Rajya Sabha

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The Rajya Sabha (Hindi: राज्य सभा; meaning the "Council of States") is the upper house of the Parliament of India. Membership is limited to 250 members, 12 of whom are chosen by the President of India for their expertise in specific fields of art, literature, science, and social services. These members are known as nominated members. The remainder of the body is elected by state and territorial legislatures.

Terms of office are for six years, with one third of the members facing re-election every two years.

The Rajya Sabha meets in continuous session and, unlike the lower house of parliament, the Lok Sabha, is not subject to dissolution. The Rajya Sabha shares legislative powers with the Lok Sabha, except in the area of supply, where the Lok Sabha has overriding powers. In the case of conflicting legislation, a joint sitting of the two houses is held.

The Vice-President of India (currently, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat) is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. The Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, who is elected from amongst its members, takes care of the day-to-day matters of the house in the absence of the Chairman.

The Rajya Sabha held its first sitting on 13 May 1952.

1 Proportionment
2 Powers
3 Important Members of the Rajya Sabha (2006)
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Proportionment

Members are elected by the Legislative Assembly of Each State. Seats are fixed for each state on the basis of its population, and not equality. The numbers of seats as of 2006 are, according to the official website:

Total: 242

Elections in within the state legislatures are held using single transferable votes with proportional representation.

[edit] Powers

Along with Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha has the right to initiate, pass and amend ordinary bills of law. If there is a conflict which cannot be resolved even by the joint committee of the two Houses, it is solved in the joint session of the Parliament, where the will of the Lok Sabha almost always prevails, since the Lok Sabha is more than twice as large as the Rajya Sabha.
Consultative Power in money bills (taxation and spending), which can originate only in the Lok Sabha, and the Rajya Sabha cannot delay it for more than fourteen days, nor amend it against the will of the Lok Sabha, otherwise the bill will be deemed to be passed by both the houses and sent to the President for assent.
Equal Powers with the Lok Sabha in intiating and passing any Bill for Constitutional Amendment (by a majority of the total membership of the House and at least two-thirds majority of the members present and voting).
Equal Powers with the Lok Sabha in initiating and passing a motion for the impeachment of the President (by two-thirds of the membership of the House)
Equal Powers with the Lok Sabha in initiating and passing a motion for the impeachment of the judges of the Supreme Court and the state High Courts (by a majority of the membership of the House and two-thirds majority of the members present and voting)
Equal Powers with the Lok Sabha in initiating and passing a resolution declaring war or national emergency or constitutional emergency in a state.
If the Lok Sabha is dissolved before or after the declaration of a National Emergency, the Rajya Sabha becomes the sole de facto and de jure Parliament. It, of course, cannot be dissolved.
Sole power to declare by two-thirds majority if a subject in the jurisdiction of the states has assumed national importance, thereby enabling the Union to legislate on it.
No power to cause the dismissal or resignation of the Prime Minister or any minister, this being the sole prerogative of the Lok Sabha (caused by its simple majority). But power to ask questions from the ministers retained.