Question:
What is Parliament ? Discuss the powers and functions of the Parliament.
Answer:
In all democracies, an assembly of elected representatives exercises supreme political authority on behalf of the people. In India, such a national assembly of elected representatives is called the Parliament.
The powers and functions of the Parliament are:
1. It has the power to legislate on all the subjects under the jurisdiction of the central government.
2. It passes ordinary and financial bills.
3. It approves emergency proclaimed by the President.
4. Elected members of both the houses of the Parliament participate in the elections of the President of India.
5. The Vice President is elected by the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
6. It has the power to remove the President, Vice President and Judges of the High Court and Supreme Court through special procedures.
7. It also exercises control over the executive.
8. It also discusses the policies of the government.