Chapter 4: ExecutiveClass 11 Political Science — summary, notes, extra questions & MCQ quiz

Summary

This chapter discusses the executive — the organ that implements the laws and policies adopted by the legislature. It distinguishes the political executive (ministers and heads of government, responsible for policy) from the permanent executive (civil servants who run day-to-day administration). It compares parliamentary, presidential and semi-presidential systems, noting that India adopted a parliamentary executive to keep the executive answerable to and controlled by the legislature and to guard against a personality cult. In India the President is the formal Head of State, elected indirectly by MPs and MLAs through proportional representation with a single transferable vote, and exercises powers on the advice of the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister; Article 74(1) makes that advice binding, though the President can ask for one reconsideration. The President has limited discretionary powers — to send back advice, a veto (including the "pocket veto"), and the choice of Prime Minister when no party has a clear majority. The real executive is the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers, collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha; the 91st Amendment caps the Council at 15 per cent of the House. The chapter ends with the permanent executive — the politically neutral, professionally recruited bureaucracy, including the All-India Services (IAS, IPS) selected by the UPSC.

Key terms

Extra questions & answers

Explore interactively