Rather than effective control of the executive, the Lok Sabha is a platform for the expression of popular sentiments and people’s expectations. Do you agree? Give reasons.

Dolly and Sudha are debating about the efficiency and effectiveness of the Parliament in recent times. Dolly believed that the decline of Indian Parliament is evident in the less time spent on debate and discussion and increase in the disturbances of the functioning of the House and walkouts etc. Sudha contends that the fall of different governments on the floor of Lok Sabha is a proof of its vibrancy.

What other arguments can you provide to support or oppose the positions of Dolly and Sudha?

How has the system of parliamentary committee affected the overseeing and appraisal of legislation by the Parliament?

Arrange the different stages of passing of a bill into a law in their correct sequence:

1. A resolution is passed to admit the bill for discussion

2. The bill is referred to the President of India – write what happens next if s/he does not sign it

3. The bill is referred to other House and is passed

4. The bill is passed in the house in which it was proposed

5. The bill is read clause by clause and each is voted upon

6. The bill is referred to the subcommittee – the committee makes some changes and sends it back to the house for discussion

7. The concerned minister proposes the need for a bill

8. Legislative department in ministry of law, drafts a bill

The following are some proposals for making the Parliament more effective. State if you agree or disagree with each of them and give your reasons. Explain what would be the effect if these suggestions were accepted.

A. Parliament should work for longer period.

B. Attendance should be made compulsory for members of Parliament.

C. Speakers should be empowered to penalise members for interrupting the proceedings of the House.

Rather than effective control of the executive, the Lok Sabha is a platform for the expression of popular sentiments and people’s expectations. Do you agree? Give reasons.

Why can the Lok Sabha control the executive more effectively than the Rajya Sabha can?

Alok thinks that a country needs an efficient government that looks after the welfare of the people. So, if we simply elected our Prime Minister and Ministers and left to them the task of government, we will not need a legislature. Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer.

A class was debating the merits of a bicameral system. The following points were made during the discussion. Read the arguments and say if you agree or disagree with each of them, giving reasons.

A. Neha said that bicameral legislature does not serve any purpose.

B. Shama argued that experts should be nominated in the second chamber.

C. Tridib said that if a country is not a federation, then there is no need to have a second chamber.

Which of the following statements you agree with the most? Give your reasons.

A. Legislators must be free to join any party they want.

B. Anti-defection law has contributed to the domination of the party leaders over the legislators.

C. Defection is always for selfish purposes and therefore, a legislator who wants to join another party must be disqualified from being a minister for the next two years.

Arif wanted to know that if ministers propose most of the important bills and if the majority party often gets the government bills passed, what is the role of the Parliament in the law-making process? What answer would you give him?