Parliamentary System in India
Polity Notes for APSC, UPSC & State exams
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The democratic system of government can be parliamentary like India or presidential system like US, based on the relationship between the executive and the legislature.
- In a parliamentary system, executive is a part of legislature, which implements the law and plays an active role in framing it as well.
- The head of the state may be a monarch or a president, but these positions are ceremonial. The de-facto head of the government is generally called as the Prime Minister, for all the real executive powers are vested upon him/her.
- This type of govt system is also called as the Cabinet government due to concentration of executive powers in the cabinet.
- Articles 74 and 75 of India Constitution deals with the parliamentary system at the centre.
- Article 163 and 164 deals with the Parliamentary system at the states.
Important Features of the Parliamentary System
- Nominal and Real Head: The head of the state holds a ceremonial position and is the nominal executive. For example, the President.
- Close relationship between the legislature and the executive: Prime Minister along with the Council of Ministers form the executive and the Parliament is the legislature. The PM and the ministers are elected from the members of parliament, implying that the executive emerges out of the legislature.
- Executive responsible to the legislature: The executive is responsible to the legislature. There is a collective responsibility, that is, each minister’s responsibility is the responsibility of the whole Council.
- Majority Party Rule: The party which wins majority seats in the elections of the Lower House forms the government. In India, the President invites the leader of the majority party in Lok Sabha to form the government. The President appoints the leader as the Prime Minister and the other ministers are appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister. The President may invite a coalition of parties to form the government, in case, no party has got majority.
- Collective Responsibility: The council of ministers are collectively responsible to the parliament. The lower house of parliament has an ability to dismiss a government by getting the no confidence motion passed in the house. In India, the government survives till the time it enjoys support of the majority of members in the Lok Sabha. Thus, Lok Sabha is empowered to introduce no-confidence motion against the government.
- Prime Minister as the Centre of Power: In India, the Prime Minister is the real executive. He is the head of the government, the council of ministers and the ruling government. Thus, he has to play a significant and important role in the working of the government.
- A Parliamentary Opposition: No government in the parliament can get hundred percent majority. The opposition plays an important role in checking the arbitrary use of authority by the political executive.
- Independent Civil Service: The civil servants advice and implement decisions of the government. Civil servants hold permanent appointments based on merit-based selection process. They ensure continuity of employment even when the government changes. The civil service also ensures efficiency in execution of duties and responsibilities.
- Bicameral Legislature: Most of the countries following parliamentary system, including India, have bicameral legislature. The members of the Lower House of all these countries are elected by the people. The Lower House can be dissolved, in case, the term of the government is over or there is no scope of government formation due to lack of majority in house. In India, the President can dissolve the Lok Sabha on recommendation of the Prime Minister.
- Secrecy: The members of the executive in this system have to follow the principle of secrecy in matters such as proceedings, executive meetings, policymaking etc. In India, the ministers take oath of secrecy before entering their office.
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