Parliamentary Procedure & Ordinance Power (2024–26): Legislative Process, Money Bills & Executive Authority

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1. Why in News?

During 2024–26:

• Debates arose regarding:

  • Use of ordinances

  • Classification of bills (Money Bill vs Ordinary Bill)

  • Limited parliamentary sittings

• Concerns raised over legislative scrutiny and executive dominance.

Procedure became a political and constitutional issue.

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2. How a Bill Becomes Law (Basic Structure)

Stages in Parliament:

1️⃣ First Reading (Introduction)
2️⃣ Second Reading (Detailed discussion & committee stage)
3️⃣ Third Reading (Voting)

Then:

• President’s assent (Article 111)

UPSC can test stages directly.

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3. Types of Bills

1️⃣ Ordinary Bill

Can be introduced in either House.

2️⃣ Money Bill

Defined under Article 110.

Can be introduced only in Lok Sabha.

Speaker certifies Money Bill.

Rajya Sabha has limited role (14 days).

Money Bill classification is a favourite prelim trap.

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4. Ordinance Making Power

Article 123 → President
Article 213 → Governor

Ordinance can be issued when:
Parliament (or State Legislature) not in session.

Ordinance has same force as law.

But must be approved within 6 weeks of reassembly.

UPSC loves timeline questions.

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5. Limitations on Ordinance Power

• Cannot violate Constitution.

• Subject to judicial review.

• Cannot be used repeatedly to bypass legislature (SC observations).

This ties to separation of powers.

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6. Joint Sitting of Parliament

Article 108.

Applicable for:
Ordinary Bills only.

Not applicable for:
Money Bills or Constitutional Amendment Bills.

Classic prelim trap.

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7. Constitutional Amendment Bill

Article 368.

Requires:
Special majority.

Some amendments require:
Ratification by half of state legislatures.

UPSC frequently mixes this with Money Bill rules.

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8. Static Linkage

Key Articles:

• Article 107 → Legislative procedure

• Article 108 → Joint sitting

• Article 109 → Money Bill procedure

• Article 110 → Definition of Money Bill

• Article 111 → President’s assent

Memorise these pairings.

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9. Prelims Angle

Likely traps:

• Who certifies Money Bill?

• Can Rajya Sabha amend Money Bill?

• Ordinance valid for how long?

• Joint sitting applicable to which bills?

Statement-based question almost guaranteed.

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10. Mains Angle

• Is ordinance power misused?

• Decline of parliamentary debate

• Strengthening legislative scrutiny

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11. RBI Grade B Angle

Indirect relevance in:

• Institutional governance

• Constitutional accountability