Important Parliamentary Term descriptions, useful for Shorthand outline practice.

Act (of Parliament)

In India, a Bill passed by the two Houses of Parliament and assented to by the President.

Address (President’s/Presidential)

A prepared speech delivered by the President of India to both Houses of Parliament assembled together at the commencement of the first session of each year informing Parliament of the causes of its summons which is later laid before and discussed on a formal Motion of Thanks in each House of Parliament or an address by the President of India to either House of Parliament or both Houses assembled together on any other occasion. The Council of Ministers approves the text of the President’s Address and is responsible for its contents.

Adjournment of the House

Suspend (proceedings) for the day; to put off until a future day. The word ‘Adjourn’ applies to the action of a deliberative body etc. in bringing a sitting to a close, with the intention of resuming on the next working day or a specified later date. In Lok Sabha, the Speaker determines when sitting of House is to adjourn sine die or to a particular day or to an hour or part of same day.

Adjournment Motion

A Motion for discussing ‘a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration’. It can be moved by any member of the House and is in the nature of emergency motion of censure upon the Government. The object is to draw the attention of the Government to a matter of urgent public importance so as to criticize the decision of Government in an urgent matter in regard to which a motion or resolution with proper notice will be too late.

Admonition

A punishment administered by the Presiding Officer of a legislature to an offender for breach of privilege or contempt of the House in case of an offence which is not so grave as to warrant his committal; it is the mildest form of punishment.

Affirmation

A positive declaration; a solemn declaration without oath; a solemn declaration made by a member of a legislature in lieu of oath before he takes his seat in the House.

“I, A.B., having been elected a Member of the House of the People do solemnly affirm that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established, that I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India and that I will faithfully discharge the duty upon which I am about to enter.”

Allocation of Time

In India, the practice is that all items of business to be transacted by the House during the Government time including those to which the Speaker is empowered to allot time himself, are normally placed before the Business Advisory Committee for allocation of time. The report of the Business Advisory Committee is presented to House for approval after which the allocation of time in respect of Bills and other business becomes an order of the House.

Amendment(s)

A device to alter a motion moved or question under discussion in the Legislature; includes omission, substitution, addition and insertion of certain words, figures or marks to the clause of a bill, a resolution or a motion or to an amendment made thereof.

Annual Financial Statement

A statement made by the Minister incharge of Finance in the legislature containing the probable income and expenditure of the Government for any year; familiarly known as Budget.

Answers (to questions)

In the Indian Parliament, oral answers are given to Questions distinguished by an asterisk while those not distinguished by an asterisk are listed for written answers; supplementary questions are asked for further elucidating any matter of fact regarding which an answer has been given, if permitted by the Speaker. Normally the first hour of every sitting is allotted for answering questions.