Executive Notes

This chapter explains:

• Meaning of executive
• Types of executive
• Parliamentary executive in India
• Powers and position of President
• Prime Minister and Council of Ministers
• Collective responsibility
• Permanent executive and bureaucracy

The chapter highlights how the executive functions within the framework of parliamentary democracy in India.

Meaning of Executive

The executive is the organ of government responsible for:

• Implementation of laws
• Administration
• Policy execution
• Governance

The executive ensures that laws and policies adopted by the legislature are properly implemented.

Main Functions of Executive

1. Implement laws passed by legislature
2. Formulate policies
3. Maintain administration
4. Coordinate government departments
5. Maintain law and order

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Political Executive and Permanent Executive

Political Executive

Includes:

• President
• Prime Minister
• Ministers

These are elected representatives responsible for policy decisions.

Permanent Executive

Includes:

• Civil servants
• Bureaucrats
• Administrative officers

They handle day-to-day administration.

Major Types of Executive

Presidential System

In this system:

• President is Head of State and Government
• President is directly elected
• Executive independent of legislature

Examples

• USA
• Brazil

Features of Presidential System

1. Separation of powers
2. Fixed tenure
3. Powerful President
4. Legislature cannot easily remove President

Parliamentary System

In this system:

• Prime Minister is real executive
• President/Monarch is nominal head
• Executive responsible to legislature

Examples

• India
• United Kingdom
• Japan

Features of Parliamentary System

1. Executive responsible to legislature
2. Prime Minister leads government
3. Collective responsibility
4. Close relation between legislature and executive

Semi-Presidential System

This system has:

• President
• Prime Minister

Both share executive powers.

Examples

• France
• Russia
• Sri Lanka

Semi-Presidential Executive in Sri Lanka

• President directly elected
• Powerful executive authority
• Appoints Prime Minister
• Can remove Prime Minister
• President serves for six years

Reasons for Adopting Parliamentary System

1. Accountability

Executive remains accountable to legislature.

2. Responsiveness

Government remains sensitive to public opinion.

3. Prevention of Personality Cult

Avoids concentration of excessive power in one individual.

Structure of Parliamentary Executive in India

Union Level

• President
• Prime Minister
• Council of Ministers

State Level

• Governor
• Chief Minister
• Council of Ministers

Election of President

President is:

• Indirectly elected
• Elected by elected MPs and MLAs

Election follows:

• Proportional Representation
• Single Transferable Vote system

Term of President

• Five years
• Eligible for re-election

Removal of President

President can be removed through impeachment for:

• Violation of Constitution

Requires special majority in Parliament.

Article 74

The advice of Council of Ministers is binding on President.

Real and Nominal Executive

Powers of President

1. Executive Powers

• Appoints PM and ministers
• Appoints Governors
• Appoints judges and officials

2. Legislative Powers

• Summons Parliament
• Addresses Parliament
• Gives assent to bills

3. Judicial Powers

• Pardoning powers

4. Emergency Powers

• National Emergency
• President’s Rule
• Financial Emergency

Discretionary Powers of President

1. Reconsideration of Advice

President can ask Council of Ministers to reconsider advice once.

2. Pocket Veto

President may delay assent to a bill indefinitely.

Example

Gyani Zail Singh delayed assent to Indian Post Office Amendment Bill, 1986.

3. Appointment of Prime Minister

When no party has clear majority, President uses discretion to appoint PM.

President’s Role in Coalition Era

Since 1989:

• Coalition governments increased
• President’s discretion became more important

President may:

• Decide whom to invite to form government
• Ask PM to prove majority

Prime Minister

Prime Minister is:

• Head of government
• Leader of majority in Lok Sabha
• Most important political executive

Appointment of Prime Minister

President appoints:

• Leader of majority party or coalition

Formation of Council of Ministers

Prime Minister:

• Selects ministers
• Allocates portfolios
• Decides ranks

Types of Ministers

Membership Requirement

A minister must become member of Parliament within:

• Six months

Otherwise minister loses office.

Size of Council of Ministers

91st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003:

• Council of Ministers cannot exceed 15% of Lok Sabha strength

Collective Responsibility

Entire ministry resigns if it loses confidence of Lok Sabha.

Importance of Prime Minister

1. Leads Council of Ministers
2. Coordinates government
3. Decides policies
4. Acts as link between President and Cabinet
5. Represents India internationally

Jawaharlal Nehru called PM:

Coalition Governments and PM

• Coalition politics increased after 1989
• PM acts more as negotiator
• PM authority reduced in some cases

Meaning of Bureaucracy

Bureaucracy refers to:

• Permanent civil servants
• Administrative machinery

They assist ministers in:

• Policy formulation
• Policy implementation

Features of Bureaucracy

1. Permanent employees
2. Politically neutral
3. Merit-based recruitment
4. Professional administration

Components of Indian Bureaucracy

1. All India Services
2. Central Services
3. State Services
4. Local Government Employees

UPSC

Union Public Service Commission:

• Conducts recruitment for civil services

State PSCs recruit for state services.

Reservation in Bureaucracy

Reservation provided for:

• SCs
• STs
• OBCs
• Women
• EWS

Purpose:

• Social justice
• Representation

IAS and IPS Officers

• Recruited by UPSC
• Work in states and centre
• Controlled by central government

These services strengthen Union control over states.

Problems of Bureaucracy

1. Political interference
2. Lack of accountability
3. Corruption
4. Delay in work
5. Insensitivity to citizens

Need for Democratic Control

Executive and bureaucracy must remain under legislative supervision and democratic accountability.

Important Topic	Page Reference
Meaning of Executive	Pages 79–80
Types of Executive	Pages 80–82
Parliamentary Executive in India	Pages 83–84
President of India	Pages 84–88
Prime Minister and Council of Ministers	Pages 89–93
Collective Responsibility	Pages 91–92
Bureaucracy	Pages 94–97

Very Short Answer Questions

1. What is executive?
2. Define parliamentary executive.
3. What is collective responsibility?
4. What is pocket veto?
5. What is bureaucracy?

Short Answer Questions

1. Explain parliamentary system.
2. Discuss powers of President.
3. Explain discretionary powers of President.
4. Explain collective responsibility.
5. Discuss role of Prime Minister.

Long Answer Questions

1. Explain parliamentary executive in India.
2. Discuss powers and position of President.
3. Explain role of Prime Minister in Indian political system.
4. Discuss bureaucracy and civil services in India.
5. Compare parliamentary and presidential systems.

1. Who is the real executive in India?

Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.

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2. Who is the nominal executive?

President of India.

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3. What is collective responsibility?

Entire Council of Ministers is jointly responsible to Lok Sabha.

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4. What is pocket veto?

President delays assent to bill indefinitely.

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5. What is bureaucracy?

Permanent administrative machinery of government.

• Executive implements laws and policies.
• Two types:
  • Political executive
  • Permanent executive
• Parliamentary system:
  • PM is real executive
  • President is nominal executive
• India adopted parliamentary system because:
  • Accountability
  • Democratic control
  • Avoid personality cult
• President:
  • Indirectly elected
  • Five-year term
  • Acts on aid and advice
• Discretionary powers:
  • Reconsider advice
  • Pocket veto
  • Appointment of PM in hung Parliament
• Prime Minister:
  • Head of government
  • Leads Council of Ministers
  • Most powerful political executive
• Collective responsibility:
  • Ministry responsible together to Lok Sabha
• Bureaucracy:
  • Permanent civil services
  • Politically neutral
  • Merit-based recruitment
• UPSC recruits:
  • IAS
  • IPS
  • Central civil servants