RBSE Class 11 Political Science Important Questions Chapter 4 Executive

Rajasthan Board RBSE Class 11 Political Science Important Questions Chapter 4 Executive Important Questions and Answers. 

RBSE Class 11 Political Science Important Questions Chapter 4 Executive

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Executive Class 11 Important Questions Question 1.
Who is the chief coordinator in ’ the Cabinet? 
Answer: 
The Prime Minister

 

Class 11 Political Science Chapter 4 Extra Questions Question 2. 
Who distributes portfolios among the Ministers?
Answer: 
The Prime Minister distributes portfolios among the ministers,

Executive Class 11 Extra Questions With Answers Question 3. 
Who has the power to dismiss or remove a Minister from Union Council of Ministers?
Answer: 
On the advice of the Prime Minister, the President can dismiss or remove a minister from the Union Council of Ministers. 

Executive Class 11 Extra Questions Question 4. 
Mention one distinction between the Cabinet and Council of Ministers.
Answer: 
The Council of Ministers consists of all the ministers, whereas the Cabinet consists of a few ministers.

Important Questions Of Executive Class 11 Question 5. 
Who presides over the meetings of the Union Council of Ministers?
Answer: 
The Prime Minister presides over the meetings of the Union Council of Ministers.

Executive Important Questions Class 11 Question 6.
Name the present President, Vice¬President and Prime Minister of India.
Answer: 
The present President is Sh. Ram Nath Kovind, Vice-President is Sh. Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister is Sh. Narendra Modi.

Class 11 Political Science Chapter 4 Important Questions Question 7. 
Mention one function of the Council of Ministers.
Answer:
An important function of the Council of Ministers is to determine its internal and external policy according to which the administration of the state is to run.

Executive Extra Questions Class 11 Question 8. 
Who is at the head of the Union Council of Ministers?
Answer: 
The Prime Minister is at the head of the Union Council of Ministers.

Extra Questions Of Executive Class 11 Question 9. 
Who Minister?
Answer:
The Prime Minister is appointed by the President.

Class 11 Executive Question Answer Question 10. 
Write down the salary of the President.
Answer: 
The President gets a salary of? 5,00,000 per month.

Class 11 Executive Extra Questions Question 11. 
Write down the salary of the Vice-President.
Answer: 
Does the Vice-President get a salary of? 4,00,000 per month.

Fill in the blank:

Executive Class 11 Questions And Answers Question 12. 
The Council of ministers includes ............ Minister of state and Deputy minister.
Answer: 
Cabinet minister

Correct the sentence and rewrite:

Class 11 Executive Important Questions Question 13. 
The President of India gets a monthly salary of Rupees One Lakh.
Answer: 
The President of India gets a monthly salary of Rupees Five Lakh. Complete the sentence:

Political Science Class 11 Chapter 4 Question Answer Question 14. 
The Vice-President of India gets a monthly salary of .
Answer: 
The Vice-President of India gets a monthly salary of Rupees Four Lakh.

Executive Question Answer Class 11 Question 15. 
Who said, “The constitution concentrates so much powers and influence in the hands of the Prime Minister, that there is every danger to apprehend that the Prime Minister may become a dictator if he chooses to do so”?
Answer: 
Prof. K.T. Shah.

Multiple-Choice Questions 

Choose the Correct Answers:

1. The President is:
(a) member of Lok Sabha
(b) member of Rajya Sabha
(c) not a member of any House
(d) none of these 
Answer: 
(c) not a member of any House

2. The position of the Indian President is:
(a) like the American President
(b) like the British Monarch
(c) like the Pakistan President
(d) like the Prime Minister of China 
Answer: 
(b) like the British Monarch

3. The President can be removed by:
(a) The Rajya Sabha
(b) The Lok Sabha
(c) The Electoral College
(d) Impeachment 
Answer: 
(d) Impeachment 

4. The Prime Minister is appointed by the:
(a) President 
(b) Parliament
(c) Cabinet 
(d) Supreme Court
Answer: 
(a) President 

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1. 
Mention various kinds of Executive. 
Answer:

1. Real and Nominal Executive
2. Single and Plural Executive 
3. Parliamentary and Presidential Executive 
4. Hereditary and Elective Executive 
5. Dictatorship and Constitution Executive
6. Appointive or Nominative Executive
7. Political and Permanent Executive

Chapter 4 Executive Class 11 Question Answer Question 2. 
What are the qualifications required for election as the President?
Answer: 

1. He should be a citizen of India.
2. He must have completed the age of 35 years.
3. He must qualify to be elected as a member of the Lok Sabha.
4. He must not hold any office of profit under the Government of the India or any State Government or local authority.

Class 11 Political Science Executive Important Questions Question 3. 
Write two executive powers of the President of India.
Answer: 
(i) All major appointments are made by the President. He appoints the Prime Minister and other ministers in the Council of Ministers. He appoints Governors, Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, Ambassadors, Attorney General, etc.

(ii) The President is the Supreme Commander of the Defence Forces.

Class 11 Political Science Executive Extra Questions Question 4. 
Write down the Legislative powers of the President. (Imp.)
Answer: 

• The President can convene, prorogue and dissolve the Parliament.
• He can address the two Houses of the Parliament jointly or he may address them independently.
• He nominates 12 persons to the Rajya Sabha and two Anglo-Indians to the Lok Sabha.
• No bill passed by the Parliament can become an Act without the assent of the President.
• He gives approval to many bills passed by the State Legislatures.

Executive Chapter Class 11 Extra Questions Question 5. 
What are the financial powers of the President?
Answer: 

• Money-bills can be introduced in the Parliament on the recommendation of the President.
• The President has full control over the contingency fund and can spend it according to his sweet will.
• He distributes the share of income tax among the states.
• He appoints Finance Commission. The 15th Finance Commission was appointed in November 2017.

Ch 4 Executive Class 11 Extra Questions Question 6. 
State the judicial powers of the President.
Answer: 

• The President appoints the Chief Justice and other judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts.
• The President has the powers to grant pardon or reduce the sentence awarded to a criminal.

Executive Class 11 Extra Questions And Answers Question 7. 
Whom does the President appoint as the Prime Minister?
Answer: 
The President appoints the Prime Minister. He invites the leader of the majority party in the Lok Sabha and appoints him as the Prime Minister. If no single party has a majority, many parties may form a coalition to make a majority and elect a leader. Then the leader of the coalition will be appointed as the Prime Minister.

Class 11 Chapter 4 Executive Question Answer Question 8. 
Mention any two functions of the Prime Minister.
Answer: 
(i) Formation of the Council of Ministers:
The first and the most important function of the Prime Minister is the formation of the Council of Ministers. He prepares the list of the ministers according to his sweet will. Nobody can be appointed as a minister against the wishes of the Prime Minister.

(ii) Distribution of Portfolios: Another major function of the Prime Minister is to distribute portfolios among the ministers. He decides what department is to be allotted to a particular Minister.

Class 11 Pol Science Chapter 4 Question Answer Question 9. 
Why is it said that the Prime Minister is the head of the Council of Ministers?
Answer: 
The Prime Minister is the head of the Council of Ministers because the Council of Ministers has no existence without the Prime Minister. He can make or unmake the Council of Ministers. The resignation or death of the Prime Minister leads to the dissolution of the Council of Ministers.

Important Questions Of Chapter Executive Class 11 Question 10. 
Mention two immunities of the President.
Answer: 

• The President is not answerable to any court for the exercise of his Constitutional Powers.
• The President cannot be arrested or detained and no criminal proceeding can be launched against him/her during his/her tenure.

Executive Class 11 Questions With Answers Question 11. 
Give two features of the Cabinet System in India. (Imp.)
Answer: 
(i) Nominal head of the State: The first important feature of the Cabinet System in India is that the President enjoys only nominal powers. The President is a constitutional head of the State.

(ii) Close Relation between the Executive and the Legislature: There is a close relationship between the Cabinet and the Parliament. All the ministers are members of one or the other House of Parliament. They attend the meetings of the Parliament, participate in debates and move the bills in the Parliament.

Question 12. 
Describe the meaning of the word ‘Bureaucracy’.
Answer: 
Bureaucracy has been derived from the French word ‘Bureau’ which means desk or writing table. Hence, bureaucracy means ‘Desk Government’.

Question 13. 
Mention two characteristics of bureaucracy.
Answer: 

• Technical Specialisation is an important feature of bureaucracy. An employee is trained in a particular art and gains proficiency by doing the same work repeatedly and so he becomes a specialist in his field.
• Bureaucracy is based on merit system. The employees are selected on the basis of their ability.

Question 14. 
Write two functions of Bureaucracy.
Answer: 
Administrative Functions: Administ¬rative function is the key function of bureaucracy. A minister formulates a policy but the responsibility of implementing the same falls on bureaucracy. Even a good policy can prove worthless in case, it is not implemented effectively.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1. 
What is Executive?
Answer: 
Executive is that organ of the government which enforces the will of the legislature expressed in the form of laws. The Legislature makes laws and the executive is charged with the responsibility of giving effect to these laws. Besides, it keeps law and order in the country in check. It also protects the life and property of the people and maintains internal peace by putting down all those factors that disturb the peace of the country. In face, it is the executive that runs the administration of the country. In order words, it is a Government in itself.

Question 2. 
What is a Parliamentary form of Government?
Answer: 
Parliamentary type of government is also called Cabinet government. In this form of government, there is a nominal head of the state and all executive powers are exercised by a Cabinet of Ministers. These ministers are usually members of the legislature for their action and policies. They attend the meetings of the legislature and answer the questions put to them by the members of legislature. If the legislature passes a vote of no¬confidence against them, they resign their offices.

Question 3. 
Distinguish between the Cabinet and Council of Ministers.
Answer: 
(i) In the Constitution, the words ‘Council of Ministers’ are used and not the word ‘Cabinet’.

(ii) The Cabinet is a part of the Council of Ministers. The Council of Ministers consists of about 70 ministers. It includes three types of ministers. But the Cabinet consists of cabinet ministers only. The Cabinet consists of about 20 members.

(iii) The Cabinet is more important than the Council of Ministers. All decisions of the Cabinet are to be carried out by the members of the Council of Ministers.

(iv) The Cabinet Ministers get higher salary than other ministers.

Question 4. 
‘The Prime Minister is the Key-stone of the Cabinet arch.’ Explain.
Answer: 
The Prime Minister is the leader of the Cabinet. He is called the ‘Key-Stone of the Cabinet arch.’ He exercises the following powers regarding the Cabinet:

1. The Prime Minister is the maker of the Cabinet. He prepares a list of ministers according to his sweet will. Ministers are appointed by the President but on the advice of the Prime Minister.
2. The number of Council of Ministers depends on the Prime Minister.
3. The Prime Minister distributes portfolios among the ministers. He can change the department of any minister.
4. He presides over the meetings of the Cabinet. He can call the meetings of the Cabinet whenever he likes. The Prime Minister prepares the agenda of the meeting as well as controls it.

Question 5. 
What is the relationship between the President and the Prime Minister in our country?
Answer: 
India has a Parliamentary form of government. Therefore, the Prime Minister enjoys a better position than the President. The President is the head of Executive but all of his powers are exercised by the Prime Minister. According to 42nd Amendment, it has become binding on the President to accept the Prime Minister’s advice. The Prime Minister submits his list of Ministers to the President and the President appoints them. The Prime Minister keeps the President informed of the proceedings of the Cabinet. Thus, he serves as a link between the President and the Cabinet.

Question 6. 
Explain the role of the Prime Minister as the leader of the Nation.
Answer: 
The Prime Minister is also the leader of the nation. The President is the head of the State but the Prime Minister is the head of the Government. General election means the election of the Prime Minister. Each political party has its leader and the people vote for the party whose leader they want to see as the Prime Minister of the country. During emergency, the people always have high hopes on the Prime Minister and they always act upon his advice. His office has become more important for his being the leader of the nation. He is always supported by the public and with the help of the public, he can do things which he likes.

Question 7. 
What do you understand by Committed Bureaucracy?
Answer:
Committed bureaucracy means that bureaucracy is connected with the principles and policies of a particular party and acts according to the directives of the same party. Committed bureaucracy signifies the fact that it is committed not only to the ideals and principles laid down in the Constitution, but also to the ideology of the political party in power. All the democratic countries emphasise the neutrality of bureaucracy so that it can work independently and impartially. But in communist countries like China, committed bureaucracy exists.

There was a single political party in the former Soviet Union and bureaucracy was committed to the objectives and principles of Communist Party. The primary aim of the bureaucracy is to co-operate in the achievement of party’s objectives. Committed bureaucracy is recommended for India also but here bureaucracy is committed to the principles envisaged in the Constitution instead of being committed to a particular party.

Long Answer Type Questions 

Meaning and Types of Executive

Question 1. 
Define the term ‘Executiveand discuss its various forms. 
Answer: 
Executive is that organ of the government which enforces the will of the state expressed in the form of law. In this sense, the executive includes all those officials from the head of the State down to the common policemen and clerks who are concerned with the administration of public affairs. It is the second branch of the Government’s machine and exercises wide powers over the people in the country. In the widest sense of the term, the executive refers to all government officials concerned with the execution of State policies and programmes. In the narrowest sense, the term executive refers only to that small body which exercises supreme authority in the government.
 
Definitions of Executive:
(i) According to Gilchrist, “The executive is that branch of government which carries out or executes the will of the people as formulated in law.”

(ii) According to Garner, “In a broad and collective sense, the executive organs embrace the aggregate or totality of all the functionaries which are concerned with the execution of the will of the state as that will has been formulated and expressed in terms of law.”

(iii) According to Gettell, “In the broadest sense, the executive department consists of all government officials except those acting in legislative or judicial capacity. It includes all agencies of government that are concerned with the execution of state’s will as expressed in terms of law.” The executive has to give effect to laws passed by the legislature and is required to take quick action and prompt decisions. It must work efficiently and hence, it is essential that such executive control should be concentrated in the hands of a small body of persons, processing unit with adequate power.

Different kinds of Executive: 
There are various kinds of executive.
(i) Real and Nominal Executive: In the case of real executive, the executive powers are actually controlled and exercised by the real executive, as the President of the U.S.A or the Cabinet in England. The President of the U.S.A. is the real effective executive head of the State. The British Cabinet enjoys supreme authority in the country and the Queen simply resigns and does not rule.

In the case of nominal executive, the executive powers are vested in the head of the state but in practice, those powers are exercised by the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. In India, the President is a nominal executive. The administration is carried on in his name but not by him. The government officers carry on the administration in the name of the head of the executive.

(ii) Single and Plural Executive: The executive is single when the final authority is concentrated in the hands of a single person. In the U.S.A. and India, the executive is single because the U.S.A. President and the Indian Prime Minister have a position of ascendancy among their colleagues. The control in plural executive is not with one person but with a council of several persons, for example, in Switzerland, the real executive powers are shared equally by all the members of the Federal Council. The President of the Council is only one among the equals and not first among the equals.

(iii) Parliamentary and Presidential Executive:
In a parliamentary type of executive, the head of the State is a nominal one and the real authority is vested with the Council of Ministers. The members of the real executive are the members of the legislature and for their ill actions and policies, they are responsible to the legislature. In case the legislature loses confidence over the real executive, the real executive has to resign. In a Presidential-type of government, the President is the real effective head of the State. The executive is independent of the control of the legislature. In the U.S.A., the President is elected for a fixed term. Neither the President nor his secretaries are the members of the U.S. Congress.

(iv) Hereditary and Elective Executive: 
The executive of a state may either be hereditary or elective. In England, the monarch, who is legally speaking, the chief executive, is a hereditary chief. The value of a hereditary executive is that it is the keeper of national tradition. But hereditary executive is considered to be the legacy of the past and unrelated to a democratic policy. Where executive is elective, the election may take different forms ranging from direct election by the people to indirect election by the legislature.

The principle of direct election by the people is followed in some States of South America and also in the election of State Governors in the United States. In India, the President is elected by an electoral college consisting of elected members of the Parliament and elected members of State Legislature Assemblies. In the U.S.A., the President is elected by an Electoral College but in practice, election has become almost direct.

(v) Dictatorial and Constitutional Executive:
If the source of the powers of the executive is the Constitution, the executive is called constitutional. In almost all the democratic countries, there exists a constitutional executive. If the source of the powers of the executive is the physical force and there is no limit to the authority of the executive, this type of executive is called dictatorial.

(vi) Appointive or Nominative Executive:
There can be appointive or nominative executive also. The Governors in India and the Governor-Generals in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, etc., are the examples of this type of executive.

(vii) Political and Permanent Executive:
These are two parts of the same executive. The part of the executive which holds office on the basis of its belonging to the majority party in the legislature is called the political executive. The part of the executive which holds office on the basis of its education or qualifications is called the Permanent executive.

Functions of Executive

Question 2. 
Discuss judicial and legislative functions of the executive.
Or
Discuss the main functions of the executive.
Answer: 
The main function of the executive is to enforce laws and to run the administration of the state. The modern executive is to perform so many functions besides the execution of laws.
The following are the main functions of the executive:

(i) Administrative Functions: The main function of the executive is to direct and supervise the execution of law. To achieve this end, the executive performs various functions such as appointment, transfer and dismissal of heads of the departments and of the subordinate officials. It maintains law and order in the State. One or more than one department are controlled by a minister and he is responsible for the efficient administration of the department.

Each department enforces the laws which concern its working. The executive is to see that all the laws are properly obeyed and respected and those who break the laws are punished. The object of the punishment is to reform the criminals. The executive also issues decrees, proclamations and white papers. It controls the various departments-industrial, educational, agricultural, financial-which deal with the various aspects of government policies.

(ii) Policy Formation: The executive formulates the general policies of the State. Internal as well as external policies are formulated by the executive. In Parliamentary government, policies are formulated by the executive but they are approved by the legislature. But in Presidential Government, policies are formulated by the executive and no approval is needed by the legislature.

(iii) Appointments: All major appointments are made by the executive. In India, the executive appoints Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts of the various states, Ambassadors, Chairman and members of the Union Public Service Commission, Attorney - General, Chiefs of Army, Air Force and Navy, Governors, etc. In the U.S.A., all major appointments are made by the President with the approval of the Senate. The executive also enjoys the power of removal.

(iv) Military Functions: Military functions consist in exercising supreme command over the Army, Navy and Air Force. The Indian President is the Supreme Commander of the armed forces. The executive appoints officers to the armed forces and in some countries, it has the right to declare war. To secure obedience to the laws of the State, to maintain peace and to defend the country against the foreign attack is the responsibility of the executive. The Executive is responsible for the preservation of perfect peace and security in the country. It has to keep internal peace, by putting down all those factors which disturb the peace of the country. In some countries, the executive has the authority to declare war. The executive is also empowered to declare martial law during emergencies.

Question 3. 
How is the President of India elected? Discuss his various powers.
Answer: 
Election: The President is elected indirectly by an electoral college. Elected members of both the Houses of the Parliaments, elected members of Legislative Assemblies of states and elected members of legislature of union territory (if there is) constitute the electoral college. The nominated members of the Parliament and the Assemblies of State do not take part in the election. The voting is held on the basis of proportional representation by the single transferable vote system. Powers and Functions: Following are the powers and functions of the Indian President:

1. He can address both the Houses of the parliament and can send the message to either House at any time.
2. He can dissolve the Lok Sabha before its term expires.
3. All the executive functions of the union government are performed in the name of the President.
4. He appoints the Governors, Chief Judges and other Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts.
5. The President appoints the Chief Justice and other Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts.
6. The President has the power to grant pardon or reduce the sentence awarded to a criminal.

Emergency Powers of the President
Besides powers in normal times, the President of India has Emergency Powers as well. The President enjoys three types of emergency powers:

1. Emergency due to external aggression or armed rebellion.
2. Emergency arising out of failure of the constitutional machinery in the states.
3. Financial emergency

Composition, Powers and Functions of the Council of Ministers

Question 4. 
What do you know of the composition, powers and functions of the Union Council of Ministers?
Answer: 
The Constitution of India provides for parliamentary Government in the country. At the Centre as well as the States, there is parliamentary Government. The President is only the nominal head of the State. He exercises his powers on the advice of the Council of Ministers. It is written in the Constitution that there will be a Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister to aid and advise the President. In fact, all the powers of the President are actually exercised by the ministers. The Council of Ministers takes decisions and the President can give them a piece of advice. The ministers run the administration according to their

will which is why the parliamentary system of Government is called the Cabinet Government.
Formation of the Council of Ministers: The only provision made in the Constitution for formation of the Council of Ministers is that the President appoints the Prime Minister, and other ministers are appointed by him with consultation of the latter. But the fact is that the President does not appoint the Prime Minister of his own sweet will.

Normally, the leader of the majority party in the Lok Sabha is made the Prime Minister and all other ministers are appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. The President cannot make any changes in the list of ministers. It is again the Prime Minister who distributes portfolios among the ministers. The ministers are taken out of the members of the legislature. If any outsider 
 
is appointed as a minister, he must become the member of the legislature within 6 months. In the Constitution, 91st Amendment Act provides that the total number of minister including the Prime Minister, shall not exceed 15% of the total number of members of the Lok Sabha. In May 2019, there were 57 members in the Council of Ministers. It included besides the Prime Minister, 24 Cabinet ministers, 24 ministers of State and 9 ministers of State with Independent charge. Terms of Office. It is written in the Constitution that the ministers will remain in the office during the pleasure of the President. It means that the President can remove the ministers from office whenever he likes. But it is not so. 

If the majority of the members of the Lok Sabha support a Council of Ministers, it will continue to remain in office and the President cannot remove it. The ministers remain in office so far as they enjoy the confidence of the members of the Lok Sabha. Salary. The Constitution of India lays down that the salaries, allowances, etc., of the ministers are decided by the Parliament. The ministers are entitled to a salary, daily allowances and constituency allowances at the same rate as members of the Parliament. Powers and Functions of the Cabinet. The Cabinet is the real ruler of the country. All the executive authority of the President is exercised by the Cabinet Following are the powers and functions of the Cabinet:

1. Determination of National Policy. The policy of the nation is formulated by the Cabinet. After taking office, the Cabinet is to formulate its internal and external policy according to which it runs the administration of the State. It is the Government which is responsible for internal peace and order, and freedom from external aggression and better living of the people of the country. It has, therefore, to formulate policies in a way that they are helpful for the people of the country at large.

2. Control over Administration. The administration of the country is to be run by the ministers. Every member of the Council of Ministers has one or more departments under his charge and he has to look after its working and administration. No doubt, it is the civil servants who carry on the administration but this administration has to be within the framework of the policies laid down by the Council of Ministers. Departmental administration is run by the civil servants but it is the minister who is responsible for the smooth running of the administration.

3. Foreign Relations. It is the function of the Cabinet to maintain relations with other countries. These relations are established according to the policies laid down by the Cabinet. The ambassadors to foreign countries are appointed on the advice of the Cabinet. The correspondence with other countries is done of course in the name of the President but actually it is the Cabinet who performs this function. It is the Cabinet which enters into treaties with other countries.

4. Legislative Powers. In the Parliamentary Government, there is a close relationship between the Cabinet and the legislature. It enjoys many legislative powers.
(a) The ministers are taken from among the members of the Parliament and they have a big share in law-making.

(b) The President convenes the meetings of the Parliament on the advice of the Council of Ministers.

(c) The Cabinet prepares the programme of the session.

(d) The ministers introduce the bills in the House and see them through. Most of the bills in a Parliamentary Government are introduced in the Parliament by the ministers. They explain the policy and the purpose of the bills to the Parliament.

(e) Laws in the Parliament are framed in accordance with the wishes of the Cabinet. As the ministers belong to the majority party, so they are sure of the support of the members for their bills.

(f) The President issues ordinances on the advice of the ministers.

5. Financial Powers. The Cabinet enjoys many financial powers
(a) The budget is prepared by the Finance Minister in consultation with other ministers.
(b) It is the ministers who suggest an increase, decrease or abolition in the taxes. Money bills can only be introduced by the ministers.

6. Appointments. Important appointments are made only on the advice of the ministers. For example, the appointment of Governors, Ambassadors and members of the Union Public Service Commission are made on the recommendations of the ministers.

7. Administrative Justice. The ministers also exercise judicial powers. They are to decide many administrative matters. They are to give a decision in administrative matters and decisions of the ministers are final. While deciding cases, the ministers have the right to adopt judicial methods like all other courts.

8. Proclamation of Emergency. The President’s powers of making proclamations under Articles 352, 356 and 360 are in fact powers of the Cabinet. Without receiving the written decision of the Cabinet, the President cannot promulgate the Proclamation of Emergency under Art. 352. It is the Cabinet which finally decides that the constitutional machinery has broken down in a State, and hence, President’s rule should be imposed in that State. Similarly, the question of Proclamation of the Financial Emergency is decided by the Cabinet.

9. Coordinating Agency. The Cabinet coordinates the activities of different departments, which sometimes may tend to work at cross purposes. Differences between various departments are unavoidable. The Cabinet is the agency where interdepartmental disputes are resolved and differences are sorted out by the superior intervention of the Prime Minister. Conclusion.

The above-mentioned powers and functions of the Cabinet clearly explain that the administration of the State is run according to the wishes of the Cabinet. It can run the administration in a way it likes. It is rightly said that the ‘Cabinet is the steering wheel of the ship of the State’. It is said that the British Cabinet has become a virtual dictator, the State and the Parliament have become subservient to it.

Powers and Position of the Prime Minister

Question 5. 
How is the' Prime Minister appointed? Discuss his powers and l functions. 
Discuss the position of the Prime Minister.
Answer: 
The Prime Minister is the most important and powerful functionary of the State. He can be called the ruler of the State. The Prime Minister is the head of the Council of Ministers and all the powers of the President are actually exercised by the Prime Minister. He can rule the country in a way which he thinks is the best. He is the architect of the fate of the State.

The Government can do nothing against his will. Appointment: The Prime Minister is appointed by the President but while doing so, the President does not have a free hand. Only that person can be appointed to the office of the Prime Minister who is the leader of the majority party in the Lok Sabha. After the general election, the President invites the leader of the party which has gained majority in the Lok Sabha to form the Government. 

If no political party gets an absolute majority in the Lok Sabha, even then the President is not free to appoint anybody as the Prime Minister. Under such circumstances, only that person will be invited to form the Government who can seek the cooperation of the majority of members in the Lok Sabha. After the 15th Lok Sabha elections in May 2009, no single party secured majority in the Lok Sabha.

Hence, the President appointed Dr. Manmohan Singh, leader of the United Progressive Alliance, as the Prime Minister. In the 16th and 17th Lok Sabha elections held in 2014 and 2019, the Bharatiya Janata Party turned out victorious securing majority in the elections. Mr. Narendra Modi was appointed as the Prime Minister.

Term of Office: The tenure of the Prime Minister is 5 years. He may remain in the office so long as he enjoys the support of the majority party. If the majority of members of the Lok Sabha loses confidence in the Prime Minister, he is to resign from the office. On 11 April 1997, Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda resigned because his resolution of vote of confidence was rejected by the majority members of the Lok Sabha. Salary and Allowances: The Prime Minister gets the same salary and allowances which are paid to the members of the Parliament. He also receives a Constituency allowance like other M.Ps. In addition, he gets a sumptuary allowance. He is also entitled to free official resident, free travels, medical facilities, etc.

Powers and Functions of the Prime Minister:
The Prime Minister enjoys vast powers which have made his office very important and powerful. His powers and functions are given as follows:
(1) Prime Minister and the Cabinet. The Prime Minister is the maker of the Cabinet. The Cabinet has no existence without the Prime Minister. He can make or unmake a Cabinet. The Cabinet performs all its functions under the control and guidance of the Prime Minister, therefore, he is called the “the Keystone of the Cabinet Arch” or “Shining Moon among the Stars”. He enjoys the following powers in connection with the Cabinet:

(i) Formation of the Council of Ministers. His first duty after assuming the office is the formation of the Council of Ministers. He prepares a list of ministers according to his sweet will. He has a free hand in the selection of ministers. Nobody can be appointed as a minister against the wishes of the Prime Minister. In the Constitution, 91st Amendment Act provides that the total number of ministers, including the Prime Minister, shall not exceed 15% of the total number of members of the Lok Sabha. In May 2019, there were 57 members in the Council of Ministers.

(ii) Distribution of Portfolios. The Prime Minister distributes work among the ministers. He decides what department is to be allotted to a particular minister.

(iii) Removal of the Minister. The ministers remain in office during the pleasure of the Prime Minister. If the Prime Minister is not satisfied with the working of a minister or the minister does not run the department in accordance with the wishes of the Prime Minister, he can ask him to quit the office and can appoint someone else in his place. The Prime Minister can make changes in the Cabinet whenever he likes. With the resignation of the Prime Minister, the entire ministry falls.

(iv) Leadership of the Cabinet. The Prime Minister is the leader of the Cabinet. The Cabinet functions under the control of the Prime Minister. He can call the meetings of cabinet whenever he likes. The Prime Minister prepares the agenda of the meeting as well as controls it. He presides over the Cabinet meetings. All the decisions in Cabinet meetings are taken according to the wishes of the Council of Ministers.

(v) Prime Minister as a Coordinator. The Prime Minister directs the implementation of policies and coordinates the working of various departments. Inter-departmental disputes are referred to him for settlement.

(2) Link between the President and the Cabinet. The Prime Minister is the link between the President and the Cabinet. It is the duty of the Prime Minister to convey the decisions of the Cabinet to the President. No minister can discuss a particular problem with the President without the permission of the Prime Minister. The President can demand information from the Prime Minister regarding the working of the administration. The Cabinet can discuss any issue with the President only through the Prime Minister.

(3) Leadership of the Cabinet of the Parliament. The Prime Minister leads the Cabinet in the Parliament. The ministers answer the questions put to them by the members of the Parliament. Whenever a minister is in difficulty, the Prime Minister helps him out. The Prime Minister explains the policy and decisions of the Cabinet to the Parliament. All important statements on behalf of the Cabinet are made by the Prime Minister in the Parliament.

(4) Principal adviser of the President. The Prime Minister is the chief adviser of the President. The President seeks the advice of the Prime Minister in all matters of the State. The Prime Minister informs the President regarding all the decisions taken by the Cabinet. If the President requires any information regarding the administration of any department, he would demand such an information from the Prime Minister.

(5) Appointments. All the important appointments in the State are made by the Prime Minister. The President makes appointments of the State Governors, Ambassadors and members of the Union Public Service Commission only on the advice of the Prime Minister. The President cannot make any such appointment of his own accord.

(6) Leader of the Parliament. The Prime Minister is also the leader of the House. Out of the two Houses, the position of Lok Sabha is of great importance and the Prime Minister is the leader of the Lok Sabha. The Parliament always depends upon the policy and guidance of the Prime Minister for facing any problem. All the important decisions in the Parliament are taken according to the wishes of  the Prime Minister. He can get any law passed by the Parliament because he is the leader of the majority party. He can get the Lok Sabha dissolved.

(7) Leader of the Nation. The Prime Minister is also the leader of the nation. The President is the head of the State and the Prime Minister is the head of the Government. General election means the election of the Prime Minister. Each political party has its leader already and the people vote for the party whose leader they want to see as the Prime Minister of the country. During emergency, the people always have high hopes on the Prime Minister and he always acts upon the Cabinet’s advice. His office has become more important for his being the leader of the nation. He is always supported by public and with the help of the public, he can do things which he likes.

(8) Represents India at International Conferences. The Prime Minister represents India at International Conferences.
Role and Functions of Bureaucracy

Question 6. 
Discuss the role and functions of bureaucracy in a Modern State.
What is the role of bureaucracy in Modern Welfare State?
Answer: 
The influence of bureaucracy on administration has increased a lot. It is difficult to run the administration without bureaucracy. Bureaucracy has become vital because modern State is a welfare state and its functions are so vast that they cannot be handled by ministers alone. The ministers need civil servants to perform these functions. The role of bureaucracy can be studied under the following heads:
(i) Administrative Function or Role: Administrative function is the key function of the bureaucracy. A minister formulates a policy but the responsibility of implementing the same falls on the bureaucracy. Even a good policy can prove worthless in case it is not implemented effectively.

(ii) To Influence the Policy: Though policies are framed by political executive, yet bureaucracy contributes a lot to the policy-formation on the basis of their ability. The civil servants provide statistics to ministers at the time of framing a policy.

(iii) Advisory Function or Role: Bureaucracy plays a vital role in advising Political Executive. Since the ministers possess no technical knowledge of their departments, they depend on the civil servants to run administration. 

(iv) Legislative Functions or Role:
Bureaucracy plays an important role in making legislation. In countries like India and England, having Parliamentary form of governments, most of the hills are presented by ministers in the Parliament. The outlines of these bills are prepared by permanent employees. The civil servants propose various laws to solve social, economic and political problems.

(v) Delegated Legislation: Bills are generally passed by the Legislature in a skeleton form and details are left to be filled by the executive. But this work is actually done by the bureaucracy.

(vi) Financial Functions or Role: Bureaucracy plays a significant role even in financial sphere. The parliament passes a budget every year and that budget is presented by the Finance Minister in a Parliamentary system. Though Cabinet forms a policy related to budget, yet its outlines are prepared by bureaucracy. The collection of taxes, expenditure according to budget and other functions related to it are performed by the bureaucracy.

(vii) Coordination: The efficiency of an administration depends upon coordination among different departments. This desired coordination is established by civil servants.

(viii) Judicial Functions or Role: Some important judicial functions are performed by Administrative Tribunals. It is so because of the increased number of Administrative Laws and Administrative Adjudication. Thus, an administrator not only runs administration, but performs judicial functions also.

(ix) Public Relation Functions: Bureaucracy establishes relation with public in various ways to make their policies successful with their co-operation.

(x) To Redress the Grievances of the People:
The bureaucracy hears the public grievances and tries to redress them.

(xi) Stability in Foreign Relations: The role of bureaucracy in foreign relations is of great importance as it brings stability in foreign relations and policies. Thus, bureaucracy has become all the more influential in Modem Welfare State. A State has to perform many functions for public welfare and the success of these depends upon the efficiency of bureaucracy.

Question 7. 
Study the passage given below carefully and answer the questions that follow:
In the parliamentary form of executive, it is essential that the Prime Minister has the support of the majority in the Lok Sabha. This support by the majority also makes the Prime Minister very powerful. The moment this support of the majority is lost, the Prime Minister loses the office.

For many years after independence, the Congress party had the majority in the Lok Sabha and its leader would become the Prime Minister. Since 1989, there have been many occasions when no party had majority in the Lok Sabha. Various political parties have come together and formed a coalition that has majority in the House. In such situations, a leader who is acceptable to most partners of the coalition becomes the Prime Minister. Formally, a leader who has the support of the majority is appointed by the President as The Prime Minister.

1. What is essential in Parliamentary form of government?
2. Who became the Prime Minister after 1989 Lok Sabha Election?
3. Who appoints the Prime Minister?

Answer: 

1. It is essential in Parliamentary form of government that the Prime Minister has the support of the majority in the Lok Sabha.
2. Sh. V.P. Singh became the Prime Minister after 1989 Lok Sabha election.
3. The President appoints the Prime Minister.

Question 8. 
Study the picture given below and answer
the following questions:

1. What type of conditions is shown in the picture?
2. Why is one Parliamentarian seen uncomfortable in the picture?

Answer: 
The formation of the Council Ministers is shown in this picture.
One Parliamentarian is seen uncomfortable because he did not get berth in the Council of Ministers.

Question 9. 
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
The Prime Minister is appointed by the President but while doing so, the President is not having a free hand. Only that person can be appointed to the office of Prime Minister who is the leader of majority party in the Lok Sabha. After the general election, the President invites the leader of the party which has gained majority in the Lok Sabha to form the Government. If no political party gets an absolute majority in the Lok Sabha, even then the President is not free to appoint anybody as the Prime Minister. 

Under such circumstances, only that person will be invited to form the Government who can seek the cooperation of the majority of members in Lok Sabha. After the 15th Lok Sabha elections in May 2009, no single party secured majority in the Lok Sabha. Hence the President appointed Dr. Manmohan Singh, leader of the United Progressive Alliance as the Prime Minister. In the 16th and 17th Lok Sabha elections held in 2014 and 2019, the Bharatiya Janata Party turned out victorious securing majority in the elections. Mr. Narendra Modi was appointed as the Prime Minister.

9.1. Who is appointed Prime Minister of India?
(a) President
(b) Vice-President
(c) Speaker
(d) None of these 
Answer: 
(a) President

9.2. Who can be appointed to the office of Prime Minister?
(a) Leader of majority party in the Lok Sabha
(b) Leader of majority party in the Rajya Sabha
(c) Leader of opposition in Lok Sabha
(d) None of these 
Answer: 
(a) Leader of majority party in the Lok Sabha

9.3. Who was appointed Prime Minister of India after the 2014 Lok Sabha election?
(a) Sh. Ramnath Kovind
(b) Sh. Narendra Modi
(c) Sh. Amit Shah
(d) Sh. Rajnath Singh 
Answer: 
(b) Sh. Narendra Modi

9.4. Who was appointed Prime Minister of India after the 2019 Lok Sabha election?
(a) Sh. Narendra Modi
(b) Sh. Venkaiah Naidu
(c) Sh. Amit Shah
(d) Sh. Rajnath Singh 
Answer: 
(a) Sh. Narendra Modi

HOTS QUESTIONS

Question 1. 
Distinguish between Single and Plural Executive.
Answer: 
The executive is single when the final authority is concentrated in the hands of a single person. In U.S.A., executive is single because executive powers he with the President. But in a plural executive, executive powers he not with a person but with the council of several person. In Switzerland, the Federal Council is plural executive.

Question 2. 
What is meant by Nominal Executive?
Answer: 
In nominal executive, the chief executive head is the nominal head. He is the constitutional head and constitutionally, all executive powers are vested in him. But in reality, he does not make much use of them, rather all the powers are used in his name. In India, the President is the nominal executive head.

Question 3. 
What is Parliamentary Government?
Answer: In a Parliamentary form of government, there is a nominal head of the state while the real executive is the Council of Ministers which is responsible to the legislature.

Question 4. 
How is the President of India elected?
Answer: 
The President is elected indirectly by an Electoral College. Elected members of both the houses of the Parliament, elected members of Legislative Assemblies of States and elected members of Assemblies of Union Territory (if the assembly exists) constitute the Electoral College. The voting is held on the basis of proportional representation by the single transferable vote system.

Question 5. 
What is the role of the Prime Minister in the Parliament?
Answer: 
The Prime Minister leads the Council of Ministers in the Parliament. Whenever a minister is in difficulty, the Prime Minister helps him. The Prime Minister explains the policy and decisions of the Council of Ministers to the Parliament. The Prime Minister may advise the President for the dissolution of Lok Sabha.

Question 6. 
The Council of Ministers has to resign if Lok Sabha passes a vote of no-confidence. Comment.
Answer: 
The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. The Council of Ministers can remain in office as long as it enjoys the confidence of the majority members of Lok Sabha. Hence, it has to resign when vote of no-confidence is passed against it by the Lok Sabha. 

SELF-EVALUATION TEST

1. Who is the chief coordinator in the Cabinet?
2. Who appoints the Prime Minister? 
3. Name the present President, Vice-President and Prime Minister of India. 
4. Who said, “The constitution concentrates so much powers and influence in the Prime Minister, that there is every danger to apprehend that the Prime Minister may become a dictator if he chooses to do so”? 
5. Mention the various kinds of executive. 
6. Give two features of the Cabinet System in India. 
7. Write two executive powers of the President of India. 
8. Mention two characteristics of bureaucracy. 
9. What is executive? 
10. What is Parliamentary form of Government? 
11. Distinguish between the Cabinet and Council of Ministers. 
12. What do you understand by Committed Bureaucracy? 
13. Study the given picture and answer the following questions: 
(i) What type of conditions is shown in the picture?
(ii) Why is one Parliamentarian seen uncomfortable in the picture?

14. How is the President of India elected? Discuss his various powers. 
15. How is the Prime Minister appointed? Discuss his powers and functions. 
16. Discuss the role and functions of Bureaucracy in a modern state.