Simultaneous election will need special constitution amendment

Simultaneous election will need special constitution amendment

Subject : Polity

Section: Constitution

Context: The centre setup committee to examine various aspects, both legal and logistical, for implementing the “one nation, one election” idea. The Law Ministry has outlined seven terms of reference for the eight-member panel headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind and including Union Home Minister Amit Shah. One of the terms of reference is to examine if a constitutional amendment of facilitate simultaneous polls would have to be ratified by the states. While some amendments to the Constitution can be made like any ordinary legislation, others need more rigorous methods.

Concept :

• Part XX of the Constitution deals with its amendment.
• Under Article 368(2), Parliament can amend the Constitution by passing a Bill in each House by a majority of the total membership of that House and by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members of that House present and voting.
• Thereafter, the Bill shall be presented to the President who shall give his assent… and thereupon the Constitution shall stand amended.
• Parliament cannot amend those provisions which form the basic structure of the Constitution according to the Supreme Court ruling in the landmark 1973 KesavanandaBharati case.
• FRs and DPSPs are the two most important provisions that can be amended by the special majority.
• All provisions that do not require ratification by states, and those that come directly under the purview of Article 368, have to be amended by the special majority.
• Various Procedures for Amendments

[I] Simple Majority

• A large number of provisions contained in the constitution are open to change by a simple majority. These may be divided into two classes:

1. Where the text of the constitution is not altered but the law is changed

• Article 11 confers on the Parliament power to enact a law regarding citizenship.
• An Act made in pursuance of that power will change the law relating to citizenship without altering the text of Article 5 to 10.
• Article 124 still refers to the Supreme Court as consisting of the Chief justice and 7 judges.
• But in exercise of its power the Parliament has increased the strength of the judges from 7 to 25.

2. Where the text of the constitution is changed

• Formation of new state.
• Creation or abolition of legislative council
• Creation of council of ministers for Union territories
• Extending the period of 15 years fixed for the use of English in Article 343
• Defining Parliamentary privileges
• Salaries and allowances of President, Vice-President, Judges, etc.

[II] Special Majority

• Except those provisions which are amendable by an ordinary majority, the rest of the provisions require a special majority for amendment.
• The Amendment Bill must be passed by a majority of two-thirds of the members of each House present and voting and such majority must exceed 50% of the total membership of the House.

[III] Special Majority and Ratification by half of the States

• Those provisions which relate to the federal structure of the constitution require special majority in Parliament as well as ratification by at least half of the state legislatures.

This procedure is required in the following provisions:

• Manner of election of President
• Executive power of the Union and the State
• The Supreme Court and the High Courts
• Distribution of legislative power between the Union and the States
• Representation of states in Parliament
• Article 368 itself