| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Sansad / Parliament |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Rajya Sabha / Council of States |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Lok Sabha / House of the People
|
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
Chairman of the Rajya Sabha |
| Term |
- duration: 5 years
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, resolution by the Council of States ( agreed to by the House of the People) |
| Appointment |
- the Vice-President of India is ex officio chairman of the Rajya Sabha
- is elected before the expiration of the previous term by Members of an Electoral College consisting of Members of both Houses
- after Members are sworn in |
| Eligibility |
- any citizen of India who has completed the age of 35 years and is eligible, may be a candidate
- notification is issued on after the 16th day before the expiration of the term of the outgoing Vice-President of India |
| Voting system |
- formal vote by secret ballot in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of single transferable vote
- there is only one round of voting |
| Procedures / results |
- the Returning Officer (by convention the Secretary General of the Lok Sabha and the Secretary General of the Rajya Sabha are appointed in rotation as Returning Officer), appointed by the Election Commission in consultation with the Central Government, supervises the voting
- the Returning Officer declares the result of the election after counting of votes have been completed
- the results can be challenged |
| STATUS |
| Status |
- ranks second in the hierarchy of State after the President of India
- has precedence over the Speaker of the Lok Sabha
- is ex officio Chairman of some parliamentary committees
- in the absence of the Chairman, the Deputy Chairman can assume his/her role and functions presides over the deliberations of the House |
| Board |
|
| Material facilities |
- salary (40,000 rupees/ month)
+ daily allowance (200 r./day)
- official residence
- official car
- secretariat
- body guards |
| FUNCTIONS |
| Organization of parliamentary business |
- establishes and modifies the agenda
- organizes the debates and sets speaking time
- examines the admissibility of bills and amendments
- refers texts to a committee for study
- examines the admissibility of request for setting up committees and/or committees of enquiry, proposes or decides on the setting up of such committees |
| Chairing of public sittings |
- can open, adjourn and close sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak
- establishes the order in which amendments are taken up and selects which amendments are to be debated
- calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities
- checks the quorum
- authenticates the texts adopted and the records of debates
- interprets the rules of other regulations governing the life of the Rajya Sabha, according to precedents
- has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates
- the Secretary General makes announcements concerning the Rajya Sabha |
| Special powers |
has ultimate authority in regard to:
- establishment of the Rajya Sabha's budget
- recruitment, assignation and promotion of the staff
- appointment of the Clerk
- organization of the services of Parliament
- is responsible for relations with other Parliaments
- is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Rajya Sabha |
| Speaking and voting rights, other functions |
- provides guidelines for the interpretation or completion of the text under discussion
- takes part in voting, only in case of a tie
- intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module
