The Parliament performs various functions. These are:
Law making Functions:
The Parliament has the power to frame new laws, and to amend or repeal the existing ones. These may be related to subjects from the union list or the concurrent list. In certain circumstances, it can also enact laws on the subjects of the state list.
It also has the right to amend the Constitution by a two-third majority of the Houses.
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Control over Finances:
The parliament has absolute control over the finances-the purse of the nation. No new taxes can be levied or a penny spent without its consent. The Cabinet presents the Budget before the Parliament. The Budget has to be approved by the President. The Parliament can, however, purpose a cut in the Budget or even reject it altogether. The only limitation of its financial powers is that it has no right to vote on the Consolidated Fund of India.
Executive Powers:
The Parliament exercises a fair amount of control over the activities of the government. During the question hour, any member can put up question, and the concerned ministers are bound to answer them. This keeps the executive alert.
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The members can move a ‘call attention’ motion and ‘adjustment’ motions on any urgent matter. If such a motion is permitted by the Speaker, then the minister in charge of the particular department is held answerable. The Parliament can also vote for a cut in the annual Budget. The government is answerable to the Parliament for all its acts of omission and commission. In extreme cases, the Parliament can pass a no-confidence vote and compel the government to resign.
Judicial Powers:
It can impeach the President and remove the judges of the Supreme Court and the High Courts, if it finds that any of them has misused his power or flouted the Constitution.