Question

Explain the important functions of the Lok Sabha.

Answer 1

The important functions of the Lok Sabha are discussed follow:

a. Legislative:
The Lok Sabha can pass bills concerning all those subjects which have been included in the Union List and the Concurrent List. It can pass bills regarding state subjects also in case of emergencies or if Rajya Sabha by a resolution passed by a majority of its total members and 2/3 of its members present and voting declared a particular state subject of national importance. However, such a bill can be valid for a year only.

A non-money Bill can be initiated in any of the two Houses. In case, the Houses cannot come to an agreement, the President may summon a joint session of both the Houses of Parliament. If the Bill is passed by the majority of the total members of the Houses concerned in a joint session, it is deemed to have been passed by both the Houses of Parliament. Since the membership of Lok Sabha is almost double to that of the Rajya Sabha, the will of the former is likely to prevail. Thus the supremacy of Lok Sabha over Rajya Sabha in ordinary or important non-money bills is self-evident.

b. Financial:
The Lok Sabha’s control over purse is an undisputed fact. A money bill must be initiated in the Lok Sabha. When passed by the Lok Sabha, it is to be transmitted to the Rajya Sabha for its recommendations. The Constitution, however, requires the Rajya Sabha to return it to the Lok Sabha with its recommendations within 14 days from the date of receipt of the bill.

c. Control over the Executive:
In a Parliamentary form of government, the most important function of a lower House is “Control over the Executive”. The lower house of our Parliament is not an exception. According to Article 75(3), the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. This means the ministry must tender resignation if a vote of non-confidence is passed against it by the Lok Sabha. There are other effective methods also adopted by our lower House, like that of other lower Houses in Parliamentary form of governments, to control the executive. The Ministers in charge of various departments can be interrogated and censured by the members of the House. The bill introduced by the government may be rejected by the House. The adjournment motion may be moved to criticize the government or raise discussions on matters of vital importance for a short duration. A resolution moving a token cut in the budget or the grant to a particular ministry may be passed, reflecting a lack of confidence in the ministry by the majority in the House.

d. Electoral Function:
Article 54 of the Constitution vests electoral functions of the Parliament. The elected members of both the Houses of Parliament constitute a part of the Electoral College for the election of President. Article 66 provides for the election of the Vice-President by the members of both the Houses of Parliament at a joint session. The Lok Sabha elects its speaker as well.

e. Discussions on Questions of Public Importance:
The Parliament possesses unlimited power of discussing and debating questions. This is done usually on the occasion of the inaugural and annual address by the President of India. It is empowered to review and criticize the work of the different departments of state during the discussion on the estimates of expenditure, the appropriation, and revenue bills. Through such criticism and review, the members of House can get their grievances redressed. 

f. Miscellaneous Powers:
The Lok Sabha together with the Rajya Sabha possesses the power of amending the Constitution.

The Lok Sabha along with the Rajya Sabha has the power to move a petition for the removal of judges of the Supreme Court and the High Courts on the ground of proven misbehavior and incapacity by an address supported by a 2/3rd majority of the members present and voting and also the majority of their total membership in each House.

The Lok Sabha participates in the impeachment of the President of India. Either of the two Houses of the Parliament frames the charges and the other House sits as a Court of trial.

The resolution passed by the Rajya Sabha for the removal of the Vice-President is subjected to ratification by the Lok Sabha as well.

Proclamation of emergency issued by the President needs the approval of Lok Sabha along with Rajya Sabha for its continuance.

The Lok Sabha, in collaboration with the Rajya Sabha, must devise the system of effectively controlling the official bureaucracy by jealously maintaining its purity and the high standard of its ability and by making it more responsive to the people at large.

The House serves as a public forum. “The potential virtue of a public forum is two-fold. First, it can benefit the spectators who may leam by watching. Second, it can improve the participants who may have yet to find reasons with which to clothe the interests they represent.” The House, in fact, is the mirror and educator of popular feeling. The impact of Parliament is more than political. The habit of orderly discussion, once established, helps to set the tone of public life in general.