CSS Notes: Parliament of Pakistan
Exam-ready notes on the National Assembly and Senate.
Reviewed 2026-10-17
Definition
Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) consists of the President and two Houses: the National Assembly and the Senate. The two chambers represent different principles—population and the federal units.
National Assembly
- Members on general seats are directly elected from territorial constituencies.
- It determines who becomes prime minister.
- Money Bills originate in the National Assembly under the special constitutional procedure.
- Its term and dissolution are governed by the Constitution.
Senate
- Provides representation to the federating units.
- Is a continuing chamber rather than one dissolved as a whole.
- Participates in ordinary federal legislation and constitutional amendment.
- Has a limited role in the Money Bill process compared with the National Assembly.
Core functions
- Legislation
- Budget and taxation
- Executive accountability
- Representation
- Constitutional amendment
- Public debate and committee scrutiny
Analytical issues
- Party discipline versus legislative independence.
- Committee capacity and research support.
- Ordinances and executive dominance.
- Representation of women, minorities and smaller provinces.
- Continuity of sittings and effective accountability.
Sources and further reading
Last reviewed: 17 October 2026. If you spot an error, please use our corrections process.