The Union Executive
Grade 10
Class Notes
Concepts Covered
Council of President of
Ministers India
The Union
Executive
Prime Minister Vice President
of India
The Union Executive
Important Pointers
• The leader of the party or coalition that wins a majority in
the Lok Sabha is invited by the President to form the
government and appoints the Prime Minister.
• The Prime Minister then recommends the names of the
members to be a part of the Council of Ministers, who are
then appointed by the President of India.
• The Council of Ministers functions as the executive wing of
the government.
• They work together to implement laws and administer the
country in accordance with the laws of the country.
Qualifications of the President Impeachment
• The person must be a citizen of • If the President is accused of
India and aged 35 years or misconduct or violation of the
more. dignity of the Constitution,
• The person must fulfil required then they can be removed
qualifications to contest a Lok from office.
Sabha election. • This process of removal is
• The person must not hold any called impeachment of the
office of profit under the President.
Government of India.
Election of the President
The electoral college for the President consists of:
• Elected members of the Lok Sabha
• Elected members of the Rajya Sabha
• Elected members of the state legislative assemblies
• Elected members of the union territories of Delhi and Puducherry
Impeachment of the President
• The President’s office can be vacant due to death, resignation, and
removal/impeachment.
• The President can resign by addressing their resignation to the Vice
President.
• A resolution of impeachment can be passed in either of the two Houses
with a two-thirds majority.
• In case the charges are true, then the President has to resign from the
office.
Executive powers:
Appoints the Prime Minister, Attorney General of
India, and Comptroller and Auditor-General, and
the judges of the high courts and the Supreme
Court
Military powers:
Powers and • Supreme commander of the armed forces
Functions of • Appoints the chiefs of the navy, army, and air
the President force
• Can declare war and make peace treaties
Legislative powers:
• Summons and prorogues Parliament sessions
• Nominates 12 people from different fields to
the Rajya Sabha
• Gives assent to bills
Did You Know?
The discretionary powers of the President:
• Can withhold assent to a bill or send it for reconsideration
• Invites the leader of majority party or coalition to form the
government
• Can seek information from the Prime Minister about the working
of the government
Powers and Functions of the President
Financial powers: Judicial powers: Can
Causes the annual reduce or pardon the
budget to be laid punishment of a
before the convicted person and
Parliament and gives is not answerable to
prior approval to any court of law for
money bills exercising their power
and duties
Diplomatic powers:
Emergency powers:
Represents the
Can declare an
country at
emergency in case
international
of threat to the
conferences,
nation's border
appoints the
security, breakdown
ambassadors, and all
of constitutional
international treaties
machinery, or
are signed in their
financial instability
name
Did You Know?
The Vice President of India is elected for a term of five years by an
electoral college consisting of the members of both the Houses of
the Parliament.
They are the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
They can also act as the President if the office of the President falls
vacant.
Prime Minister and Council of Ministers
• The leader of the party or coalition that wins a majority in
the Lok Sabha is invited by the President to form the
government and appoints the Prime Minister.
• The Prime Minister then recommends the names of the
members to be a part of the Council of Ministers, who are
then appointed by the President of India.
• The Council of Ministers function as the executive wing of
the government.
• They work together to implement laws and administer the
country in accordance with the laws of the country.
Prime Minister: Real Head of the Union Executive
Recommends the Recommends
Allocates ministries
names of the Council appointments of the
among the Council
of Ministers to the Chief Justice, judges
of Ministers,
President of the Supreme
supervises their
Court, and other key
working, and chairs
administrative
cabinet meetings
positions
Serves as the link Advises the President
between Chief spokesperson to summon,
the Council of of the government in prorogue, or
Ministers the Parliament dissolve the Lok
and the President Sabha
Union Council of Ministers
• It is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha.
• It comprises cabinet ministers, ministers of state
(independent charge), ministers of state, and deputy
ministers.
• The cabinet is a smaller body within the Council of Ministers
comprising of high-ranking ministers of the government.
• Cabinet ministers hold important portfolios like home
affairs, defence, finance, and external affairs.
Functions of the Cabinet
Policy making: Appointments: The Introduction of bills:
Formulates policies President makes all Bills on important
for the people and the important issues are drafted
takes decisions on all appointments based and introduced by
important national on the Cabinet’s senior cabinet
and foreign policy recommendation. ministers in the
issues Parliament.
Declaring Budget and Constitutional
emergency: President’s address: amendment:
Proclamation of a The annual budget is Important
national, financial, or presented by the constitutional
state emergency is Finance Minister; amendment bills are
decided by the President’s address planned and moved
Cabinet. to the Parliament is by the Union Cabinet.
also prepared by the
Cabinet.
Cabinet vs. Council of Ministers
Cabinet Council of Ministers
It is a smaller body comprising It comprises the cabinet,
top ministers. ministers of state, and deputy
ministers.
The cabinet is always consulted
The Prime Minister may or may
by the Prime Minister on
not consult them.
important decisions.
The Council of Ministers does not
The cabinet meets frequently.
meet frequently.
Did You Know?
• A coalition government is formed when two or more parties
come together to form the government.
• This usually happens when a single party fails to secure a
majority in the Lower House.
Important Questions
Question 1: Discuss the composition of the electoral college
that elects the President of India. (3 marks)
Question 2: List the functions of the Prime Minister of
India. (5 marks)
Question 3: Discuss the powers and functions of the
President of India. (5 marks)
Question 4: What functions does the cabinet perform? (5 marks)
