Lok Sabha Members, History, Tenure, Power and Functioning

Lok Sabha

After the first General Elections were held from 25 October 1951 to 21 February 1952, the Lok Sabha (House of the People) was legally formed for the first time on 17 April 1952.

Read about: List of Prime Minister of India

Lok Sabha Constitutional Provision

The Lok Sabha’s composition is covered in Article 81. The maximum number, according to this article, should be as follows

• No more than 530 state representatives.
• The Union Territories may send no more than 20 representatives.
• The President of India may appoint no more than two members of the Anglo Indian Community if, in his/her opinion, the community is not sufficiently represented in the legislature.
• As a result, the Lok Sabha’s total membership is now 552, or 530 + 20 + 2.

Lok Sabha Members & Grounds Of Disqualifications

According to Article 102 of the Constitution, a person is ineligible to be elected to, and to serve as, a member of either House of Parliament:

• If he holds a position of profit under the control of the Government of India or the Government of any State that is not one for which Parliament has passed a law exempting the holder;
• If a court of competent jurisdiction has determined that he is mentally incompetent;
• If he has not been declared insolvent,
• If he is not an Indian citizen, or if he has chosen to become a citizen of another country, or if he has pledged his loyalty to another country;
• If he is otherwise ineligible under a law passed by Parliament.

The Representation of People Act (1951) established the additional disqualifications listed below by the Parliament.

• He must not have been convicted of any election-related crimes or unethical behaviour.
• He must not have been convicted of any crime that resulted in a sentence of two years or more in prison. However, being detained under a legislation that allows for preventative detention is not a bar to eligibility.
• He must not have missed the deadline for submitting an account of his election-related expenses.
• He must not be interested in any projects, services, or contracts with the government.
• He cannot occupy a position of profit or serve as a director or managing agent for a company in which the government owns at least a quarter of the shares.
• He can’t have had his employment with the government terminated due to dishonesty or corruption.
• He must not have been guilty of bribery or encouraging animosity between various groups.

Lok Sabha Process of Selection of Members

Universal Adult Franchise (Article 326)

According to the 61st Amendment Act, every citizen who is at least 18 years old is eligible to vote in Lok Sabha elections. However, it is crucial that his name appear on the voters list for his constituency.

Reservation of Seats for SCs and STs

For Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, some constituencies are set aside. Reserved Constituencies are what they are known as. Only SC or ST candidates, if appropriate, may run for office from each reserved constituency. However, every voter in each of these constituencies exercises their right to vote to choose one SC or ST candidate to serve as their representative. 131 seats are currently reserved (84 for SCs and 47 for STs).

Single Member Territorial Constituencies

The number of geographical constituencies that make up the entire nation equals the number of Lok Sabha members that will be elected. Every constituency elects one MP.

Direct Election and Simple Majority Vote Victory system

All of the Lok Sabha’s members are chosen by popular vote. Any voter may cast a ballot to support the election of any candidate from his or her constituency. The candidate who receives the most votes among all candidates running in a constituency is chosen to serve as the Lok Sabha member representing the residents of that seat.

Read about: List of Vice Presidents of India

Lok Sabha Tenure of a Member

The ordinary tenure of the Lok Sabha is five years. Its duration may be increased in an emergency by one year. However, six months after the end of the emergency, new Lok Sabha elections must be held. Additionally, when the Prime Minister of India advises it or when no party is in a position to do so, the President has the power to dissolve the Lok Sabha. In this circumstance, a new Lok Sabha must also be legitimately elected within six months.

Read about: List of Chief Ministers of India

Lok Sabha Sessions

The President may call a session of Parliament at any time, although no more than six months must pass between meetings. It implies that the Lok Sabha must hold at least two sessions in a calendar year.

Lok Sabha Meeting

The Lok Sabha must have at least one-tenth of its total members present in order to constitute a quorum. The Speaker of the House has the authority to adjourn a Lok Sabha meeting for lack of quorum if 1/10th of the members are not present.

Read about: Viceroy of India

Lok Sabha Power and Function

Legislative Powers

Once a regular bill has been approved by both Houses of Parliament, it can then become law. Although common legislation may be introduced in either of the two chambers of Parliament, the Lok Sabha receives over 90% of the introductions.

If a law passed by the Lok Sabha is rejected by the Rajya Sabha and returned with or without changes, the Lok Sabha reconsiders the bill. A deadlock results if the Lok Sabha approves it again but the Rajya Sabha is still unwilling to approve it. If this impasse is not broken after six months, the President calls a combined meeting of the two Houses in accordance with Article 108’s rules. Both Houses have agreed to the combined sitting’s decision.

Executive Powers

The Council of Ministers is jointly liable before the Lok Sabha under Article 75(3). The Prime Minister is chosen by the majority in the Lok Sabha. The Lok Sabha is home to the majority of the ministries. As long as the majority in the Lok Sabha has confidence in them, the ministers remain in their positions. In accordance with the mechanism outlined in Rule 198 of the norms of procedure and conduct of business of the Lok Sabha, the Lok Sabha has the power to remove the ministry from office by voting a vote of no-confidence against it. As a result, the Lok Sabha has the power to make or break the Ministry. The Lok Sabha continues to have oversight of the Council of Ministers.

Ministers can be questioned by MPs about the administration’s policies and activities. They are free to critique their actions. The Indian Constitution’s Article 75 confers the right to ask inquiries. They are capable of moving and adopting a variety of resolutions and motions (adjournment motion, call attention motion, censure motion, and no-confidence motion)

Financial Powers

The Lok Sabha has extensive budgetary authority. A money bill may only be introduced in the Lok Sabha in accordance with the guidelines provided by Article 109. The money bill then moves on to the Rajya Sabha after being approved by it. The Lok Sabha Speaker decides if a certain law qualifies as a money bill or not in the event of a disagreement. His judgement is final, and there is no way to appeal it in a court, the Rajya Sabha, or the Lok Sabha.

As a result, we can assert that the Lok Sabha has ultimate authority over the state’s finances. No tax can be imposed, collected, modified, or eliminated without the Lok Sabha’s consent. Without the Lok Sabha’s approval, the government cannot carry out its fiscal policy.

Judicial Powers

A few judicial tasks are also carried out by the Lok Sabha. Both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha have the authority to consider the impeachment procedures against the President stated in Article 61. Only when both Houses have passed an impeachment resolution with a 2/3 majority of their members can the President be removed from office.

Additionally, the Rajya Sabha’s allegations against India’s vice president are subject to scrutiny by the Lok Sabha. As per the guidelines set forth in Article 124 (4), the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha may jointly adopt a resolution to dismiss any judge of the Supreme Court or of a State High Court.

For the expulsion of some high-ranking state officials, such as the Attorney General of India, the Chief Election Commissioner, and the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, both Houses may pass a special address jointly and submit it to the President. In addition, the Lok Sabha has the authority to punish any individual who is found guilty of contempt of the House, whether they are a member or a citizen.

Electoral Functions

Additionally, the Lok Sabha has some electoral duties. The Lok Sabha’s elected members participate in the presidential election. In accordance with Article 66 of the Indian Constitution, members of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha vote to choose the vice president of India. The Lok Sabha’s members also choose from among themselves the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

Read about: Preamble of Indian Constitution

Lok Sabha UPSC

Lok Sabha plays a big part in how parliament works. Despite the ups and downs of Indian politics, the Lok Sabha has remained a leader for political and social values and a melting pot of cultural diversity. Along with the Rajya Sabha, it serves as a flag bearer for the independent, socialist, secular, and democratic republic of India.

Sharing is caring!