Senate of Pakistan MCQs

Correct Answer: Upper House

The Senate is the upper house of Pakistan's bicameral Parliament; the National Assembly is the lower house.

Correct Answer: 1973

The Senate was first constituted under the 1973 Constitution in August 1973; the 1956 and 1962 constitutions had a unicameral legislature.

Correct Answer: 6 years

A Senator serves a six-year term, with half the house retiring every three years.

Correct Answer: 96

The Senate now has 96 seats: 23 per province (92) plus 4 for Islamabad. The 25th Amendment (2018) cut the house from 104 to 96 once the last FATA senators retired in 2024.

Correct Answer: Indirectly

Senators are elected indirectly: provincial assemblies elect the provincial seats and the National Assembly elects the Islamabad seats.

Correct Answer: One-half, every 3 years

Half the Senate retires every three years, which is why Senate elections are held every three years for half the seats.

Correct Answer: Chairman of the Senate

The Chairman of the Senate presides over the Senate; the Deputy Chairman presides in the Chairman's absence.

Correct Answer: Deputy Chairman

The Deputy Chairman presides over the Senate whenever the Chairman is absent.

Correct Answer: Provinces, Islamabad and minorities

The Senate gives equal representation to the provinces regardless of population, with seats for Islamabad and reserved seats including one minority seat per province.

Correct Answer: 23

Each province has 23 seats: 14 general, 4 women, 4 technocrats/ulemas and 1 minority seat.

Correct Answer: 4

Islamabad has 4 Senate seats: 2 general, 1 woman and 1 technocrat.

Correct Answer: 8

FATA held 8 Senate seats before its 2018 merger into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; the last FATA senators retired in 2024.

Correct Answer: 4

Four minority seats are reserved, one for each province, as part of each province's 23 seats.

Correct Answer: Legislative review and representation of provinces

The Senate reviews legislation passed by the National Assembly and represents the provinces equally in the federation.

Correct Answer: Habibullah Khan

Habibullah Khan Marwat was the first Chairman of the Senate, serving from August 1973 to July 1977.

Correct Answer: Approval by the National Assembly

An ordinary bill must be passed by both houses and receive presidential assent before it becomes law.

Correct Answer: Regular sessions throughout the year

Under Articles 54 and 61 the Senate must hold at least three sessions and meet for not less than 110 days in each parliamentary year.

Correct Answer: By Senators through secret ballot

Under Article 60 the Senate elects its Chairman and Deputy Chairman from among its members by secret ballot.

Correct Answer: Speaker of the National Assembly

The Speaker of the National Assembly presides over joint sittings of Parliament.

Correct Answer: Continuous

Unlike the National Assembly, the Senate is never dissolved as a whole; only half its members retire at a time, so it is a continuous body.

Correct Answer: Chairman of the Senate

Under Article 49, the Chairman of the Senate acts as President when the President's office is vacant or the President is unable to perform the functions of the office.

Correct Answer: 3 years

Under Article 60 the term of the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman is three years.

Correct Answer: Ordinary (non-money) bills

The Senate can approve, amend or reject ordinary bills, but for a money bill it may only make recommendations within 14 days and cannot reject it.

Correct Answer: No

A money bill can only originate in the National Assembly; the Senate's role is limited to recommendations within 14 days.

Correct Answer: International treaties

The Senate debates foreign-policy matters including international treaties and passes resolutions on them.

Correct Answer: By proportional representation in provincial assemblies

Women's reserved seats are filled by proportional representation through the provincial assemblies (and the National Assembly for Islamabad).

Correct Answer: One-fourth of total members

Under Rule 5 of the Senate Rules of Procedure and the Senate's own glossary, a sitting requires one-fourth of the total membership present.

Correct Answer: Chairman of the Senate

Under Article 54(3) the Chairman summons the Senate when requisitioned by not less than one-fourth of its total membership.

Correct Answer: Article 59

Article 59 lays down the composition of the Senate: 23 members from each province and 4 from Islamabad.

Correct Answer: Provinces

Every province has the same 23 Senate seats regardless of population, protecting the smaller provinces.

Correct Answer: Third highest office

In the warrant of precedence the Chairman of the Senate follows the President and the Prime Minister, ranking third.

Correct Answer: Chairman of the Senate

Under Article 49 the Chairman of the Senate acts as President when the office falls vacant, until a new President is elected.

Correct Answer: Judges of higher courts and Election Commission members

The Senate is represented in the parliamentary committee that confirms nominations for higher-court judges and Election Commission members.

Correct Answer: 336

The National Assembly has 336 seats: 266 general, 60 reserved for women and 10 for minorities.

Correct Answer: General public

Senators are elected indirectly by the provincial assemblies and, for Islamabad, by the National Assembly - not by direct public vote.

Correct Answer: Provinces

The Senate is the house of the provinces: it represents the federating units equally in Parliament.

Correct Answer: Yes, jointly with the National Assembly

A constitutional amendment bill may originate in either house but must be passed by a two-thirds majority in both houses.

Correct Answer: Women, minorities and technocrats

Each province's 23 seats include 4 for women, 4 technocrats/ulemas and 1 for minorities.

Correct Answer: National Assembly represents population; Senate represents provinces equally

National Assembly seats follow population, while every province has an equal 23 seats in the Senate.

Correct Answer: Election Commission of Pakistan

Senate election disputes are decided by election tribunals appointed by the Election Commission of Pakistan.

Correct Answer: Yes, under Constitution rules

A Senator can lose the seat through disqualification under Article 63, resignation or other constitutional provisions.

Correct Answer: Conducting

The Deputy Chairman assists the Chairman in conducting the Senate's sessions and presides in the Chairman's absence.

Correct Answer: Ministries, public sector organizations and legislation

Senate standing committees scrutinise the ministries, public-sector organisations and legislation assigned to them.

Correct Answer: By-election in the respective provincial assembly

A Senate vacancy is filled by election by the provincial assembly (or the National Assembly for an Islamabad seat) for the remainder of the term.

Correct Answer: Constitution of Pakistan

Article 66 of the Constitution gives members freedom of speech in Parliament and immunity for votes and speeches in the house.

Correct Answer: Equal representation

Equal provincial representation in the Senate protects smaller provinces against domination by the more populous ones.

Correct Answer: 23

Following the 25th Amendment and the merger of FATA, each of the four provinces of Pakistan has 23 representatives in the Senate.

Correct Answer: Habib Allah Khan

Habib Allah Khan was the first Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan.