Question

The Union Legislature of India is not only the law-making body, but the center of all democratic political process. With reference to the Parliament, answer the following question:

Mention any four legislative powers of the Parliament.

Answer 1

1. Matters in the Union List: The Parliament has exclusive powers to make laws on all the subjects mentioned in the Union List, including important subjects like Defence, Banking, Communications, Foreign Affairs, etc.
2. Matters in the Concurrent List: Along with the State Legislative Assemblies, the Parliament can make laws on the subjects listed in the Concurrent List, for example, education, forests, adoption, succession, trade union. If there is a conflict between the Union Parliament and the State Legislature on any law in this list, the Union Law will prevail.
3. Residuary Powers: The Parliament possesses residuary powers. It means that it can make laws for all those matters which are not mentioned in any of the three Lists: the Union List, the State List and the Concurrent List.
4. Matters in the State List: The State List comprises matters related to agriculture, animal husbandry, public health, local government police, etc. The Parliament can legislate even on subjects included in the State List:
   1. During the Proclamation of an Emergency.
   2. When the Rajya Sabha passes a resolution by a two-thirds majority that a subject in the State List has assumed national importance.
   3. When two or more States are of the opinion that the Parliament should legislate on a subject given in the State List, the Parliament may make an Act on that subject, but that would be applicable only to the consenting States.
5. Ordinances: The President is empowered to promulgate an Ordinance at a time when the Parliament is not in session. It has the same effect as an Act. All Ordinances must be put up before both the Houses for their approval. Ordinances cease to operate after six weeks from the re-assembly of Parliament, unless they are approved by the Houses.
6. Powers during Emergency: When there is a total breakdown of the Constitutional machinery in a State, a state of Emergency is declared in the State. During the period of Emergency, the Parliament becomes the legislature in the State concerned and assumes all powers, including the financial powers of passing the State budget.