Legislative Functions
- Only Parliament can make laws on the subjects of the Union List. Along with the State Legislatures, the Parliament is empowered to make laws on the Concurrent List.
- In a subject not mentioned in any list, the residuary powers are vested with the Parliament.
Financial Functions
- It is the custodian of the public money. The Government can neither impose any tax on the public nor spend the money without the approval of the Parliament.
- The budget is approved by the Parliament every year.
Executive Function
- Parliament exercises control over the Executive through question-hour, zero hour, calling attention notice, adjournment motion etc.
Judicial Functions
- It can impeach the President for the violation of the Constitution.
- It can remove the Vice-President from his office.
- It can recommend the removal of judges.
- It can punish its members or outsiders for the breach of its privileges or its contempt.
Electoral Functions
- It participates in the election of the President of India and also elects the Vice-President.
- The Lok Sabha elects its Speaker and Deputy Speaker and the Rajya Sabha elects its Deputy Chairman.
Other Functions
- It serves as the highest deliberative body in the country.
- It approves all the three types of emergencies.
- It can create or abolish the state legislative councils on the recommendation of the concerned state legislative assemblies.
- It can increase or decrease the area, alter the boundaries and change the names of states of the Indian Union.
- It can regulate the organisation and jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and high courts and can establish a common high court for two or more states.