Question

Compare the relative positions of the Rajya Sabha and the United States Senate in their respective systems.

Answer 1

1. Nature and Representation:

• Rajya Sabha: Indirectly elected; members are chosen by the elected MLAs of State Legislative Assemblies. States are represented on the basis of population; bigger states send more members, smaller states fewer.
• U.S. Senate: Directly elected by the people of each state (since the 17th Amendment, 1913). Each state, regardless of size or population, sends exactly two Senators, ensuring equal representation of states.

2. Relative strength in the political system:

• Rajya Sabha: Weaker than the Lok Sabha. It shares equal powers in ordinary law-making but has only a 14-day delaying power over money bills. It cannot remove the executive, as the Council of Ministers is responsible only to the Lok Sabha.
• U.S. Senate: Stronger than even the U.S. House of Representatives. Plays a decisive role in legislation and financial matters, with the final say on money bills.

3. Special powers:

1. Rajya Sabha: Has three exclusive powers:
   1. Declare a state subject to be of national importance (Art. 249).
   2. Create or abolish an All India Service (Art. 312).
   3. Approve emergency proclamations when the Lok Sabha is dissolved.
2. U.S. Senate: Has far greater special powers, such as:
   1. Approval of all major presidential appointments (ministers, judges, ambassadors, etc.).
   2. Ratification of international treaties by a two-thirds majority.
   3. Acts as the court in presidential impeachment trials.
   4. More powerful investigative committees.

4. Composition and Size:

• Rajya Sabha: Maximum strength 250; currently fewer. Quasi-permanent: one-third retire every two years.
• U.S. Senate: 100 members (2 from each of the 50 states). Also, quasi-permanent with one-third retiring every two years.

5. Political role:

• Rajya Sabha: Intended to be a revising and helping chamber, representing states’ interests; often influenced by partisan politics.
• U.S. Senate: Seen as the most powerful second chamber in the world; Senators have a tradition of unity and a strong institutional identity.