Joint sitting of Parliament

Background and evolution

In a bicameral legislature, the two Houses may disagree. Different countries solve this in different ways. In Britain, the House of Lords can only delay most Bills. In the United States, the two Houses must agree, often through conference committees. India chose a joint sitting, a method borrowed from Australia, where both Houses meet together and decide by a combined majority.

Because the Lok Sabha has more than twice as many members as the Rajya Sabha, a joint sitting usually favours the Lok Sabha and the government of the day. This is one reason why governments rarely need to use it, and why it has been used only three times since 1950.

Key features and provisions

• Triggers: a Bill passed by one House is rejected by the other; the Houses disagree on amendments; or more than six months pass without the other House passing the Bill.
• Summons: the President notifies the intention to hold a joint sitting.
• Presiding officer: the Speaker; in the Speaker's absence the Deputy Speaker, and then the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha does not preside.
• Decision: by a majority of the total members of both Houses present and voting.
• Quorum: one-tenth of the total membership of both Houses.
• Amendments: only those made necessary by the delay or on matters of disagreement can be proposed.
• Lapse rule: a Bill does not lapse on dissolution of the Lok Sabha if the President has notified a joint sitting before dissolution.