Majorities
Majorities
Majorities
1. ABSOLUTE MAJORITY
2. EFFECTIVE MAJORITY
3. SIMPLE MAJORITY
4. SPECIAL MAJORITY
*2 seats of Anglo-Indians have been removed by the 104th Amendment Act, 2019
1
Representatives of State + Rep. of UTs
2
Representatives of States & UTs + Nominated Members
3
Members from State + Members from UTs
4
Members from State + Members from UTs + Nominated Members
Absolute Majority
It refers to a majority of more than 50% of the total membership (Present Seats) of the house.
USE: This majority is used during the general elections, for the formation of government at
Center and States.
Effective Majority
Effective Majority of the house means more than 50% of the effective strength of the house.
When the Indian Constitution mentions “then membership of house”, that refers to the
effective majority.
USE:
To understand simple majority, let us consider a situation in Lok Sabha. On a particular day,
USE:
3. For the removal of Vice President majority required in Lok Sabha is the simple majority. Art.
67(b)
Special Majority
Type 1 – Special Majority as Per Article 249.
Type 3 – Special Majority as per Article 368 + 50 percent state ratification by a simple
majority.
Use: To pass the Rajya Sabha resolution (so only majority req in RS to pass this) to empower
the parliament to make laws in the state list. (valid up to 1 year, but can be extended any
number of times)
Eg.
Case 1 Case 2
LS- 450 members are present and voting, LS- 300 members present & voting,
1. 50%=272(fixed) 1. 50%=272(fixed
2. 2/3rd this day=300, 300>272 2. 2/3rd this day=200, 272>200
So, 272 (minimum) to 362 (maximum) is req in the LS to pass a amendment bill in LS.
Similarly 123 (minimum) to 162.2 (maximum) is req in RS to pass an amendement bill in RS.
Nb. BOTH houses need to pass this bill.
USE:
3. Removal of CEC/CAG.
4. Approval of national emergency requires special majority as per Article 368 in both houses.
5. Resolution by the state legislature for the creation/abolition of Legislative Council (Article
169).
Special Majority as per Art. 368 + State Ratification (50% of state legislatures by simple
majority)
A good example would be the bill which introduced the National Judicial Appointments
Commission (NJAC). It required the support of at least 15 state legislatures out of the 29 states.