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The Union executive
consists of the President, the Vice President and the
Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister at the head to
aid and advise the President.
The President must :
1. be a citizen of India,
2. be qualified for election as a member of the House of the
People (Lok Sabha)
3. have completed the age of 35 years,
4. not hold any office of profit under the Government of
India, or the Government of State,
or under any local authority.
Method of Election – The
president is indirectly elected by a body of electors
forming the electoral college which includes the elected
members of both houses of Parliament as well as the elected
members of the Legislative Assemblies of the states.
He is elected in accordance with the system of proportional
representation by the method of a single transferable vote
the number of voter cast by each member of the legislative
assembly and by each member of the parliament is obtained by
the following formula :
The number of votes cast by each member of L.A.
= {Total population of
the state / Total elected members of the
Assembly} ÷ 1000
Each member of the Parliament will have as many votes as
= Total number of votes assigned
to the Assemblies ÷ Total number of elected members of
Parliament
Term of Office – His
term of office is five years unless he resigns or is removed
from office by impeachment. He is eligible for re-election.
Impeachment of the President
– The president may be impeached on a charge of violating
the constitution. Such impeachment can be moved in either
House of the Parliament by means of a resolution. Such
resolution can be moved, only, if 14 days' notice in writing
duly signed by at least one-fourth of the total membership
of the House concerned is given. Such a resolution must be
passed by at least two-thirds of the total membership of the
House concerned. The charges must be investigated by the
other House. The president has the right to be heard and
defended during the investigation of the charges against
him. If the investigating House sustains the charges by a
resolution, adopted by a two-third majority. The president
must be removed from office at once.
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Executive Powers – The President
appoints the Prime Minister, the Governors, diplomats,
judges of the Supreme Court and of the High Courts, the
Chairman and members of the Union Public Service
Commission, Chief Commissioners of Union Territories, the
Attorney-General of India, the Comptroller and
Auditor-General of India, the members of Finance
Commission and Election Commission. He is the supreme
commander of defence forces.
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Legislative Powers – The President summons,
prorogues, addresses, sends messages to Parliament and
dissolve the Lok Sabha; promulgates ordinance at any time,
except when both
Houses of Parliament are in session, water recommendations
for introducing
financial and money bills and gives assent to bills,
grants pardons;
reprieves, respites or remission of punishment or
suspends, remits
or commutes sentences in certain cases. When there is a
failure of
the constitutional machinery in a State, he can assume to
himself
all or any of the functions of the government of the
State.
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Emergency Powers – If President is
satisfied that
the security of the country is in danger because of any
reason, he
may issue a proclamation of emergency.
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Financial Powers – No Money Bill or
demand for grant
can be introduced or moved in Parliament, unless it has
been recommended
by the President.
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Judicial Powers – He has the power to
grant pardon,
reprieve or remit of punishment or commute death
sentences.
The Vice-President is elected by members of an
electoral college
consisting of members of both Houses of Parliament in
accordance with
the system of proportional representation by means of
single transferable
vote. He must be a citizen of India, not less than 35
years of age
and eligble for election as a member of the Rajya Sabha.
His term of office is five years and he is eligible for
re-election.
The Vice-President is ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya
Sabha and acts
as President when the latter is unable to discharge his
functions
due to absence, illness or any other cause or till the
election of
a new President. While so acting, he ceases to perform the
function
of the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. The Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister to
aid and
advise the President in exercise of his functions. He is
the leader
of the party that enjoys a majority in the Lok Sabha. The
Prime Minister
is appointed by the President who also appoints other
ministers on
the advice of Prime Minister.
The Council is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha.
It is the
duty of the Prime Minister to communicate to the President
all decisions
of Council of Ministers and information relating to them.
The Council of Ministers comprises Ministers who are
members of Cabinet,
Ministers of State (independent charge), Ministers of
State and Deputy
Ministers. |
