08-25-2011, 11:39 PM
Q.6: House of commons is the most powerful organ of the British parliament Explain. (2003) (200)
1- Introduction:
“ The Sovereignty of parliament resides in the House of Commons.”
(R.G Neumann)
“ House of Commons is the center of the English political system….. The sun around which all other bodies revolve”.
(Gladstone)
The house of Commons is the lower and popular chamber of the British parliament. It is most remarkable assembly in the world and is elected by the people in general election.
2- Composition Of House Of Commons:
I. Strength:
The present strength of House of Commons is 650.
II. Term Of House:
The members of the House of Commons are elected for a term of five years, unless the House is dissolved earlier by the Queen on the advice of the prime Minister.
3- Qualification And Election Of House Of Commons:
I. Qualifications Of Candidates Of House Of Commons:
Following are the qualification for a candidate to contest election for house of commons.
(i) He or she, as the cases may be, must be a British subject.
(ii) Must attain the age of 21years.
(iii) Not otherwise disqualified such as
(a) Holder of judicial officers
(b) Bankrupts
© Civil servants
(d) Members of the armed forces and the police force
(e) The directors of the nationalized commercial companies; and
(f) Clergymen.
II. Election:
Parliament elections are of two Kinds.
(i) General election held when a new House of common is to be elected and these must be held within 20 days of the dissolution of a sitting parliament.
(ii) By –elections held when a vacancy occurs in the House due to the death or resignation of a sitting member or when a member is made a member of the House of Lords.
A. Adult Franchise:
According to the representation of the people Act 1949 as amended by the 1969 Act, following are the qualification of a person entitled to vote
(i) Must be a British subject
(ii) 18 years of age or above
(iii) Whose name is recorded in the voter, s register of his constituency.
4- Presiding Officer Of House Of Commons:
The meeting of the House of Commons are presided over by speaker. He is elected by the House when a new parliament meets for the first time.
5- Powers And Functions Of The House Of Commons:
I. Legislative Powers:
The house of commons enjoys vast powers in the filed of law- making. It can modify the existing law and the can make or repeal any law whatsoever. It define the national policy and has the right to change the constitution.
II. Financial Powers:
The House of Commons wields great authority over the nation, s purse. According to opinion of Prof. Madison who holds the purse, holds the power. According to the Act of 1911 all money bills must originate in the House of Commons and the power of House of Lords is limited in this respect.
III. Administrative Powers:
The House of commons also attains the powers of Administration because this House controls the administration by way of questioning the cabinet members.
According To Prof .Munro:
An obligation rest upon the House of Commons to exercise a day to day control over the Ministry in such a way that fundamental disagreement between the executive and the representatives of the people will be clear and manifest.
IV. Delegated Legislation:
Parliament being Supreme, may delegate powers to whomever it will and it may similarly withdraw the powers that it has delegated. It may delegate its powers to Government Department to Supplement, amplify and apply statutes passed by the parliament.
6- Privileges Of The House Of Commons:
Following are the privileges of the House of Commons:
I. Freedom Of Speech:
The House enjoys freedom in the House in the matter of debates.
II. Right To Regulatm:
House has the right to gegulate its own Constitution including the right to exclude or expel members.
III. Exclusion Of Strangers:
The House also has the right to exclude strangers form the House.
IV. Right To Prohibit Publication:
House has the right prohibit publication of its own debates.
V. Freedom From Arrest:
Freedom form arrest in Civil Cases for a period of 40 days before and after the Sessions of parliament but this privilege not extend in Criminal Cases.
VI. Right To Enforce Privileges:
House has the right to enforce its privileges and commit for contempt for breath of its privileges.
7- Conclusion:
To conclude, I can say that the House of Commons, is the most vital part of the British Parliament. Since 1922 the House had assumed final powers of law making which are firmly shared with the House Lords. In reality parliament means. House of Common when a minister consults parliament, be consults the House of Common, when the Queen dissolves parliament, she dissolves the House of Common when a parliament has made a law, it means that the House of Commons has legislated upon it.
1- Introduction:
“ The Sovereignty of parliament resides in the House of Commons.”
(R.G Neumann)
“ House of Commons is the center of the English political system….. The sun around which all other bodies revolve”.
(Gladstone)
The house of Commons is the lower and popular chamber of the British parliament. It is most remarkable assembly in the world and is elected by the people in general election.
2- Composition Of House Of Commons:
I. Strength:
The present strength of House of Commons is 650.
II. Term Of House:
The members of the House of Commons are elected for a term of five years, unless the House is dissolved earlier by the Queen on the advice of the prime Minister.
3- Qualification And Election Of House Of Commons:
I. Qualifications Of Candidates Of House Of Commons:
Following are the qualification for a candidate to contest election for house of commons.
(i) He or she, as the cases may be, must be a British subject.
(ii) Must attain the age of 21years.
(iii) Not otherwise disqualified such as
(a) Holder of judicial officers
(b) Bankrupts
© Civil servants
(d) Members of the armed forces and the police force
(e) The directors of the nationalized commercial companies; and
(f) Clergymen.
II. Election:
Parliament elections are of two Kinds.
(i) General election held when a new House of common is to be elected and these must be held within 20 days of the dissolution of a sitting parliament.
(ii) By –elections held when a vacancy occurs in the House due to the death or resignation of a sitting member or when a member is made a member of the House of Lords.
A. Adult Franchise:
According to the representation of the people Act 1949 as amended by the 1969 Act, following are the qualification of a person entitled to vote
(i) Must be a British subject
(ii) 18 years of age or above
(iii) Whose name is recorded in the voter, s register of his constituency.
4- Presiding Officer Of House Of Commons:
The meeting of the House of Commons are presided over by speaker. He is elected by the House when a new parliament meets for the first time.
5- Powers And Functions Of The House Of Commons:
I. Legislative Powers:
The house of commons enjoys vast powers in the filed of law- making. It can modify the existing law and the can make or repeal any law whatsoever. It define the national policy and has the right to change the constitution.
II. Financial Powers:
The House of Commons wields great authority over the nation, s purse. According to opinion of Prof. Madison who holds the purse, holds the power. According to the Act of 1911 all money bills must originate in the House of Commons and the power of House of Lords is limited in this respect.
III. Administrative Powers:
The House of commons also attains the powers of Administration because this House controls the administration by way of questioning the cabinet members.
According To Prof .Munro:
An obligation rest upon the House of Commons to exercise a day to day control over the Ministry in such a way that fundamental disagreement between the executive and the representatives of the people will be clear and manifest.
IV. Delegated Legislation:
Parliament being Supreme, may delegate powers to whomever it will and it may similarly withdraw the powers that it has delegated. It may delegate its powers to Government Department to Supplement, amplify and apply statutes passed by the parliament.
6- Privileges Of The House Of Commons:
Following are the privileges of the House of Commons:
I. Freedom Of Speech:
The House enjoys freedom in the House in the matter of debates.
II. Right To Regulatm:
House has the right to gegulate its own Constitution including the right to exclude or expel members.
III. Exclusion Of Strangers:
The House also has the right to exclude strangers form the House.
IV. Right To Prohibit Publication:
House has the right prohibit publication of its own debates.
V. Freedom From Arrest:
Freedom form arrest in Civil Cases for a period of 40 days before and after the Sessions of parliament but this privilege not extend in Criminal Cases.
VI. Right To Enforce Privileges:
House has the right to enforce its privileges and commit for contempt for breath of its privileges.
7- Conclusion:
To conclude, I can say that the House of Commons, is the most vital part of the British Parliament. Since 1922 the House had assumed final powers of law making which are firmly shared with the House Lords. In reality parliament means. House of Common when a minister consults parliament, be consults the House of Common, when the Queen dissolves parliament, she dissolves the House of Common when a parliament has made a law, it means that the House of Commons has legislated upon it.