Indian Federal Setup & Union Legislature

25 vocabulary flashcards summarising essential terms related to India’s federal structure, Parliament, legislative procedures, and constitutional mechanisms.

Federalism (India)

System in which power is constitutionally divided between a strong central government and constituent State governments.

Unitary Government

A government with a single level of authority; sub-units are subordinate to the Centre.

Union Parliament

The supreme legislative body of India comprising the President, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

Lok Sabha

Lower House (House of the People); up to 550 directly elected members; 5-year term; controls the executive.

Rajya Sabha

Upper House (Council of States); permanent body of up to 250 members; one-third retire every 2 years.

Speaker of Lok Sabha

Presiding officer of the Lok Sabha, elected by its members; controls debates, interprets rules, certifies Money Bills.

Question Hour

First hour of a working day when members question Ministers to scrutinise government actions.

Zero Hour

Unscheduled period (12-1 p.m.) after Question Hour when members raise urgent matters without notice.

Quorum

Minimum number (one-tenth of total membership) required for either House to conduct business.

Adjournment

Temporary suspension of a House’s sitting by the Speaker/Chairman for a specified time or day.

Prorogation

Termination of a parliamentary session by the President, on advice of the government.

Adjournment Motion

Proposal to interrupt normal business to discuss a definite matter of urgent public importance.

No-Confidence Motion

Motion moved in Lok Sabha expressing lack of trust in the Council of Ministers; if passed, government must resign.

Money Bill

Bill dealing exclusively with taxation, borrowing or expenditure; can originate only in Lok Sabha; Rajya Sabha has advisory role.

Ordinary Bill

Legislation on any matter other than money; may originate in either House; disagreements resolved by joint sitting.

Joint Sitting

Meeting of both Houses presided over by the Speaker to resolve deadlock on an Ordinary Bill.

Union List

Subjects on which only Parliament can legislate, e.g., Defence, Foreign Affairs, Banking.

State List

Subjects primarily under State legislative competence, e.g., Police, Agriculture, Public Health.

Concurrent List

Subjects on which both Parliament and State Legislatures may legislate; Union law prevails on conflict.

Residuary Powers

Authority of Parliament to legislate on subjects not listed in any of the three schedules.

Interpellation

Right of legislators to seek information from the Executive through questions and discussions.

Anti-Defection Law

Provision disqualifying legislators who defect from their party; Speaker decides cases in Lok Sabha.

Supplementary Grant

Additional funds voted by Parliament when authorised expenditure for the year proves insufficient.

Vote on Account

Temporary provision authorising the government to draw funds until the annual Budget is passed.

Ordinance

Law promulgated by the President when Parliament is not in session; must be approved within six weeks of reassembly.