Question

State and explain any two ways in which the Lok Sabha exercises control over the Council of Ministers.

Answer 1

According to Article 75(3) of the Constitution, the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the House of the People, that is, the Lok Sabha. The Lok Sabha exercises its control over the Council of Ministers through the following methods:

1. The Council of Ministers is accountable to the Lok Sabha: The executive is answerable to the Lok Sabha for all its actions and failures. Members of the House can question the Council of Ministers on administrative matters, policies, and programmes, criticise the working of ministers, move resolutions on important issues, and resort to adjournment motions.
2. Lok Sabha can bring a vote of no-confidence: If a minister or a group of ministers fails to discharge their responsibilities, the Lok Sabha can remove them by passing a vote of no confidence. When the Lok Sabha rejects a major policy, a bill, or the budget, or passes a no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister, it is treated as a lack of confidence in the entire Council of Ministers. As a result, the whole executive is required to resign.