Sessions of Parliament

(How and when the Parliament meets, pauses, and ends)

Summoning — “Calling the House to Meet”

Let’s begin with the word itself — “Summon” means to call together.
Just like the principal of a school decides when the classes will reopen after holidays,
in Parliament, this power rests with the President of India.

Constitutional Provision

• The President summons each House of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) to meet at such time and place as he/she thinks fit.
• But there is a time limit:
  👉 The gap between two sessions cannot be more than six months.

In simple terms —

Parliament must meet at least twice every year, and the gap between two sessions can’t exceed six months.

Usual Sessions of Parliament

Although the Constitution does not specify how many sessions must be held,
by convention, India has three sessions every year:

Session	Months	Key Focus
Budget Session	February – May	Union Budget, Finance Bill
Monsoon Session	July – September	Policy debates, bills
Winter Session	November – December	Review and pending bills

Session vs Sitting vs Recess

Let’s clarify these commonly confused terms:

Term	Meaning
Session	The full period between the first sitting and prorogation (or dissolution, in case of Lok Sabha).
Sitting	A single day’s meeting of the House. Each day usually has a morning (11 AM–1 PM) and post-lunch (2–6 PM) sitting.
Recess	The gap between two sessions of Parliament — i.e., when it’s not meeting at all.

So, Session → made up of many Sittings, and Recess → break between two Sessions.

Adjournment — “Pause for a While”

During an ongoing session, the House doesn’t sit continuously; it takes breaks — sometimes for lunch, sometimes for days.
This temporary suspension of sitting is called Adjournment.

Key Points:

• Ordered by the Presiding Officer (Speaker/Chairman).
• Duration may be hours, days, or weeks.
• Does not end the session — only suspends proceedings temporarily.

Adjournment Sine Die — “Adjourned Without Fixing a Day”

Now, sometimes, the presiding officer ends a sitting without specifying when the House will reassemble next.
That’s called Adjournment Sine Die.

• Sine die literally means “without a day.”
• The House stands suspended for an indefinite period until further notice.
• The Presiding Officer (Speaker/Chairman) has the power to call the House again before the scheduled date, if required.

Prorogation — “Official End of a Session”

Once all business of a session is over, the President formally ends it by issuing a notification of prorogation.

Usually, the sequence is:

1. The Speaker/Chairman adjourns the House sine die (ending daily meetings).
2. Then, within a few days, the President formally prorogues the session.

However, the President can also prorogue while the House is still in session — that is, without waiting for adjournment sine die.

🧮 Adjournment vs Prorogation

Point of Difference	Adjournment	Prorogation
Meaning	Ends only a sitting	Ends an entire session
Authority	Ordered by Presiding Officer	Done by President of India
Effect on Business	Does not affect pending business; resumes when House meets again	Also does not affect pending Bills, but pending notices (except for introducing Bills) lapse
British Practice	—	In the UK, all pending Bills lapse on prorogation

So, prorogation = formal closure of one session before the next one starts.

Dissolution — “End of the House Itself”

Now, here comes the biggest full stop — Dissolution.

Unlike prorogation, which ends a session, dissolution ends the very life of the Lok Sabha.

Rajya Sabha vs Lok Sabha

• Rajya Sabha → Permanent body → ❌ cannot be dissolved.
• Lok Sabha → Temporary body → ✅ can be dissolved.

Two Ways Lok Sabha Can Be Dissolved

1. Automatic Dissolution:
   • On expiry of five years (or the extended term during National Emergency).
2. Early Dissolution:
   • When President dissolves Lok Sabha on advice of the Council of Ministers.
   • Once dissolved, this decision is irrevocable.

Effect of Dissolution on Pending Business

When the Lok Sabha is dissolved, its pending business also “dies” — but not everything dies equally. Let’s classify:

Situation	Does it Lapse?
Bill pending in Lok Sabha (originating there or received from Rajya Sabha)	✅ Lapses
Bill passed by Lok Sabha but pending in Rajya Sabha	✅ Lapses
Bill pending in Rajya Sabha but not passed by Lok Sabha	❌ Does not lapse
Bill for which President has notified Joint Sitting before dissolution	❌ Does not lapse
Bill passed by both Houses but awaiting President’s assent	❌ Does not lapse
Bill returned by President for reconsideration (both Houses)	❌ Does not lapse

🔹 Also, pending assurances to be examined by the Committee on Government Assurances do not lapse.

Quorum — “Minimum Attendance Rule”

Even after summoning, prorogation, and all formalities, Parliament can’t transact business unless enough members are present.

This minimum number is called the Quorum.

Constitutional Provision:

• Article 100 (Clause 3):
  Quorum = 1/10th of the total number of members of the House, including the presiding officer.

House	Total Members	Minimum Quorum
Lok Sabha	543	55
Rajya Sabha	245	25

If the quorum is not met:

• The Presiding Officer must adjourn the House or suspend the meeting until quorum is reached.

This ensures that laws are made only when a minimum representative presence exists.

🧩 Concept Flow at a Glance

Stage	Who Does It	What It Means	Effect
Summoning	President	Calls the House to meet	Begins a new session
Adjournment	Presiding Officer	Suspends a sitting for some time	Temporary pause
Adjournment Sine Die	Presiding Officer	Ends sitting for indefinite time	House stops meeting
Prorogation	President	Ends an entire session	Pending business continues
Dissolution	President (Lok Sabha only)	Ends the life of Lok Sabha	Most pending business lapses
Quorum	—	1/10th members must be present	Without it, House cannot function

🧠 Concept Insights:

“Parliament’s life is like the heartbeat of democracy —
it contracts (sits), relaxes (adjourns), rests (prorogues), and sometimes ends (dissolves),
but it never stops beating altogether — because people’s mandate revives it again.
This rhythm — from summoning to dissolution — keeps the pulse of our democracy alive.”

Voting in the House — “How Parliament Decides”

Let’s start from the basics:
Every decision in Parliament — passing a bill, approving a motion, or rejecting an amendment — requires a vote.
That vote represents the collective will of the people’s representatives.

General Rule

All matters in either House or in a joint sitting are decided by a majority of votes of members present and voting.

✅ “Present and voting” means:

• Only those who are actually in the House and who cast a vote (not abstain).

So, if 300 members are present, but only 270 vote, then a simple majority means 136 votes.

Exceptions

Only a few special cases require more than a simple majority — such as:

• Effective majority (majority of all the then members) → e.g., removal of Speaker/Deputy Speaker.
• Special majority (2/3 of members present & voting + majority of total membership) → e.g., constitutional amendments.

Presiding Officer’s Role

• The Speaker or Chairman does not vote in the first instance.
• But if there is a tie — an equal number of “Ayes” and “Noes” — the presiding officer gives the Casting Vote, deciding the issue one way or the other.
  (This ensures that the House never remains deadlocked.)

Validity of Proceedings

Even if:

• A member votes without authorisation, or
• There is a vacancy in membership,
  👉 the proceedings of the House remain valid.
  This maintains continuity and prevents technical disruptions.

🗳️ Step-by-Step Process of Voting in the Lok Sabha

Imagine a debate is over. Now the Speaker puts the motion to vote. The process unfolds in a fixed order:

1. Voice Vote:
   Speaker says, “Those in favour say Aye.”
   Then, “Those against say No.”
   → Members respond verbally.
2. Speaker’s Decision:
   Speaker announces, “I think the Ayes have it” (or Noes, as the case may be).
3. Challenge:
   If any member challenges this opinion, the Speaker orders a Division (formal voting).
4. Division Procedure:
   • The Lobbies (separate corridors for Ayes and Noes) are cleared.
   • Members vote either by electronic voting, by slips, or by physical count.
   • Once counted, Speaker declares the result.
5. If Division Is Unnecessary:
   Speaker can simply ask members to stand up to indicate their side —
   this is a simplified division with no individual recording.

Methods of Voting

Let’s understand the different ways the Lok Sabha can record votes:

Method	Description	Remarks
1. Voice Vote	Most common; members respond verbally “Aye” or “No.”	Quick but not individually recorded.
2. Division	Formal vote when the voice vote is challenged. Conducted via three methods: (a) Automatic Vote Recording System (b) Distribution of “Ayes” & “Noes” slips (c) Members going into Lobbies (now obsolete).	Electronic voting now the norm.
3. Secret Ballot	Used rarely — for example, if the House so decides. During open voting, results show green for Aye, red for No, yellow for Abstain. Secret ballot uses white LED light (anonymous).	Ensures confidentiality if required.
4. Voting by Slips	Used when the electronic system fails or when seat numbers not yet allotted (e.g., new Lok Sabha).	Manual backup method.
5. Physical Count (Rising in Places)	If division is unnecessarily claimed, Speaker may ask members to rise in their places for a quick count.	No individual record maintained.
6. Casting Vote	When Ayes = Noes, Speaker breaks the tie.	Used rarely; Speaker votes only to maintain balance, not to express opinion.

💡 Tip for UPSC:
Remember — Speaker votes only in the case of tie, never otherwise.

Language in Parliament — “Unity in Diversity, Even in Debate”

India’s Parliament reflects the country’s linguistic diversity. So, the Constitution balances national practicality with regional inclusivity.

Constitutional Provision

• Hindi and English are the official languages for transacting business in Parliament.
• However, a member may, with permission of the presiding officer, speak in his/her mother tongue.

Interpretation Facilities

• Both Houses have arrangements for simultaneous translation into Hindi and English.
• Interpretation is available for all languages in the Eighth Schedule (currently 22).
• If a member speaks in a language not covered by this facility, they must submit a written translation in Hindi or English.

Continuation of English

Originally, Article 343(2) intended that English would cease as an official language of Parliament 15 years after the Constitution (i.e., by 1965).

But the Official Languages Act, 1963 allowed English to continue along with Hindi.
This dual-language system continues even today — for convenience and uniformity in parliamentary functioning.

Rights of Ministers and Attorney General

— “Not Members, Yet Full Participants”

This is a unique constitutional provision (Articles 88 & 105) ensuring that even those responsible for government business — like Ministers and the Attorney General of India — can participate in both Houses, regardless of where they sit.

Key Points:

1. Right to Speak and Participate:
   • Every Minister and the Attorney General can speak and take part in proceedings of:
     • Either House,
     • Any Joint Sitting, and
     • Any Parliamentary Committee (if a member of it).
2. Right to Vote:
   • ❌ They cannot vote, unless they are actual members of that House.
3. Purpose:
   a) A Minister who belongs to one House (say Lok Sabha) can participate in debates of the other House (Rajya Sabha).
   b) A Minister who is not yet a member of any House (but can hold office for 6 months) can still attend and speak in both.

👉 For example:
When Dr. Manmohan Singh was Prime Minister (Rajya Sabha member), he could address the Lok Sabha, but he couldn’t vote there.

Lame-Duck Session

— “The Outgoing House’s Last Breath”

Now, this is an interesting historical concept —
a “Lame-Duck Session” refers to the final session of an outgoing Lok Sabha after elections to the new Lok Sabha have already been held.

Who are Lame Ducks?

Members of the old Lok Sabha who failed to get re-elected but are still technically MPs until the new House is constituted.

Historical Instances:

• India had lame-duck sessions after the 1957 and 1962 elections,
  where the outgoing Lok Sabha met once more to pass a Vote on Account — allowing government expenditure until the new House took over.
• After 1962, this practice discontinued, since new Houses were constituted quickly.

Purpose of Lame-Duck Session:

• Mainly to pass the Vote on Account (temporary financial approval).
• Symbolises continuity of governance even during electoral transition.

Why It’s Rare Now:

• Today, election results and new Lok Sabha formation happen rapidly.
• Hence, the new House usually meets before the old one needs to reconvene.

🧩 Summary Chart — Quick Revision

Topic	Key Authority	Core Idea	UPSC Keywords
Voting in House	Speaker/Chairman	Majority of present & voting members	Simple, Effective, Special Majority
Casting Vote	Speaker/Chairman	Used only in tie	Maintains balance
Methods of Voting	Speaker directs	Voice Vote, Division, Slips, Electronic	“Ayes and Noes”
Language in Parliament	Art. 120, Official Languages Act 1963	Hindi & English; member may use mother tongue	Simultaneous interpretation
Rights of Ministers & AG	Art. 88	Can speak in both Houses but cannot vote	6-month rule for non-members
Lame-Duck Session	Convention	Last sitting of outgoing Lok Sabha	Vote on Account

💬 Final Takeaway:

“Parliament is not just about who speaks, but also how they speak, in which language, and how the final decision is taken.
The procedures — from ‘Aye’ to ‘No’, from Hindi to English — are like the grammar of democracy.
And even when a Parliament nears its end, through the ‘lame-duck session’, democracy reminds us — the system continues, even if its players change.”