Q10 of 10 Page 122

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

A significant feature of the legislative process is the appointment of committees for various legislative purposes. These committees play a vital role not merely in law making, but also in the day-to-day business of the House.


1. A large part of the discussion on the bills takes place in the committees. The recommendation of the committee is then sent to the House. That is why committees are referred to as miniature legislatures.


2. The Committee has influenced the overseeing and appraisal of legislation of legislation by Parliament. The Parliament rarely rejects the recommendations of the committee.


3. There are over twenty departmentally related committees. Standing Committees supervise the work of various departments, their budget, their expenditure and bills that come up in the house relating to the department.


4. The Joint Parliamentary Committees have occupied a position of eminence in our country. Joint Parliamentary Committees (JPCs) can be set up for the purpose of discussing a particular bill.


5. Thus Parliamentary Committees have reduced the burden on the legislature and saves time of the parliament.


6. The Parliament has merely approved the work done in the committees with few occasional alterations.


More from this chapter

All 10 →
6

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?

 7

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.

 8

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?

 9

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