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The Union
Part V (articles 52 to 151) of the constitution deals with the union
The Union Executive (Part V, Article 52 to 78, chapter I): consists of the president, the
vice president, the council of ministers and the Attorney general of India.
THE PRESIDENT: is the head of state and first citizen of India, as well as the Supreme
Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. In theory, the President possesses considerable power. With few exceptions, most of the authority vested in the President is in practice exercised by the Council of Ministers, headed by the Prime Minister.
Electoral Procedure (Article54 & 55): the new president is chosen by an electoral
college consisting of the elected members of both houses of the Parliament and the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies (Vidhan Sabha). The election is held in accordance to the system of Proportional Representation by means of Single Transferable Vote method.
The number of votes assigned to a particular voter from a state assembly is decided as follows.
Term (Article 56) : five years from t he date on which he enters his office ; may terminate
By resignation in writing addressed to the Vice- President of India By removal for violation of the Constitution, by the process in impeachment. Article 57: confirms that president is eligible for re-election to the office.
Oath / Affirmation (Article 60): The President or person acting as president is to take an
oath in the presence of the Chief Justice of India or in his absence. The senior most judge of the Supreme Court.
Impeachment
The President may be removed before the expiry of his/her term through impeachment .A President can be removed for violation of the Constitution. The process may start in either of the two houses of the Parliament. The house initiates the process by leveling the charges against the President. The charges are contained in a notice that has to be signed by at least one quarter of the total members of that house. The notice is sent up to the President and 14 days later, it is taken up for consideration. A resolution to impeach the President has to be passed by a two-third majority of the total members of the originating house. It is then sent to the other house. The other house investigates the charges that have been made. During this process, the President has the right to defend himself/herself through an authorised counsel. If the second house also approves the charges made by two-third majority again, the President stands impeached and is deemed to have vacated his/her office from the date when such a resolution stands passed. Other than impeachment, no other penalty can be given to the President for the violation of the Constitution. No President has faced impeachment proceedings. Hence, the above provisions have never been tested.
When the Vice President acts as, or discharges the functions of the President, he has all functions powers and immunities of the President and is entitled to the same emoluments as the President. Parliament has by an enactment made provision for the discharge of the functions of the President when vacancies occur in the offices of the President and of the Vice President simultaneously, owing to removal, death, resignation of the incumbent or otherwise. In such an eventuality, the Chief Justice or in his absence, the senior most Judge of the Supreme Court of Justice, India available discharges the functions of the President until a newly elected President enters upon his office or a newly elected Vice President begins to act as President under Article 65 of the Constitution, whichever is the earlier.
Executive Power (Art 77) -appoints PM, othr union mins, appoints Attorney-General, Comptroller & General, Auditor -Gen. judges of HC & SC, Gov. Gen. of State ,UPSC chairman & also can remove dem ;right to inform ed of all the imp decisions
Diplomatic power represent -represent s India in international forums, sends & receives ambassadors ( sub to ratification of Parliament
Military Power ( Art 53) - supreme command of Armed force; declare war or conclude peace Legislative Powers -summons both houses of the Parliament and prorogues; dissolve the Lok Sabha; A bill that the Parliament has passed, can become a law only after the President gives hisassent to it.( reconsideration, except money bill)
Judicial Powers - to grant power, reprieve or remission of punishment; only authority for pardoning a sentence of death(Art 72)
Financial powers Budget -Budget is laid before the parliament in the name of Prez;Money bills can be introduced in the Parliament only on the prior recommendation of the President; apppoints Fin. Commission
VICEVICE-PRESIDENT
The Vice-President of India is the second-highest ranking government official in the executive branch of the Government of India after the President. The Vice-President also has the legislative function of acting as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. The current Vice-President of India is Hamid Ansari who was elected on 10 August 2007.
Article 63 of the Constitution of India provides for a Vice-President: "There shall be a Vice-President of India". While the Indian Vice-President could be elected for any number of terms, the Constitution
requires that the Vice-President must be a citizen of India. The qualifications for Vice-President are the same as those for President. The Vice-President acts as President in the event of the death, resignation, or removal of the President, until the Electoral College chooses a new President. The Vice-President may also act temporarily as President during the absence or illness of the President. An electoral college consisting of all the Members of both Houses of Parliament elects the Vice-President for a term of five years whenever the office becomes vacant. The constitution also provides a mechanism for the removal of the Vice-President (Article 67(b)) by a vote of the majority of the votes of all the members of both Houses of Parliament.
Appointments: Prez appoints the PM. and the Prez on the advice of the PM appoints other
ministers {Art 75(1)}. There is no bar on the appointment of a person from outside the legislature as Minister, but he cannot continue as Ministers for more than six months unless he secures seat in either House of Parliament A minister who is member of one house has right to speak in and to take part in the proceedings of the other House though he has no right to vote in the House of which he is not a member . Composition : the Cabinet of members is not specified in the Constitution . While the constitution does not classify the Council of Ministers into different ranks, it has been done informally : @ the centre Cabinet Ministers and @ at state level deputy ministers.. The Cabinet : it is the cabinet , an inner body within the council , which shapes the policy of the Government. Cabinet Ministers hold charge of key portfolios. Collective Responsibility : council of ministers is collectively responsible to the House of the People {Art 75(3)} . The Ministry, as a body, is under a constitutional obligation to resign as soon as it loses the confidence of the Loksabha. A vote of no confidence against any Minister automatically, leads to the resignation of the entire Council. The Ministry, instead of resigning, can advise the Prez to dissolve the Lok Sabha on the ground that the House does not represent the views of the electorate faithfully. A corollary of the principal of collective responsibility is that of intra- cabinet responsibility expressing the solidarity of the cabinet. Individual Responsibility: the constitutional stipulation is that the Ministers shall hold office during the pleasure of the Prez. {Art 75(2)};i.e. though collectively responsible to the Legislature, they are individually responsible to the Executive and may be dismissed even if they enjoy the confidence of the legislature.