compare the legislative and financial powers of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on the basis of your comparison which one of the two houses is more powerful and how
Answers
We have already discussed above that the Rajya Sabha is a permanent House. It has some special functions to perform as provided in Arts. 249 and 312. In the matter of Money Bills the Rajya Sabha has very limited powers. A vote of no confidence can neither be introduced nor passed by the Rajya Sabha. In case of a joint sitting to resolve a dead-lock in case of Ordinary Bills the position of Rajya Sabha is slightly weak owing of its lack of numbers as compared to the Lok Sabha. Even though the Rajya Sabha has less powers as compared to the Lok Sabha there are certain reasons to support its continued existence which may be summed up as under— 1. In a federal Constitution a second chamber is considered necessary. 2. Senior politicians as well as persons who have specialized in any particular field may get through to the Rajya Sabha by indirect election. It is not for every one to obtain support of the masses in direct election for the Lok Sabha. 3. Sometimes the popular house which is directly elected is tempted to take populist measures in order to please the electorate. In such cases the Rajya Sabha may play the role of applying the brakes and delaying the matter.
Due to its federal character, the Rajya Sabha has been given two exclusive or special powers that are not enjoyed by the Lok Sabha: 1. It can authorise the Parliament to make a law on a subject enumerated in the State List (Article 249). 2. It can authorise the Parliament to create new All-India Services common to both the Centre and states (Article 312). An analysis of the above points makes it clear that the position of the Rajya Sabha in our constitutional system is not as weak as that of the House of Lords in the British constitutional system nor as strong as that of the Senate in the American constitutional system. Except in financial matters and control over the council of ministers, the powers and status of the Rajya Sabha in all other spheres are broadly equal and coordinate with that of the Lok Sabha. Even though the Rajya Sabha has been given less powers as compared with the Lok Sabha, its utility is supported on the following grounds: 1. It checks hasty, defective, careless and ill-considered legislation made by the Lok Sabha by making provision of revision and thought. 2. It facilitates giving representation to eminent professionals and experts who cannot face the direct election. The President nominates 12 such persons to the Rajya Sabha. 3. It maintains the federal equilibrium by protecting the interests of the states against the undue interference of the Centre.
Due to its federal character, the Rajya Sabha has been given two exclusive or special powers that are not enjoyed by the Lok Sabha: 1. It can authorise the Parliament to make a law on a subject enumerated in the State List (Article 249). 2. It can authorise the Parliament to create new All-India Services common to both the Centre and states (Article 312). An analysis of the above points makes it clear that the position of the Rajya Sabha in our constitutional system is not as weak as that of the House of Lords in the British constitutional system nor as strong as that of the Senate in the American constitutional system. Except in financial matters and control over the council of ministers, the powers and status of the Rajya Sabha in all other spheres are broadly equal and coordinate with that of the Lok Sabha