Powers of Rajya Sabha

Once Parliament's overall functions are clear, the next question is how those functions are actually split — or shared — between the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. The two charts below set out the powers of each House side by side.

Powers of the Lok Sabha

• Makes laws on matters included in the Union List and the Concurrent List; can introduce and enact both money and non-money bills.
• Approves proposals for taxation, budgets, and annual financial statements.
• Controls the executive by asking questions, tabling supplementary questions, moving resolutions and motions, and — crucially — through the no-confidence motion.
• Amends the Constitution.
• Approves the proclamation of Emergency.
• Elects the President and Vice President, and removes Judges of the Supreme Court and High Court.
• Establishes committees and commissions and considers their reports.

Powers of the Rajya Sabha

• Considers and approves non-money bills, and can suggest amendments to money bills (though it cannot originate or reject them).
• Approves constitutional amendments.
• Exercises control over the executive by asking questions, and by introducing motions and resolutions.
• Participates in the election and removal of the President, Vice President, and Judges of the Supreme Court and High Court — and, on removal of the Vice President specifically, only the Rajya Sabha can initiate the procedure.
• Can empower the Union Parliament to make laws on a matter that would normally fall under the State List, when this is judged to be in the national interest. …