Q1. Which of the following is true about the Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly?
- He is elected before the Speaker.
- He acts as the Speaker when the latter is absent.
- He is appointed by the Chief Minister.
- He holds office until the next election of the Speaker.
Correct Option: 2. He acts as the Speaker when the latter is absent.
Explanation: The Deputy Speaker acts as the Speaker when the Speaker is absent from the sitting or when the office of the Speaker is vacant. In such situations, the Deputy Speaker has all the powers of the Speaker.
Q2. What happens to a Bill that is pending in the Legislative Assembly at the time of its dissolution?
- It is passed automatically.
- It is sent to the Legislative Council.
- It lapses.
- It is referred to the Governor.
Correct Option: 3. It lapses.
Explanation: When the Legislative Assembly is dissolved, it marks the end of the existing term of that assembly. As a result:
Any Bill that is pending, whether it was introduced in the Assembly or sent by the Legislary Council, automatically laps (i.e., is no longer valid).
A new Legislative Assembly is formed after elections, and any Bills that were in progress in the previous assembly will need to be reintroduced in the new session, unless they were already passed by the Council and are awaiting the Governor’s assent.
This lapse of pending Bills only applies to the Legislative Assembly, as the Legislative Council is a permanent body and is not subject to dissolution.
Q3. Which of the following does the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly have the power to do?
- Decide whether a Bill is a Money Bill
- Vote in case of a tie
- Appoint the Chairman of Assembly Committees
- All of the above
Correct Option: 4. All of the above.
Explanation: The Speaker has several important powers:
He decides whether a Bill is a Money Bill, and his decision is final.
He exercises a casting vote in case of a tie.
He appoints the Chairman of various committees of the assembly and supervises their functioning.
Q4. Who nominates the panel of Vice-Chairmen for the Legislative Council?
- The Governor
- The Chairman
- The Speaker
- The Deputy Chairman
Correct Option: 2. The Chairman
Explanation: The Chairman of the Legislative Council nominates a panel of Vice-Chairmen. These Vice-Chairmen preside over the council in the absence of the Chairman or the Deputy Chairman.
Q5. Which of the following is NOT a function of the Chairman of the Legislative Council?
- Maintain order and decorum in the House
- Act as the final interpreter of the Constitution
- Decide whether a Bill is a Money Bill
- Prorogue the session of the House
Correct Option: 3. Decide whether a Bill is a Money Bill
Explanation: The Chairman of the Legislative Council does not have the authority to decide whether a Bill is a Money Bill. This particular power is vested solely in the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.
Let’s break down why each of the other options is a function of the Chairman:
1) Maintain order and decorum in the House:
The Chairman is responsible for maintaining order and decorum in the Legislative Council during its proceedings. Just like the Speaker of the Assembly, the Chairman ensures that discussions are carried out in a manner that follows the rules of procedure, and they may take disciplinary actions to maintain decorum.
2) Act as the final interpreter of the Constitution:
The Chairman has the authority to interpret the Constitution in matters related to the legislative proceedings. However, this interpretation is generally restricted to how constitutional provisions apply within the scope of the legislative business and rules of procedure, not the broad interpretation of the Constitution as a whole. The Speaker and Chairman of the respective Houses are responsible for interpreting the Constitution as it pertains to the conduct of legislative work in their respective houses.
4) Prorogue the session of the House:
The Chairman can also prorogue the session of the Legislative Council. Prorogation is the formal ending of a session of the House by the presiding officer (the Chairman). This can happen after the business of the session is concluded, and it generally marks the official end of a session before a new one begins.