Home The Constitution Part V Article 118

Art. 118 Part V: The Union

Rules of Procedure

Exact text — Constitution of India

(1) Each House of Parliament may make rules for regulating, subject to the provisions of this Constitution, its procedure and the conduct of its business. (2) Until rules are made under clause (1), the rules of procedure and standing orders in force immediately before the commencement of this Constitution with respect to the Legislature of the Dominion of India shall have effect... (3) The President, after consultation with the Chairman of the Council of States and the Speaker of the House of the People, may make rules as to the procedure with respect to joint sittings of, and communications between, the two Houses.

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This Article gives each House considerable autonomy to set its own detailed procedural rules — how debates are conducted, how bills move through various stages, and general business conduct — subject to the Constitution's overarching framework, while the President (after consulting both presiding officers) sets rules specifically for joint sittings and inter-House communication.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is why the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha each have their own detailed 'Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business' documents governing exactly how their day-to-day proceedings work — a level of self-governance the Constitution deliberately leaves to each House to work out for itself, within broad constitutional bounds.

Read alongside this one

Art. 122 — Courts Not to Inquire Into Proceedings of Parliament

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 118

Can a court intervene if a House's own procedural rules are violated during a debate?

Generally, courts have been reluctant to intervene in purely internal procedural matters of this kind (connected to the broader principle in Article 122 that courts shouldn't inquire into internal parliamentary proceedings), treating this as largely a matter for the House's own self-regulation.

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The text above reproduces Article 118 of the Constitution of India as amended to date, for general educational reference. It is public-domain legislative text, but we recommend cross-checking the authoritative version at legislative.gov.in or india.gov.in before relying on it for a legal matter. The explanation, examples and FAQs are general information, not legal advice — consult a qualified advocate for guidance on your specific situation.