2.9 Union executive notes

1. 2.9.1President: election, qualifications and term

   The President is the head of the Indian State, elected indirectly for five years by the elected members of Parliament and of the state and UT assemblies, by proportional representation with a single transferable vote.

   Advanced · 9 min · Full course
2. 2.9.2President: executive, legislative and financial powers

   All executive power of the Union is vested in the President, but he exercises almost all of it on the advice of the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister. He is the head of State, not the head of government.

   Advanced · 9 min · Full course
3. 2.9.3Ordinances (Article 123) and veto powers

   The President can make temporary laws called ordinances when Parliament is not sitting, and can approve, reject, delay or return bills passed by Parliament. Both powers are used on the advice of the Council of Ministers.

   Advanced · 8 min · Full course
4. 2.9.4Pardoning power (Article 72) and impeachment

   Article 72 lets the President pardon or reduce sentences, including death sentences and court-martial sentences, on ministerial advice. Article 61 lets Parliament remove the President by impeachment for violation of the Constitution.

   Advanced · 8 min · Full course
5. 2.9.5Vice-President

   The Vice-President is the second-highest office in India. He is the ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and acts as President when that office falls vacant, until a new President is elected.

   Advanced · 7 min · Full course
6. 2.9.6Prime Minister

   The Prime Minister is the real executive head of the Union: appointed by the President, he leads the Council of Ministers, which stays in office only while it has the confidence of the Lok Sabha.

   Advanced · 8 min · Full course
7. 2.9.7Council of Ministers and the Cabinet

   The Council of Ministers, led by the Prime Minister, is the real executive. It is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha, and its inner core, the Cabinet, makes the main decisions.

   Advanced · 7 min · Full course
8. 2.9.8Cabinet committees and the PMO

   Cabinet committees are small groups of ministers that take or prepare decisions for the full Cabinet. The Prime Minister's Office and the Cabinet Secretariat are the two main offices that support the PM and the Cabinet.

   Advanced · 7 min · Full course
9. 2.9.9Attorney General and Solicitor General

   The Attorney General is the highest law officer of the Government of India, appointed under Article 76. He advises the Union on legal matters and can speak in Parliament, but he is not a minister and cannot vote there.

   Advanced · 7 min · Full course

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