Samacheer Kalvi 10th Social Science Chapter 19 Exercise Solutions — Central Government | KalviGavani

(a) 545 (b) 550 (c) 552 (d) 500

(a) Lok Sabha (b) Rajya Sabha (c) The President (d) The Chief Justice of India

(a) Permanent body (b) Temporary body (c) Dissolved every 5 years (d) Dissolved every 6 years

(a) Council of Ministers (b) Composition of Parliament (c) Powers of the President (d) Amendment procedure

(a) Rajya Sabha (b) Lok Sabha (c) Joint session (d) Either House

(a) Article 74 (b) Article 75 (c) Article 123 (d) Article 356

(a) 238 (b) 240 (c) 250 (d) 245

(a) President (b) Prime Minister (c) Speaker of Lok Sabha (d) Chairman of Rajya Sabha

(a) Suspension (b) Impeachment (c) Resignation (d) Dismissal

(a) Election of the President (b) Council of Ministers to aid and advise the President (c) Powers of the Prime Minister (d) Composition of Lok Sabha

A candidate for President must be a citizen of India, must have completed 35 years of age, and must be qualified to be elected as a member of the Lok Sabha. The candidate must not hold any office of profit under the Government of India or any state government.

The President is elected indirectly by an electoral college consisting of elected members of both Houses of Parliament and elected members of State Legislative Assemblies. The election is held through a system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote. The voting is by secret ballot to ensure free and fair election.

The President has executive powers (appointing the PM, Council of Ministers, Governors, Judges), legislative powers (summoning and proroguing Parliament, addressing sessions, giving assent to bills, issuing ordinances), financial powers (introducing money bills, controlling the Contingency Fund), judicial powers (pardoning under Article 72), and emergency powers (National, State, and Financial emergencies). However, the President exercises most powers on the advice of the Council of Ministers.

The Prime Minister is the real executive head of the government. The President appoints other ministers on the PM's advice. The PM presides over Cabinet meetings, acts as the link between the President and the Council of Ministers, distributes portfolios among ministers, and can ask a minister to resign. The PM sets the agenda for the government and leads the nation in both domestic and international matters.

Lok Sabha is the lower house, directly elected by the people, with a maximum of 552 members and a normal term of 5 years. It can be dissolved earlier by the President. Rajya Sabha is the upper house, elected by state legislatures, with a maximum of 250 members. It is a permanent body that is never dissolved. Lok Sabha controls the Council of Ministers and introduces money bills, while Rajya Sabha represents the states in the federal legislature.

A no-confidence motion is a motion moved in the Lok Sabha stating that the Council of Ministers does not enjoy the confidence of the House. If the motion is passed by a simple majority, the entire Council of Ministers must resign. It can be moved only in Lok Sabha because the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible only to the Lok Sabha under Article 75(3).

Under Article 123, the President can promulgate ordinances when both Houses of Parliament are not in session. An ordinance has the same force as an Act of Parliament. However, it must be laid before both Houses when Parliament reassembles and lapses if not approved within 6 weeks. This power allows the government to meet urgent situations when Parliament is not available to pass legislation.

Parliament controls the finances of the country. No tax can be levied or collected without Parliament's authority. The Annual Budget is presented by the Finance Minister in the Lok Sabha and must be passed by Parliament before the government can spend any money. A money bill can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha. Parliament also examines the Comptroller and Auditor General's reports on government spending.

• Executive Powers: The President appoints the Prime Minister, Council of Ministers, Governors of states, Attorney General, Comptroller and Auditor General, and judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts. All executive action of the Union is taken in the President's name.
• Legislative Powers: The President summons, prorogues, and dissolves Parliament. The President addresses the first session of each year and after each general election. No bill becomes law without the President's assent. The President can send an ordinary bill back for reconsideration (but if passed again, must give assent). The President nominates 12 members to Rajya Sabha and 2 Anglo-Indian members to Lok Sabha.
• Financial Powers: The Annual Budget is introduced in the name of the President. No money bill can be introduced without the President's recommendation. The President controls the Contingency Fund of India for emergency expenditure.
• Judicial Powers: Under Article 72, the President can grant pardons, reprieves, respites, or remissions of punishment, especially in cases involving court-martial, Union law, and death sentences.
• Emergency Powers: The President can proclaim a National Emergency (Article 352), State Emergency/President's Rule (Article 356), and Financial Emergency (Article 360), each with different conditions and consequences.
• Ordinance Power: Under Article 123, the President can promulgate ordinances when Parliament is not in session.
• Diplomatic Powers: The President represents India in international affairs, appoints ambassadors, and receives foreign diplomats. All international treaties are negotiated in the President's name.

• Composition (Article 79): Parliament consists of the President, Rajya Sabha (Council of States), and Lok Sabha (House of the People).
• Lok Sabha: Maximum 552 members — 530 from states, 20 from Union Territories, and 2 nominated Anglo-Indians. Members are directly elected for 5 years. The Speaker presides over Lok Sabha.
• Rajya Sabha: Maximum 250 members — 238 elected by state legislatures and 12 nominated by the President. It is a permanent body; one-third members retire every 2 years. The Vice-President is the ex-officio Chairman.
• Legislative Powers: Parliament makes laws on subjects in the Union List and Concurrent List. Both Houses must pass a bill (except money bills) before it goes to the President for assent. In case of a deadlock, a joint sitting is called under Article 108.
• Financial Powers: Parliament controls the national purse. Money bills originate only in Lok Sabha. The Budget must be passed by Parliament. Parliament approves taxation and government spending.
• Control over Executive: The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to Lok Sabha. Members can ask questions, move adjournment motions, and introduce no-confidence motions to hold the government accountable.
• Amending Power: Parliament can amend the Constitution under Article 368, subject to the Basic Structure limitation.
• Electoral Functions: Elected members of Parliament participate in the election of the President and the Vice-President.
• Parliamentary Sessions: Parliament meets in three sessions — Budget Session (February–May), Monsoon Session (July–September), and Winter Session (November–December).

• Appointment: Under Article 75, the President appoints the leader of the majority party in Lok Sabha as Prime Minister. If no party has a majority, the President uses discretion.
• Head of Government: The Prime Minister is the real executive head, while the President is the constitutional head. The PM runs the government on a day-to-day basis.
• Formation of Council of Ministers: The PM advises the President on appointing other ministers. The PM allocates and reshuffles portfolios and can ask a minister to resign.
• Cabinet Leader: The PM presides over Cabinet meetings and sets the agenda. All important decisions of the Cabinet are taken under the PM's leadership.
• Link between President and Cabinet: The PM communicates all Cabinet decisions to the President and provides information the President may request about administration (Article 78).
• Leader of the House: The PM is the leader of the majority party in Lok Sabha and guides government business in Parliament.
• Foreign Policy: The PM plays a key role in formulating and implementing India's foreign policy and represents India at international summits.
• Advisor on Appointments: The PM advises the President on appointments of the Attorney General, Comptroller and Auditor General, Election Commissioners, and judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts.
• Crisis Manager: During national emergencies, the PM leads the country's response and is the chief crisis manager of the nation.

• Introduction: A bill is introduced in either House (except money bills, which must start in Lok Sabha) by a minister (government bill) or a private member (private member's bill). The introduction requires a leave of the House.
• First Reading: The title and objectives of the bill are read out. No debate takes place. The bill is published in the Gazette of India.
• Second Reading: This is the most important stage. It includes general discussion, consideration by a select or joint committee, and clause-by-clause discussion and voting on amendments.
• Third Reading: The debate is confined to whether the bill should be passed or rejected as a whole. No amendments are allowed at this stage. If passed by a simple majority, the bill goes to the other House.
• In the Other House: The same three-reading process is repeated. The other House may pass the bill, reject it, or suggest amendments.
• Joint Sitting: If the two Houses disagree and the deadlock persists, the President can summon a joint sitting under Article 108. The decision is taken by a simple majority.
• Presidential Assent: After both Houses pass the bill, it goes to the President. The President can give assent, withhold assent, or return the bill for reconsideration (except money bills). If returned and passed again, the President must give assent.
• Ordinance Route: When Parliament is not in session, the President can promulgate an ordinance (Article 123), which has the same effect as an Act but must be approved by Parliament within 6 weeks of reassembly.

• The impeachment process is laid down in Article 61 of the Constitution.
• Grounds: The President can be impeached only for "violation of the Constitution."
• Initiation: A notice of the impeachment resolution must be signed by at least one-fourth of the total members of the House where it is introduced. A 14-day advance notice must be given.
• Passing in the First House: The resolution must be passed by a two-thirds majority of the total membership of that House.
• Investigation: After the charge is made by the first House, the second House investigates the charge. The President has the right to appear and be represented during the investigation.
• Passing in the Second House: If the second House also passes the resolution by a two-thirds majority of its total membership, the President stands removed from office from the date the resolution is passed.
• No President has been impeached in India so far. The process is deliberately difficult to prevent misuse and ensure stability of the highest office.
• During the impeachment proceedings, the President is not barred from discharging duties. The process applies equally to charges arising from either House.

• Parliamentary Sessions: Parliament meets in three sessions every year — the Budget Session (February–May), the Monsoon Session (July–September), and the Winter Session (November–December). The President summons each session and can prorogue either House. Only the President can dissolve the Lok Sabha.
• Question Hour: The first hour of every parliamentary sitting (11:00 AM–12:00 PM) is the Question Hour. Members ask questions of ministers to get information, raise public issues, and hold the government accountable. Questions are of three types — starred (requires oral answer and supplementary questions), unstarred (written answer only), and short-notice questions.
• Zero Hour: The time immediately after the Question Hour (12:00 PM–1:00 PM) is known as Zero Hour. It is not mentioned in the Rules of Procedure but has become a convention. Members raise matters of urgent public importance without prior notice. The Speaker decides which matters to allow.
• Adjournment Motion: Used to draw attention to a matter of urgent public importance. It involves an element of censure against the government and can be moved only in Lok Sabha.
• Calling Attention Motion: A member calls the attention of a minister to a matter of urgent public importance and the minister makes a statement. No debate takes place.
• These mechanisms ensure that Parliament is not just a law-making body but also a forum for holding the executive accountable to the people.