NIOS Class 12 Political Science Chapter 10 Union Executivee

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NIOS Class 12 Political Science Chapter 10 Union Executive

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Union Executive

Chapter: 10

POLITICAL SCIENCE

TEXT BOOK QUESTIONS AND THEIR ANSWERS

INTEXT QUESTIONS 10.1

Q. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives given below by putting a tick (✔) against it:

1. The minimum age for the office of the President of India is:

(a) 21 years.

(b) 25 years.

(c) 30 years.

(d) 35 years.

Ans. 35 years.

2. The Presidential candidate must have the qualifications required for a member of:

(a) Lok Sabha.

(b) Rajya Sabha.

(c) Vidhan Parishad. 

(d) Zila Parishad.

Ans. Lok Sabha.

3. Members of which of the following House are not members of the electoral College:

(a) Rajya Sabha.

(b) Vidhan Sabha.

(c) Vidhan Parishad. 

(d) Lok Sabha.

Ans. Vidhan Parishad.

INTEXT QUESTIONS 10.2

Q. Tick (✔) the correct answer from the alternatives given below:

1. The President of India is elected for a term of:

(a) Three years.

(b) Four years.

(c) Five years.

(d) Six years.

Ans.Five years.

2. The proposal of Impeachment of President can be moved in:

(a) Lok Sabha.

(b) Rajya Sabha..

(c) Vidhan Sabha

(d) Either House of Parliament.

Ans. Either House of Parliament.

3. Who acts as President when neither the President nor the Vice-President is available?

(a) The Prime Minister.

(b) The Chief Justice of India.

(c) The Chief Election Commissioner. 

(d) The Speaker of Lok Sabha.

Ans. Chief Justice of India. 

INTEXT QUESTIONS 10.3

1. Who is the Supreme Commander of India’s armed forces?

Ans. The President.

2. On whose recommendations the members of the Council of Ministers are appointed?

Ans. The Prime Minister.

3. What is the procedure of removal of the President known as?

Ans. Impeachment.

4. How many members of the Rajya Sabha are nominated by the President?

Ans. Twelve.

5. Who are the electors of the VicePresident of India?

Ans. Member of Parliament.

6. Mention one judicial power of the President.

Ans. Power of pardoning the criminals.

7. What type of bills are invariably introduced in the Lok Sabha with the prior approval of the President?

Ans. Money Bill.

INTEXT QUESTIONS 10.4

1. The head of the Government in India is …………. of India. (President / Prime Minister / Chief Justice) 

Ans. Prime Minister.

2.The portfolios of the Ministers are distributed and reshuffled by the ……….. (Prime Minister / President / Vice President) 

Ans. Prime Minister.

3. The meetings of the Cabinet are presided over by the ………… (Speaker of Lok Sabha / Prime Minister / President).

Ans. Prime Minister.

4. The Executive Powers of the President are exercised by the ………. (Council of Ministers / Prime Minister’s office / Cabinet Secretary).

Ans. Council of Ministers.

5. The Lok Sabha can be dissolved by the President on the written request of the …………. (Cabinet / Rajya Sabha / Supreme Court) 

Ans. Cabinet.

6. The President’s address to the Parliament is prepared by the …………… (Vice President / Union Cabinet / Prime Minister’s office).

Ans. Union Cabinet.

7. The Council of Ministers is responsible to the ……….. (Lok Sabha /Rajya Sabha / Parliament).

Ans. Lok Sabha.

TERMINAL EXERCISES

Q. 1. Explain the method of election of the President.

Ans. The election of the President of India is not direct. He is elected by indirect election. An electoral college is constituted which consists of all the elected members of both the Houses of Parliament and of all Legislative Assemblies of all the states. Each member of this electoral college has only one vote but he can indicate his order of preferences of his choice on the ballot paper as 1,2,3, and so on against the name of the candidates. Thus, the President is elected by proportional representation method with the single transferable vote system:

Qualifications of the candidates for the office of the President are:

1. He should be a citizen of India.

2. He should have completed the age of 35.

3. He should be qualified for election as a member of the Lok Sabha.

The number of votes of a member of Assembly is calculated by the formula:

Value of a vote of a member of the Assembly:

Or

V = Population of the State / Number of the elected members of an Assembly of that state  ÷ 1000

The value of vote of M.P. = Total number of votes of 

all states Assemblies / The number of the elected Members of Parliament

Quota is determined in order to declare a candidate elceted.

Q = Total number of votes polled / No. of members to be elected + 1 / +1

Single Transferable Vote System: The election of the President is held through single transferable vote system of proportional representation. Under this system names of all the candidates are listed on the ballot paper and the elector gives them numbers according to on his / her preference. Every voter may mark the ballot paper as many preferences as there are candidates. Thus the elector shall place the figure 1 opposite the name of the candidate whom he/she chooses for first preference and may mark as many preferences as he / she wishes by putting the figures 2,3,4 and so on against the names of other candidates. The ballot becomes invalid if first preference is marked against more than one candidate or if the first preference is not marked at all.

Q. 2. Describe the qualifications for the office of the President of India. What is his and how can he be removed from office?

Ans. The President of India, who is the head of state, is indirectly elected.

I. Qualifications: The qualifications for the office of the President are:

that the person:

(i) should be a citizen of India.

(ii) should have completed the age of 35 years.

(iii) should be qualified to be elected as a member of Lok Sabha. and

(iv) should not hold any office of profit, i.e. the candidate should not be a government servant. However, the office of the President, the Vice-President, the Governor or the Minister of the Union or the State is not considered as an office of profit for this purpose.

II. His Term and Office: The President is elected for a term of five years and is eligible for re-election, though a convention has developed that no President seeks election for second term. However, the first President Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected for the two full terms. He/she may resign before the expiry of his term, or the office of President may fall vacant due to his / her death. His term of office commences from the date he takes the oath of office.

III. Removal of the President from his office: The President can only be removed from office through a process called impeachment. The Constitution lays down a detailed procedure for the impeachment of the President.He can only be impeached “for violation of the Constitution”.The following procedure is intentionally kept very difficult so that no President should be removed on flimsy ground.

The resolution to impeach the President can be moved in either House of Parliament. Such a resolution can be moved only after a notice has been given by at least one-fourth of the total number of members of the House. Such a resolution charging the President for violation of the Constitution must be passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the total membership of that House before it goes to the other House for investigation.

Q. 3. Describe the legislative powers of the President of India.

Ans. Legislative powers of the President of India are:

(i) He summons and prorogues the Houses of Parliament.

(ii) He may summon the Parliament at least twice a year and the gap between two sessions cannot be more than six months.

(iii) The President has the power to dissolve the Lok Sabha even before the expiry of its term on the recommendation of the Prime Minister.

(iv) In normal course she/he dissolves Lok Sabha after five years.

(v) The President nominates twelve members to Rajya Sabha from amongst persons having special knowledge in the field of literature, science, art and social service.

(vi) The President may also nominate two members of Anglo-Indian community to the Lok Sabha in case the community is not adequately represented in the House.

(vii) The President can call a joint sitting of the both Houses of Parliament in case of a disagreement between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on a non-money bill.

(viii) Every bill passed by Parliament is sent to the President for her / his assent. The President may give her / his assent or return it once for the reconsideration of the Parliament.

Q. 4. Explain the executive powers of the President.

Ans. The Executive Powers of the President: The President is the head of state and executive powers of the Union have been vested in him. The President is empowered to exercise these powers either directly or through officers subordinate to him which means through the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers also. His executive powers are given below:

1. The President appoints the Prime Minister, other ministers and on his advice.

2. He allocates portfolios among the ministers.

3. He appoints the Chief Justice and other judges of the Supreme Court and the High Courts.

4. He appoints the Attorney General and the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.

5. The Governors of the states, as also the Lt. Governors, the Chief Commissioners and the Administrators of the Union Territories are appointed by the President.

6. He also appoints the Chairman and members of numerous commissions.

7. The President appoints Ambassadors, High Commissioners and other diplomatic representatives from other countries.

8. All treaties and agreements are negotiated in the name of the President.

9. He is the Supreme Commander of the Defence Forces. All these functions are discharged by him by the advice of the Council of Ministers.

Q. 5. Examine the powers and role of the President of India.

Ans. The Powers and the Role of the President of India: The office of the President is of high dignity and eminence, not of real powers. The powers formally vested in him are actually exercised not by him, but by the Union Council of Ministers, in his name. If he tries to act against the wishes of the ministers, he may create a constitutional crisis. He may even face impeachment and may have to quit. Thus, the President has no alternative but to act in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister, who after all is head of the real executive. The Prime Minister is in regular touch with the President.

Powers of the President of India:

1. Legislative Powers:

(i) To summon or progroue both Houses of Parliament.

(ii) He addresses the two Houses of Parliament at the beginning of the first session in each year.

(iii) He can send the message to the Parliament.

(iv) He nominates 12 members of the Rajya Sabha having special knowledge of practical experience in respect of literature, science, art and social service.

(v) He is also empowered to nominate not more than two members of the Lok Sabha from the Anglo-Indian community.

(vi) The President gives his assent to the bill or withhold it or send it back.

(vii) The President can issue an ordinance at the time when the Parliament is not in session.

2. Executive Powers:

(i) The President invites the leader of Majority Party to form the Government and appoint him the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers on his advice.

(ii) He is the Supreme Commander of the Defence Forces.

(iii) He appoints the Chairman and members of numerous commissions as Finance Commission, the Union Public Service Commission, etc.

(iv) He appoints the Attorney General and the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

(v) He appoints the Chief Justice and other Judges of Supreme Court and the High Courts.

(vi) The Governors of the states, the Lt. Governors, the Chief Commissioners and the Administrators of the Union territories are appointed by the President.

(vii) He appoints Ambassadors, High Commissioners and other diplomatic officers and receives Ambassadors, High Commissioner and other diplomatic representatives from other countries.

(viii) All treaties and agreements are negotiated and concluded in the name of the President.

3. Financial Powers:

(i) No money bill (annual or supplementary budget) can be introduced in the Lok Sabha without the prior permission of the Presindent. 

(ii) He has the control over the Contingency Fund of India.

(iii) The President appoints a Finance Commission every five years which recommends changes in the allocation of funds, raised and recovered through taxes and levies, to the Union and the States.

4. Powers of Pardon: He has the power to grant pardon, reprieve or remit punishment. He can suspend, commute or reprieve the sentence of a criminal convicted by any Court Martial or any other court. He has the pardoning power in respect of offences against law made under the Union and the Concurrent Lists. The only authority for pardoning a sentence of death is the President.

5. Miscellaneous Powers:

(i) The President has the power to frame rules and regulations with regard to the business of the Government.

(ii) He has the power to refer any question of public importance for the opinion of the Supreme Court.

(iii) He has the right to seek the advice of the Supreme Court on a matter involving the Constitution and the law.

(iv) He has the power, as Head of the State, to bestow honours and awards to those who excel in their respective fields.

Q. 6. Describe the functions of the VicePresident of India.

Ans. Functions of the Vice-President:

(i) The Vice-President is the ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha, which means that whosoever is the Vice-President, he presides over the Rajya Sabha and performs normal duties of a presiding officer. These include maintenance of order in the House, allowing members to speak and ask questions, and putting bills and motions to vote. Since the Vice-President is not a member of the Rajya Sabha, he cannot vote in the House. But, in case of a tie (equality of votes in favour and against a bill), he exercises his casting vote so that a decision can be reached.

(ii) If ever a vacancy arises in the office of President, due to death, resignation or impeachment, the Vice-President officiates as the President for not more than six months. During that period, he enjoys all powers of the President, and does not preside over the House when he officiates as President.

(iii) In case the President is temporarily unable to discharge his functions, the VicePresident may be called upon to discharge his functions, without becoming officiating President.

Q. 7. How is the Prime Minister of India appointed? Explain.

Ans. Appointment of the Prime Minister:

(i) The Prime Minister is appointed by the President but he does not have freedom in the selection of the Prime Minister.

(ii) Normally he has to invite the leader of the majority party to form the government.

(iii) In case no single party is in absolute majority, he invites the person who is likely to command support of two or more parties which make up majority in the Lok Sabha.

(iv) Once appointed, the Prime Minister holds office so long as he/she enjoys the support of the majority of members of Lok Sabha.

(v) The Prime Minister is normally the leader of the majority party in Lok Sabha.

(vi) Examples of Appointment of Prime Minister from the Rajya Sabha: There have been cases when a member of Rajya Sabha was made the Prime Minister. This happened when Mrs. Indira Gandhi was first appointed Prime Minster in 1966, or when I. K. Gujral became Prime Minister in 1997 or when Rajya Sabha member, Dr. Manmohan Singh became the Prime Minister in 2004. In 1996 H.D. Deve Gowda was not a member of any House. He later entered the Rajya Sabha.

Q. 8. Explain the powers, functions and roles of the Prime Minister of India.

Ans. Powers and functions of the Prime Minister of India:

(i) The Prime Minister presides over the meetings of the Cabinet and conducts its proceedings. As head of the Cabinet, he/she largely influences the decisions of the Cabinet.

(ii) The Prime Minister coordinates the working of various Ministers. He resolves disagreement if any, amongst different Ministers.

(iii) Prime Minister is the link between the President and the Cabinet. The decisions of the Cabinet are conveyed to the President by the Prime Minister. It is he who keeps the President informed of all the policies and decisions of the Government.

(iv) No Minister can meet the President without the permission of the Prime Minister.

(v) All important appointments are made by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.

(vi) It is on the advice of the Prime Minister that the President summons and prorogues the session of the Parliament and even dissolves the Lok Sabha.

(vii) The Prime Minister is the “principal spokesman” and defender of the policies of the Government in the Parliament. When any Minister is unable to defend his actions properly, the Prime Minister comes to the help of that Minister both inside and outside the Parliament.

(viii) The Prime Minister is the leader of the nation. The nation looks to him for guidance.

(ix) At the time of general elections, it is the Prime Minister who seeks mandate of the people.

(x) The Prime Minister plays an important role in the formulation of domestic and foreign policies.

(xi) He represents the country in the world by participating in the meetings of NAM, SAARC and United Nations. All international agreements and treaties with other countries are concluded with the consent of the Prime Minister. He is the Chief spokesperson of the policies of the country.

Role of Prime Minister of India: The Prime Minister is the most important and powerful functionary of the Union Government. He is the head of the government and leader of Lok Sabha. He is principal advisor to the President, and the country’s visible face and spokesperson in the international affairs. His role is unparalled and he gives direction to the governance of the country.

The Prime Minister being the head of the Council of Ministers, selects the Ministers to be sworn in by the President. The Ministers in fact are chosen by the Prime Minister and remain Ministers as long as they enjoy the confidence of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister distributes portfolios among Ministers. He can change the portfolios as and when he desires. The Prime Minister can drop a Minister or ask for his/her resignation.

The Prime Minister has a special status both in the Government and in the Parliament. This makes him the most powerful functionary. His position and powers depend upon his personality. A person of the stature of Jawaharlal Nehru or Indira Gandhi, is always more effective than a person who lacks vision or depends on support from outside his party. The Prime Minister is not only leader of the Parliament but also leader of the nation. The Prime Minister has to secure the willing cooperation of all important members of his / her own party. In a minority government, the Prime Minister has to depend on outside help that might act as hindrance in his effective role.

Q. 9. Distinguish between the Council of Ministers and the Cabinet.

Ans. Differences between the Council of Ministers and the Cabinet: The terms Council of Ministers and ‘The Cabinet’ are often used as interchangeable terms. In reality, they are not. Prior to 44^th Amendment of the Constitution, the word ‘Cabinet’ was not mentioned in the Constitution. Let us distinguish between the Council of Ministers and the Cabinet:

(i) The main points of difference are: The Council of Ministers consists of all category of Ministers, i.e. Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State.

(ii) The Cabinet, on the other hand, consists of Senior Ministers only. Its number varies from 15 to 30 while the entire Council of Ministers can consist of even more than 70.

(iii) The Council of Ministers as a whole rarely meets. The Cabinet, on the other hand, meets as frequently as possible.

(iv) It is the Cabinet that determines the policies and programmes of the Government and not the Council of Ministers. Thus, ‘Cabinet is an inner body within the Council of Ministers’.

(v) It acts in the name of the Council Ministers and exercises all powers on its behalf.

Q. 10. Describe the collective and individual responsibility of the Ministers.

Ans. The Collective and Individual Responsibility of the Ministers: The Constitution of India has itself declared that the Council of Ministers shall be responsible to the Lok Sabha (not to both the Houses). Ministerial responsibility is the essential feature of parliamentary form of government. The principle of ministerial responsibility has two dimensions: collective responsibility and individual responsibility.

A.Collective Responsibility of the Ministers: Our Constitution clearly says that “The Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to “House of the People”. It actually means that the Ministers are responsible to the Lok Sabha not as individuals alone, but collectively also.

Collective responsibility has two implications, Firstly, it means that every| members of the Council of Ministers accepts responsibility for each and every decision of the Cabinet. Members of the Council of Ministers swim and sink together.

When a decision has been taken by the Cabinet, every Minister has to stand by it without any hesitation. If a Minister does not agree with the Cabinet decision, the only alternative left to him/her is to resign from the Council of Ministers.

The essence of collective responsibility means that, “the Minister must vote with the government, speak in defence of it if the Prime Minister insists, and he/she cannot afterwards reject criticism of his act, either in Parliament or in the constituencies, on the ground that he she did not agree with the decision.”

Secondly, the vote of no-confidence against the Prime Minister is a vote against the whole Council of Ministers. Similarly, adverse vote in the Lok Sabha on any government bill or budget implies lack of confidence in the entire Council of Ministers, not only the mover of the bill.

B. Individual Responsibility of every Minister:

(i) Though the Ministers are collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha, they are also individually responsible to the Lok Sabha.

Individual responsibility is enforced when an action taken by a Minister without the concurrence of the Cabinet, or the Prime Minister, is criticised and not approved by the Parliament.

(ii) Similarly if personal conduct of a Minister is questionable and unbecoming he may have to resign without affecting the fate of the Government. If a Minister becomes a liability or embarrassment to the Prime Minister, he may be asked to quit.

OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS 

I. Choose the correct answer:

Q. 1. The qualifying age for the office of President of India is:

(a) 35 years.

(b) 21 years.

(c) 25 years.

(d) 30 years.

Ans. (a) 35 years.

Q. 2. Electoral College, who elects the President of India, consists:

(a) the elected members of Lok Sabha.

(b) the elected members of Rajya Sabha

(c) the elected members of State-legislative Assemblies (Vidhan Sabha).

(d) the all above mentioned three categories. 

Ans. (d) the all above mentioned three categories.

Q. 3. The Presidential candidate must have the qualifications required for a member of:

(a) Zila Parishad. 

(b) Vidhan Sabha. 

(c) Rajya Sabha.

(d) Lok Sabha. 

Ans. (d) Lok Sabha.

Q. 4. Members of which of the following House are not members of the electoral college of the President of India:

(a) Vidhan Parishad.

(b) Vidhan Sabha.

(c) Rajya Sabha.

(d) Lok Sabha.

Ans. (b) Vidhan Sabha

Q. 5. Who acts as President when neither the President nor the VicePresident is available?

(a) The Prime Minister. 

(b) The Chief Justice of India. 

(c) The Chief Election Commissioner. 

(d) The Speaker of Lok Sabha. 

Ans. (b) The Chief Justice of India.

Q. 6. The President of India is elected for a term of:

(a) six years.

(b) seven years.

(c) four years. 

(d) five years.

Ans. (d) five ears.

Q. 7. The proposal of Impeachment of President can be moved in:

(a) Either House of Parliament.

(b) Lok Sabha.

(c) Rajya Sabha.

(d) Vidhan Sabha of any State.

Ans. (a) Either House of Parliament. 

II. Fill in the blanks with the word or words already given within the bracket:

1. The Council of Ministers of the central government is responsible to the ………… (Parliament / Rajya Sabha / Lok Sabha) 

And. Lok Sabha.

2. The President’s address to the Parliament is prepared by the ……….. (Vice President / Union Cabinet / Prime Minister’s Office)

Ans. Union Cabinet.

3. The head of the Government in India is the ……….. of India. (President / Prime Minister / Chief Justice) 

Ans. President.

4. The Lok Sabha can be dissolved by the President on the written request of the …………. (Cabinet / Rajya Sabha / Supreme Court) 

Ans. Cabinet.

5. The portfolios of the Ministers are distributed and reshuffled by the ………….. (Prime Minister / Vice President / President) 

Ans. Prime Minister.

6. The meetings of the Cabinet are presided over by the ………….. (Speaker of Lok Sabha / Prime Minister President)

Ans. Prime Minister.

7. The executive power of the President are exercised by the …………. (Council of Ministers / Prime Minister’s Office / Cabinet Secretary)

Ans. Council of Ministers.