Parliament - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition parliament

Definition :

Parliament, British Parliament consists of sovereign, House of Lords and the House of Commons. The Power of Parliament is transcendent and its Acts bind every subject; no authority other than Parliament can create, amend or abrogate a statute, Office of the Speaker in the Parliaments of Commonwealth Wilding and Philip Laundry, p. 429.

Parliament, consists of the President, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha; each of its branches has peculiar powers in connection with their joint legislative function, Constitution of India, Art. 79, Parlia-mentary Practice, Erskine May, 22nd Edn., 1997.

Parliament, has power to amend Constitution. (Constitution of India, Art. 368)

Parliament, has power to make any law for the whole or any part of the territory of India for implementing any treaty, agreement or convention with any other country or countries or any decision made at any international conference, association or other body, Constitution of India, Art. 253.

Parliament, like the British Parliament, the Parliament of India too enjoys penal powers to punish offenders who violate its privilege. The Council of States has certain special powers which the House of the People does not have (1) Parliament can assume power to make a law on a matter in the State List, if the Council of States adopts or resolution supported by two-thirds of its members present and voting to the effect that it is necessary to do so in national interest. (ii) Parliament can create one or more all India services only if Council of States adopts a resolution to this effect by a majority of two-thirds of its members present and voting, Commentary of Constitution of India, Durga Das Basu, Vol. 2, 4th Edn., p. 487. (Constitution of India, Arts. 249 and 312)