Powers and Functions of Lok Sabha
Following are the important powers and functions of Lok Sabha
Legislative Powers
The House of People aslo known as Lok Sabha has vast legislative powers. It can make any law along with the Rajya Sabha in Union and Concurrent Lists. Sometime it can make law in. the State List, wherever the Rajya Sabha passed a resolution that the certain matter has national importance. In case of disagreement between the two Houses, the President may summon a joint sitting of both the houses, and the issue is removed by a majority of total members of both the houses present and voting. Its legislative powers increase immensely during emergency.
Executive Powers
The Indian system of government is Parliamentary, which means that the Ministers are responsible to the legislature. Hence they both must have, individually aid collectively, the support and confidence of the majority in the Lok Sabha. Otherwise, or the Minister concerned must go. Thus the Lok Sabha makes or unmakes the cabinet. It can do so in many ways. It may reject an important bill supported by the Council of Ministers or reject a policy supported by it or reject a demand for money asked by the Cabinet or pass. a vote of no confidence in it. When it does anyone off-these things the Council of Ministers must either resign or ask the President to dissolve it or hold fresh elections. If defeated in these elections, the cabinet headed by its Prime Minister must resin and the new majority party shall form a new cabinet.
The government can also be exposed by the House by an action of adjournment motion for discussing a matter of urgent importance. The Lok Sabha also supervises the day-to-day activities of the Union Government by asking questions during the question hour. Rajya Sabha has no such powers over the Indian Cabinet.
Financial Powers
The Lok Sabha has the exclusive financial powers. It is custodian or the national purse. All the financial bills are initiated in the Lok ‘Sabha’ and not in the Rajya Sabha. A money bill-passed by the Lower House is sent to the Upper House, which must be returned within 14 days with or without amendments. The amendment made by the Rajya Sabha, may be accepted or rejected by the Lok Sabha. If it rejects the changes of the upper chamber the original bill is sent to the President for his assent and becomes an act. Besides, the Lok Sabha passes the budget and determines how money is raised and spent.
Judicial Powers
The Lok Sabha shares the power of impeaching the President for violation of the constitution with the Rajya Sabha. It also shares with the latter the power of removing the judges of the Supreme Court or High Courts by an address to the President if supported by majority of the total membership of the house and less than 2/3rd majority of its members present and voting.
Miscellaneous
- It shares with the Rajya Sabha the power to amend the constitution,
- It shares with the Rajya Sabha and the State legislature the right to elect the President,
- It shares with the Rajya Sabha the right of approval of the proclamation of emergency issued by the President,
- It has equal power with: the upper house of choosi-ng or dismissing the Vice-President.
However, in spite of all these powers, the Lok Sabha is not as much powerful as the British House of Commons, since the laws enacted by Parliament are subject to judicial review of the Supreme Court if they run counter to the Indian constitution.