Focus: GS II: Polity and Governance
Why in News?
The Prime Minister replied to the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address in the Lok Sabha in the ongoing Budget Session of the Parliament.
About Motion of Thanks:
- Expresses gratitude for the President’s Address at the commencement of Lok Sabha.
- Must be passed in the House; failure amounts to government defeat.
- Article 86(1) of the Constitution provides that the President may address either the House of Parliament or both Houses assembled together, and for that purpose require the attendance of members.
- Article 87 provides for the special address by the President.
- Clause (1) of that article provides that at the commencement of the first session after each general election to the House of the People and at the commencement of the first session of each year, the President shall address both Houses of Parliament assembled together and inform Parliament of the causes of its summons.
- Such an Address is called ‘special address’; and it is also an annual feature.
- No other business is transacted till the President has addressed both Houses of Parliament assembled together.
Other Types of Motion
Adjournment Motion
- Definition: An adjournment motion is a parliamentary procedure used to discuss a specific matter of urgent public importance with the Speaker’s consent.
- Requirement: To be admitted, the motion must have the support of 50 members and address an issue of immediate concern.
- Extraordinary Device: As it interrupts the normal business of the House, it is considered an extraordinary parliamentary device.
- Applicability: This motion is available in the Lok Sabha, but not in the Rajya Sabha.
- Effect: The passage of an adjournment motion does not require the government to resign, but it serves as a strong censure of the government’s actions or policies.
Closure Motion:
- A motion to cut short the debate on a matter in the House.
- If approved, the debate is stopped, and the matter is put to vote immediately.
Motion with a Vote:
- Brought under Rule 184 in the Lok Sabha.
- Allows for a debate with a vote on a specific question, indicating Parliament’s position on the issue.
- Government is obliged to follow Parliament’s decision if the motion is passed.
- Reserved for matters of significant national importance.
Short Duration Discussion:
- Under Rule 193 in Lok Sabha and Rule 176 in Rajya Sabha.
- Allows MPs to discuss a specific issue of public importance without voting.
- Debate lasts for a fixed duration, not exceeding two hours.
- Aim is to bring attention to important issues and allow diverse perspectives to be heard.
No-Confidence Motion:
- Moved in Lok Sabha to test the confidence of the government.
- Requires support of 50 members to be admitted.
- If passed, the government must resign.
- Occurs when the government is perceived to be losing majority support.
Confidence Motion:
- Passed when governments with wafer-thin majority are called upon to prove their majority.
- Indicates continued mandate to govern.
Privilege Motion:
- Initiated when a member believes a minister has violated the privileges of the House or its members.
- Expresses disapproval and criticizes the minister’s actions.
Cut Motion:
- Proposed to reduce the amount of a budget demand.
- Passage indicates want of parliamentary confidence in the government and may lead to its resignation.
