Parliamentary Procedures and Bills
~10 min read
- Types of bills: Ordinary, Money, Financial, Constitution Amendment.
- Money Bill: Article 110. Only introduced in LS, on President's recommendation. RS can only recommend changes within 14 days; LS may accept or reject. Speaker certifies.
- Joint sitting: Article 108 — for ordinary bills only. Presided by Speaker. Used three times (1961, 1978, 2002).
Parliament passes bills through standardised procedures. Different bill types have different rules. NDA tests the distinction between Money Bill and Financial Bill, the joint sitting provision, and parliamentary devices.
Types of Bills
| Bill | Initiation | RS role | President's role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ordinary Bill | Either house | Equal — can amend or reject; joint sitting (Article 108) if deadlock | Sign, return once, or pocket veto |
| Money Bill (Art. 110) | Only Lok Sabha, with President's recommendation | Only recommendations within 14 days — LS may accept or ignore | Sign or withhold; cannot return |
| Financial Bill (Article 117(1)) | Only LS, with President's recommendation | RS has equal powers (unlike Money Bill) | Same as ordinary |
| Constitution Amendment (Art. 368) | Either house | Both houses must pass with 2/3 of members present and voting and majority of total membership | Must sign — cannot withhold (after 24th Am.) |
Money Bill — Article 110
A bill is a Money Bill if it deals only with matters in Article 110 — taxation, borrowing, Consolidated Fund withdrawals, etc.
- Introduced only in Lok Sabha, only on recommendation of the President.
- Rajya Sabha: Can only make recommendations; cannot reject or amend. LS may accept or ignore. RS must return within 14 days, else bill is deemed passed.
- Speaker certifies whether a bill is a money bill — decision is final and not subject to judicial review.
- President's role: Must sign or withhold; cannot return for reconsideration.
Joint Sitting (Article 108)
- Called by President when houses disagree on an ordinary bill (not money or constitutional amendment).
- Presided over by Speaker of Lok Sabha (or in his absence, Deputy Speaker; otherwise Deputy Chairman of RS).
- LS has numerical advantage (~543 vs 245), so usually carries the day.
- Used only three times: Dowry Prohibition Bill 1961, Banking Service Commission (Repeal) Bill 1978, Prevention of Terrorism Bill (POTA) 2002.
Motions and Devices
| Device | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Question Hour | 11 am–12 noon; ministers answer questions |
| Zero Hour | 12 noon onwards; raise urgent matters without prior notice |
| Adjournment Motion | Discusses urgent matter of public importance; allowed only in LS; needs 50 members to support |
| Calling Attention | MP calls minister's attention to urgent matter; minister makes brief statement |
| No-confidence motion | Against the entire CoM in LS; if passed, CoM resigns. Needs 50 members |
| Confidence motion | Moved by government to prove majority |
| Censure motion | Criticises a minister or the CoM; doesn't bring down government |
| Cut motions | Reduce budget demand: Policy cut (Re 1), Economy cut (specified), Token cut (Rs 100) |
| Privilege motion | For breach of parliamentary privilege by minister or officer |
Parliamentary Committees
Financial Committees:
- Public Accounts Committee (PAC) — 22 members (15 LS + 7 RS). Chairman from opposition, since 1967. Scrutinises CAG reports.
- Estimates Committee — 30 members (LS only). Examines budget estimates.
- Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU) — 22 members. Examines PSUs.
Department-Related Standing Committees (DRSCs): 24 committees, each tracking one ministry. 31 members each (21 LS + 10 RS). Examine bills, demands for grants, annual reports.
NDA PYQ Examples
Q: A Money Bill can be introduced only in:
(a) Rajya Sabha (b) Lok Sabha (c) Either house (d) Joint sitting
Answer: (b) Lok Sabha — Article 110.
Q: Who decides whether a Bill is a Money Bill?
(a) President (b) Speaker of Lok Sabha (c) Chairman of Rajya Sabha (d) Supreme Court
Answer: (b) Speaker of Lok Sabha — decision is final.
Q: How many times has a joint sitting been held in India?
(a) Once (b) Twice (c) Three times (d) Five times
Answer: (c) Three times — 1961, 1978, 2002.
Drill Parliamentary Procedures and Bills for NDA
NDA-pattern items on Parliamentary Procedures and Bills with answer keys and explanations.
Start Free Mock TestFrequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Money Bill and Financial Bill?
Money Bill (Art. 110) contains ONLY matters listed in Article 110 (taxes, borrowing, CFI). Financial Bill (Art. 117) contains some of those matters PLUS other matters. Money Bill goes through Speaker certification; Financial Bill doesn't. RS has limited role in Money Bills; equal role in Financial Bills.
Why is Public Accounts Committee headed by opposition?
Convention since 1967 to ensure independent scrutiny of government finances. PAC examines whether public money was spent as authorised by Parliament. Having an opposition chair ensures unbiased examination.
What is a vote on account?
An advance grant by Parliament to the government to meet expenses for a part of the financial year, pending passage of the full Budget. Usually for 2 months. Same as in Article 116.
How does an ordinance work?
Under Article 123, President can promulgate an ordinance when Parliament is not in session. It has the same force as an Act. Must be approved by Parliament within 6 weeks of reassembly, else lapses. Cannot be promulgated on matters Parliament cannot legislate on.
What is a Private Members' Bill?
A bill introduced by an MP who is not a minister. Allotted Friday afternoons in LS. Most don't pass — only 14 Private Members' Bills have become law in India's history.