Functions of Parliament

Legislative Functions:- The parliament makes laws on all subjects listed in the Union List. It can also make laws on subjects listed under the Concurrent List. In case there is any conflict or overlapping in the provisions existing in the Union and State enactment, the Union law prevails.

In cases when an emergency has been declared, the Union Parliament can also make laws on subjects that fall within the State List.

Financial Control: - Union Parliament has exclusive powers to provide ways and means through which revenue has to be raised for public services. To that end, it imposes taxes and also ensures that the money sanctioned for expenditure to various departments of the government has been spent for authorized purposes.

1. Providing and exercising control over Cabinet: - Our Parliamentary system blends the legislative and the executive organs of the State in as much as the executive power is wielded by a group of Members of the Legislature who command a majority in the Lok sabha.

To be more specific the government functions through various Ministries under the charge of different Ministers. The Parliament provides the Ministers and holds them responsible to the elected representatives of the people.

The ministers could be members of either of the two Houses of Parliament. The execution of the government policies as decided by the Parliament is carried out by the bureaucracy headed by a Secretary of the Department.

1. Critical Assessment of the Work of the Cabinet: - The Parliament provides the forum through which is ensured that the Cabinet remains in power only as long as it commands majority support in the Lok Sabha which comprises elected representatives of the people, it is one of the most important functions of the Parliament to bring about discussions and critical assessments of the performance of the government departments.

The debates ensure that the weaknesses in terms of performance are brought to light and the Ministers and through them, the entire executive machinery is kept on toes.

2. Role of oppositions:- The existence of opposition also ensures that the nation gets to know about the alternative points of view.
3. An organ of information:- Parliament is the most powerful organ as far as the information about the functioning of the government is concerned. The information provided in the Houses is authoritative and Ministers are bound to provide information on matters of government when so desired by the members.
4. Constitutional functions: - The power to amend the Constitution vests with the Parliament. Constitutional amendments have to be passed by each house by a majority of total membership as well as by the two-thirds majority of members present in voting.

In some cases, amendments need ratification from half of the Legislative assemblies of the States.

6. Judicial Functions: - Parliament has the exclusive powers to impeach the President and remove judges of the Supreme Court and the High Court through a prescribed procedure.
Parliament can also punish a person for contempt or defamation of the House.
7. Elective functions: - Elected members of the Rajya Sabha and the Lok sabha constitute the Electoral College for the election of the Vice-President. Along with elected members of the State Legislatures, they form the Electoral College for election to the office of the President.

The Parliament can also by legislation create new States or make changes in the existing boundaries of the States. As in the case of the formation of states like Jharkhand, Uttrakhand, etc.

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