Parliament in one frame
Parliament consists of the President, Rajya Sabha, and Lok Sabha. Rajya Sabha is a continuing House. Lok Sabha ordinarily has a five-year life unless sooner dissolved. Prorogation ends a session; dissolution ends Lok Sabha itself.
No more than six months may intervene between the last sitting of one session and the first sitting of the next. The President summons and prorogues the Houses and may dissolve Lok Sabha under the constitutional system.
Bill-type comparison
| Feature | Ordinary Bill | Money Bill | Constitutional Amendment Bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction | Either House | Lok Sabha only | Either House |
| Rajya Sabha | Equal legislative role | Recommendations within 14 days | Equal special-majority role |
| Joint sitting | Possible on specified deadlock | Not available | Not available |
| President | Assent under Article 111 | Assent route after special procedure | Must give assent after valid passage |
A Money Bill must concern only the matters listed in Article 110. The Speaker certifies it. Rajya Sabha may recommend changes, but Lok Sabha decides whether to accept them.
Financial control and accountability
The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to Lok Sabha. A no-confidence motion is therefore a Lok Sabha instrument. Question Hour, debates, motions, budget approval, and committees create scrutiny.
- Public Accounts Committee: examines appropriation and finance accounts and CAG reports.
- Estimates Committee: suggests economies and improvements in organisation and administration.
- Committee on Public Undertakings: examines selected public enterprises and related audit material.
Lapse and ordinance traps
Dissolution of Lok Sabha does not make every pending bill lapse. The result depends on where the bill originated and where it is pending. A bill pending in Rajya Sabha that has not been passed by Lok Sabha does not lapse merely because Lok Sabha is dissolved.
The President’s ordinance power under Article 123 is temporary legislative power available when the constitutional session condition is met and immediate action is considered necessary. An ordinance must be placed before Parliament and cannot be treated as permanent executive law.
Final elimination checklist
- Classify the bill.
- Identify the initiating House.
- Check Rajya Sabha’s exact power.
- Ask whether joint sitting exists.
- Separate adjournment, prorogation, and dissolution.
- For a committee question, distinguish audit examination from policy execution.
Most parliamentary procedure errors come from applying the Money Bill rule to every financial proposal.