Basic Definitions
| Definition | Term |
|---|---|
| The draft of a legislative proposal | Bill |
| Bill passed by both the Houses of Parliament and assented to by the President | Act |
| A member of the House of the People (Lok Sabha) | Member |
| A member other than a Minister | Private Member |
| Termination of a sitting of a House without any definite date being fixed for the next sitting | Adjournment sine die |
| The termination of a session of the House by an order made by the President under article 85(2) (a) of the Constitution. | Prorogation |
| The first hour of a sitting of the House normally allotted for asking and answering of questions | Question Hour |
| The minimum number of members required to be present at a sitting of the House or the Committee for valid transaction of its business. The quorum to constitute a sitting of the House is one-tenth of the total number of members of the House and in respect of a Committee it is one-third of the total number of members of the Committee | Quorum |
| A self-contained independent proposal submitted for the approval of the House and drafted in such a way as to be capable of expressing a decision of the House. | Resolution |
| The vote cast by the Speaker or the Chairman in the case of an equality of votes on a matter | Casting vote |
| Deletion of words, phrases of expression for the proceedings or records of the House (for being defamatory or indecent or unparliamentary or undignified) | Expunction |
Finance Parliamentary Terms
| Definition | Term |
|---|---|
| Annual Financial statement of the estimated receipts and expenditure of the Government of India for a financial year | Budget |
| The estimate of expenditure in respect of a Ministry/Department not charged upon the Consolidated Fund of India, placed for approval before the House on the recommendations of the President | Demand for Grant |
| A Bill ordinarily introduced each year to give effect to the financial proposals of the Government for the following financial year | Finance Bill |
| A bill containing only provisions dealing with all or any of the matters specified in sub-clauses (a) to (g) of Clause (1) of Articel 110 of the Constitution. (Such a bill cannot be introduced without the recommendation of the President and it also cannot be introduced in the Rajya Sabha | Money Bill |
| A Bill passed annually (or at various times of the year) providing for the withdrawal or appropriation from and out of the Consolidated Fund of India of moneys by Lok Sabha and moneys charged on the Consolidated Fund for the services of a financial year or a part thereof. | Appropriation Bill |
| A motion for reduction of a demand for grant by or to a specified amount | Cut motion |
| Cut motion can be of three types - Disapproval of policy cut, Economy cut and Token cut | |
| A grant made by Lok Sabha in advance in respect of the estimated expenditure of the Government of India for a part of a financial year pending the voting of Demands for Grants for the financial year. A Motion for Vote on Account is dealt with in the same way as if it were a demand for grant. | Vote on Account |
Question Related Terms
| Definition | Term |
|---|---|
| A question relating to a matter of public importance of an urgent character asked with notice shorter than ten clear days | Short Notice Question |
| A question to which a member wishes to have an oral answer on the floor of the House and which is distinguished by an asterisk. | Starred Question |
| A question placed on the List of Questions for written answer. The written answer to such a question is deemed to have been laid on the Table at the end of the Question Hour. | Unstarred Question |
Motion Related Terms
| Definition | Term |
|---|---|
| A formal proposal by a member that the House do something, order something to be done or express an opinion with regard to some matter. When adopted it expresses the judgement or will of the House. | Motion |
| Motions are of three types - Substantive Motion, Substitutive Motion and Subsidiary Motion | |
| A self-contained independent proposal submitted for the approval of the House and drafted in such a way as to be capable of expressing a decision of the House, e.g., a Resolutions | Substantive Motion |
| Motions moved in substitution of the original motion for taking into consideration a policy or situation or statement or any other matter. | Substitute Motion |
| A motion which depends upon or relates to another motion or follows upon some proceedings in the House. By itself it has no meaning and is not capable of stating the decision of the House without reference to the original motion or proceedings of the House. | Subsidiary Motion |
| Subsidiary Motions are of three types - Ancillary Motion, Superseding Motion and Amendment | |
| Motion for the adjournment of the debate on Bills, motions or resolutions etc. or motion to retard or to delay the progress of a business under consideration of the House. | Dilatory Motion |
| A formal motion moved in the House expressing its gratitude for the Address delivered by the President under article 87(1) of the Constitution to both Houses of Parliament assembled together. | Motion of Thanks |
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