable it to perform its duties as the representative of the people of India. One of the primary powers of the Lok Sabha is the power to make laws. It is responsible for introducing and passing legislation that affects the lives of the people of India. This power is enshrined in Article 107 of the Constitution, which states that all bills must originate in the Lok Sabha.
The Lok Sabha also has the power to remove the government from office. This power is enshrined in Article 75 of the Constitution, which provides for the collective responsibility of the council of ministers to the Lok Sabha. If the Lok Sabha passes a vote of no confidence in the government, the government must resign and new elections must be held.
The Lok Sabha exercises Legislative, Executive, Financial, Judicial and Constituent powers :
1. Legislative Powers : An ordinary bill can become a law only when it is passed by both the Houses of Parliament. It can be introduced either in the Lok Sabha or in the Rajya Sabha. When the bill is passed by one House it is then sent to the other House. After it has secured the approval of both the Houses, it becomes a law only after the signatures of the Parliament, yet almost 90% of the bills are introduced in the Lok Sabha. First these are passed by the Lok Sabha and then it goes to Rajya Sabha. In case Rajya Sabha rejects such a bill or returns it to Lok Sabha with any amendments, the Lok Sabha reconsiders it. If the Lok Sabha repasses it and the Rajya Sabha is still not prepared to pass it, a deadlock occurs. If the deadlock remains unresolved for six months, the President summons a joint sitting of the two Houses. The decision of the joint sitting is accepted by the Lok Sabha as well as Rajya Sabha. In a joint sitting, the Lok Sabha dominates the show, because of its larger membership. The joint sitting of both the Houses is presided over by the Speaker of Lok Sabha.
2. Executive Powers : The Executive power totally belongs to the Lok Sabha. It is the responsibility of the Lok Sabha for all the acts of omission and commission. The ministers remain in office for a long period because they enjoy the confidence of the majority in the Lok Sabha. The Prime Minister always belongs to the Lok Sabha. The Lok Sabha has the power to remove the ministers from office by passing a vote of no-confidence against them. Thus, it is in the hands of the Lok Sabha to decide the life and death of the Cabinet. The Lok Sabha makes the Council of Ministers responsible to itself through various methods, for example by asking questions on all matters of state administration, by moving and adopting the resolutions and motions like adjournment motion, call attention motion, censure motion and no-confidence motion, by criticising the policies adopted by them and by rejecting the ordinary bills and Money Bills of the government. If the Lok Sabha rejects any king of policy or decisions of the Cabinet, or disapproves the budget or a bill of the Government, or passes a vote no-confidence against the Prime Minister, it is taken to be a vote of no-confidence against the entire Council of Ministers, and it resigns en masse.
3. Financial Powers : All Money Bills are only introduced in the Lok Sabha. After being passed by it, the bill is sent to the Rajya Sabha. A Money Bill passed by the Lok Sabha can be delayed by Rajya Sabha for a maximum period of 14 days. If the Rajya Sabha fails to pass a Money Bill and 14 days lapse from the date of the submission of that Money Bill, it is deemed to have been passed by both the Houses of the Parliament and is sent to the head of the state for his signatures. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha gives the decision in case of any dispute as to whether a particular bill is a Money bill or not. His decisions are final and cannot be challenged in a court or either of the houses.
4. Judicial Powers : The Lok Sabha performs various judicial functions. The impeachment proceedings can be taken up against the President in either of the two Houses of the Parliament. The President can be removed from the office by a resolution adopted by both the Houses with 2/3rd majority of their members. This can be done against the Vice President of India also. It can also pass a resolution to remove any judge of the Supreme Court or of a State High Court.
5. Amendment Power : The Constituent Amendment Bill can be introduced in either House of the Parliament. However, the bill is considered passed only when both the Houses pass it in identical terms and in accordance with the provisions of Article 368 of the Constitution.
In conclusion, the Lok Sabha is a vital institution of Indian democracy and has several powers and functions that enable it to perform its duties as the representative of the people of India. Its power to make laws, hold the government accountable, and oversee the functioning of the executive branch is essential to the functioning of India's democratic system. The Lok Sabha's powers are enshrined in the Constitution, which reflects the principles of democracy, justice, and equality that underpin India's political system.
This article on Powers of Lok Sabha in Political Science is contributed by Dipshikha Anand. If you like LawStudyPoint.com do follow us on our Twitter handle.