Types of hours & motions during the working sessions of Parliament

Hours & Motions in Parliament

What is Question hour in Parliament?

The first hour of every parliamentary sitting is allotted for this. The concerned Minister is obliged to answer to the Parliament, either orally or in writing, depending on the type of question raised. Question Hour is not mentioned in the Constitution. It finds mention in the Rules of Procedure of the House.

What is Zero hour in Parliament?

Zero Hour is a 30 minute's session wherein

a member gets three minutes to raise the issue. Moreover, a member is allowed to make only one Zero Hour request during a week. Zero Hour is an Indian innovation and has been in existence since 1962. It is an informal device available to the members of Parliament to raise matters without any prior notice. Unlike the Question Hour, it is not mentioned in the Rules of Procedure.

What is Calling Attention Motion in Parliament?

In this a member may, with prior permission of the Speaker, call the attention of a Minister to any matter of urgent public importance and the Minister may make a brief Statement regarding the matter or ask for time to make a Statement. Calling Attention Motion has been in existence in Indian Parliamentary setting since 1954. Unlike the Zero Hour, it is mentioned in the Rules of Procedure but not in the Constitution.

What is Departmental Standing Committees in Parliament?

Standing committee is a committee consisting of Members of Parliament. It is a permanent and regular committee which is constituted from time to time according to the provisions of an Act of Parliament or Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business. Departmental Standing Committees were set up very late in 1993. They are also not mentioned in the Constitution.

 Other Devices of Parliamentary Proceedings

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• Closure by Compartments
• Kangaroo Closure
• No-Confidence Motion
• Privilege Motion
• Motion of Thanks
• No-Day-Yet-Named Motion
• Censure Motion
• Half-an-Hour Discussion
• Short Duration Discussion
• Special Mention
• Adjournment Motion
• Lame-duck Session

BUDGET RELATED MOTIONS

• Policy Cut
• Economy Cut
• Token Cut