Ask the Constitution → Your rights, by who you are
Opposition is a constitutional function, not only a political position. These provisions give a member outside government the floor, the vote, the question, and the check.
Descriptive, not legal advice · text as amended through the 106th Amendment (2023)
Freedom of speech in Parliament and immunity for anything said or any vote given in the House. The protection that lets a member criticise the government on the record.
The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. This is the constitutional basis of the no-confidence motion and of the government's duty to keep the House's confidence.
Outside the House, 19(1)(a) protects freedom of speech and expression, subject only to the reasonable restrictions listed in 19(2).
Decisions in each House are by a majority of members present and voting, with a quorum of one tenth. The arithmetic every motion runs on.
Disqualification grounds, including the Tenth Schedule anti-defection rules that bind a member who votes against the party line or switches sides.
The procedure for impeachment of the President, requiring a two-thirds majority in each House. One of the gravest checks the legislature holds.