Strength of the Houses

• The Lok Sabha or the House of people has a maximum strength of 550 members (up to January 2020 it had 552 members).
• The 104th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019 abolished the two additional members who were appointed from the Anglo-Indian community.
• A candidate for membership of the Lok Sabha must be a citizen of India and not less than 25 years of age. The tenure of the Lok Sabha is five years.
• The Leader of Opposition is the politician who leads the official opposition in either House of the Parliament. i.e Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha.

Rajya Sabha

• In the Rajya Sabha in India, states are represented on the basis of population.
• In the Rajya Sabha, 12 members are nominated by the President from persons having special knowledge or practical experience of literature, science, art and social service.
• The normal function of the Vice-President is to act as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
• As per Article 80 of the Indian Constitution, the maximum permissible strength of the Upper House of the Parliament, i.e., Rajya Sabha is 250.
• Out of the total 250, 238 are representatives from the States and Union Territories and 12 are nominated by the President.
• Currently, the maximum strength for Rajya Sabha is 245, of which 233 are elected by the legislatures of the states and union territories and the remaining 12 are nominated by the President.

Committee on Estimates

• The Estimates Committee is the largest Committee of the Parliament.
• The Estimates Committee has 30 members and all these members are from Lok Sabha.
• This committee tries to report the economy and efficiency in expenditures.
• The members are elected by Lok Sabha members from amongst themselves every year by principles of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote so that all parties get a due presentation in it.
• A minister cannot be elected as member / Chairman of the estimates committee.

Parliamentary System of Government

• The nominal executive is the head of state e.g. President while the real executive is the Prime Minister, who is the head of government.
• In such a system, the role of president or monarch is primarily ceremonial and the Prime Minister along with the cabinet wields effective power.
• Countries with such a system include Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom as well as Portugal.
• The Constitution of India provides for a parliamentary form of government, both at the Centre and in the States.
• Articles 74 and 75 deal with the parliamentary system of government at the Union level and Articles 163 and 164 contain provisions with regard to the States.
• Executive is responsible to the legislature for its policies and acts.

Simple Majority in Parliament

• This refers to the majority of more than 50% of the members present and voting. This is also known as functional majority or working majority.
• The simple majority is the most frequently used form of majority in Parliamentary business. When the constitution or the laws do not specify the type of majority needed, the simple majority is considered for voting.
• Ordinary bills need to be passed with a simple majority in both Houses of the Parliament before it is sent to Indian President for his assent.
• Cases where the simple majority is used:

1. To pass Ordinary/Money/Financial bills.
2. To pass Non-Confidence Motion/Adjournment Motion/Censure Motion/Confidence Motion.
3. For the removal of Vice President majority required in Lok Sabha is the simple majority – A67(b).
4. To declare a financial emergency.
5. To declare a state emergency (President’s rule).
6. Election of Speaker/Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha and State legislatures.

• Special Majority is needed to pass a constitutional amendment bill which does not affect federalism.