Powers Of Lok Sabha And Rajya Sabha

Lok Sabha: The Lok Sabha enjoys many powers in legislative, financial, electoral, administrative and constitutional spheres.

It makes laws on all subjects included in the Union and concurrent lists.
It has certain unique financial powers. All money bills including the budget shall be introduced in the Lok Sabha.
The Speaker sends all money bills to the assent of the President if the Rajya Sabha does not approve them within fourteen days. 3) It elects the President and the Vice-President along with the Rajya Sabha.
It exercises control over the Union Council of Ministers.
It can amend the provisions of the constitution along with the Rajya Sabha.
It can also discuss the reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Finance Commission.

The Lok Sabha enjoys exclusive powers in two cases. These relate to the money bills and control over the executive. In the first case, the Lok Sabha has the privilege of receiving all money bills in the first instance. Similarly, its approval on money bills is enough for sending the latter to the assent of the President. The Rajya Sabha can’t best stop a money bill for fourteen days only… In the second case, the Lok Sabha exercises control over the Union Council of Ministers. The members exercise control over the ministry by asking questions, supplementary questions and by moving adjournment motions, no-confidence motions against the Ministry. So the ministry has to take the Lok Sabha into its confidence on all major issues of national and international Significance..

Rajya Sabha :

The Rajya Sabha acts as a brake for checking the hasty and ill-considered legislation of the Lok Sabha. Except in financial and executive matters, it enjoys co-ordinate – powers with the Lok Sabha.

The Rajya Sabha considers and accepts all ordinary bills introduced by its members. As the Lok Sabha, it accepts legislation over the matters included in the Union List and Concurrent List.

The Rajya Sabha accepts all money bills within fourteen days after they are accepted by the Lok Sabha.

The Rajya Sabha participates in the election of the President and the Vice-President.

The Rajya Sabha discusses the bills in regard to the amendment of the constitution. The Rajya Sabha influences the decisions of the Union Council of Ministers by advising the latter on important matters. The Rajya Sabha can move an impeachment resolution against the President.

Special Powers

The Rajya Sabha has the following special powers.

It requests the Parliament to make legislation on the subjects included in the State List for promoting national interests (Article 249).

It recommends to the Parliament for creating an All India Service (Article 312).

When the Lok Sabha is dissolved and when the President declares an emergency in the country, the Rajya Sabha accepts the President’s declaration of emergency.

Relations between the two Houses

The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha are the two Houses in the Indian Parliament. While the former consists of representatives of the people, the latter gives representation to the States. The Lok Sabha represents popular sovereignty and the Rajya Sabha represents the interests of states in our federal system. The Lok Sabha has a fixed tenure. But the Rajya Sabha is a permanent body. The two houses enjoy equal powers in legislative, constitutional, electoral and judicial matters. Every bill, whether it is a money bill or ordinary bill, must be presented to both the Houses. Both the Houses have to accept every bill. However, the Lok Sabha has complete and final authority on Money Bills. The Money Bills are introduced in the Lok Sabha with the recommendation of the President and certification of the Speaker: Passed by the Lok Sabha, the Bill goes to the Raiva Sabha, which is under obligation to return it within 14 days. It non-response within the stipulated time would be deemed to be approved. If the Rajya Sabha rejects or amends the bill, it is reconsidered and voted in the Lok Sabha. However, the Lok Sabha is not bound to accept the recommendation or amendment. Since there is no provision of joint sitting in case of Money Bills, the Lok Sabha has the Final say,

In regard to the control over the executive, the Lok Sabha enjoys. special powers. The Union Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister is responsible to the Lok Sabha only. The members of the Lok Sabha exercise their control over the ministry through questions, supplementary questions and by introducing non-confidence motions. On the whole, the makers of our constitution considered that the two Houses would function on a cooperative basis in passing the bills and in checking the despotism of the Union Government and in protecting the interests of the people.