1 Mark Questions
Question 1 : What is an ‘Ordinance’? When can it be passed?
Answer : An ordinance is a law, which has the same status as an Act of Parliament. The President can promulgate an ordinance when the Parliament is not in session.
Question 2 : State the composition of the Electoral College in the election of the President of India.
Answer : Electoral College comprises of :
- elected members of the Parliament.
- elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of all States and the UTIs of Delhi and Puducherry.
Question 3 : State one reason, for why the President is elected indirectly.
Answer : If the President was elected directly by the people, he/she could have become a rival centre of power to the Council of Ministers.
Question 4 : Who is he executive head of the nation?
Answer : The President is the executive head of the nation.
Question 5: Mention one circumstance when the President can appoint the Prime Minister using his/her discretionary Power.
Answer : When no party secures majority seats in the Lok Sabha, then the President can appoint the Prime Mininster using his/her discretionary powers.
Question 6 : Mention one difference between the elections of the President and the Vice-President of India.
Answer : The nomination of the President is proposed by 50 members, whereas, in the case of the Vice-President, it has to be proposed by 20 members.
Question 7 : Mr Konar was not found eligible for the election as the Vice-President of India even though he had the qualifications of being a citizen of India and not being a member of the Parliament and the State Legislature. On what grounds was he disqualified? Give on reason.
Answer : To become the Vice-President of India, a person should be qualified as a member of the Council of States. Mr Konar was disqualified on that ground.
Question 8 : When can ordinances be issued by the President?
Answer : An ordinance is a law, which has the same status as an act of Parliament. The President can promulgate an ordinance when the Parliament is not in session.
Question 9 : Who administers the oath of office to the President of India?
Answer : The Chief Justice of India administers the oath of office to the President of India. He takes the oath to preserve, protect and defend the constitution and the law.
Question 10 : How many members can the President nominate to the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha?/
Answer : The President can nominate 12 members to the Rajya Sabha and 2 members to the Lok Sabha.
Question 11 : Mention two Military Powers of the President of India.
Answer : Being the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, the President:
has the power to declare war or conclude Peace.
appoints the Chiefs of the three wings of the Defence Forces (i.e., Army, Navy, and the Air Force).
Question 12 : When and how can the President of India be removed from office?
Answer : The President can be removed from this office through the impeachment process. The impeachment process against the President can be initiated only on the grounds of violation of the provisions of Constitution.
Question 13 : Mention one difference between the election of the Vice-President and that of the President of India, as far as the electorate is concerned.
Answer : The electoral college of the President comprises the elected members of the Parliament and the elected members of Legislative Assemblies of all States and UTs of Delhi and Puducherry. The electoral college of the Vice-President comprises only the elected members of the Parliament.
2 Marks Questions
Question 14 : Mention any two Financial powers of the President of India.
Answer : Financial powers of the Present include:
- The President appoints a Finance Commission after every 5 years to recommend on financial matters.
- Money Bill can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha with prior recommendation of the President.
3 Marks Questions
Question 15 : Besides being a citizen of India, state three other qualifications required by a person to be eligible to be the President of India.
Answer : Other qualifications to be eligible to be the President of India are as follows:
- He/She must have completed the age of 35 years.
- He/She should be qualified for election as a member of the Lok Sabha.
- He/She should not hold any office of profit under the Government of India or Government of any State or under any local authority.
Question 16: Mention three Legislative powers of the President.
Answer : Legislative powers of the President are as follows:
- He can address both the Houses of the Parliament at the first session of the year and after the general election.
- He has the power to send messages to either House of the Parliament.
- He has the power to nominate 12 members of the Rajya Sabha and 2 members of the Lok Sabha.
Question 17 : The President is the constitutional head of the nation. In this context, explain the manner of election and term of his office.
Answer : The President is elected indirectly by the Electoral College which comprises the elected members of the Parliament and the elected members of the Legislative Assembly of all States and the UTs of Delhi and Puducherry. The term of office of the President is 5 years.
Question 18 : The President is the constitutional head of the nation. In this context, explain the Presidential address.
Answer : The President addresses both the Houses of the Parliament at the beginning of the first session of each year and also at the first meeting after the general election of the Lok Sabha.
Question 19 : Why is the President of India referred to as a nominal head of the state? State two examples of his legislative powers that suggest his nominal status.
Answer : According to constitutional provisions, the President exercises his powers on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers.
Two legislative powers of the President are:
- The ordinance power of the President is subjected to ratification by the Parliament. If not ratified, the ordinance ceases.
- The nomination of members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha is also done by the President on the advice of Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers. So he has a sort of a nominal status.
Question 20 : Mention the circumstances when the President can declare National Emergency.
Answer : Under Article, 352, the President can proclaim a National Emergency, only if he is satisfied that the security of the nation is threatened due to war or external aggression or due to armed rebellion.
Question 21 : With reference to the Powers of the President, write down the reasons for adopting the indirect method of election for the Presidential Election.
Answer : The reasons behind the indirect election of the President are as follows:
- Since the Membership of Parliament is dominated by a party, this will turn the President as a mere nominee.
- The inclusion of State Legislative Assembly’s elected members provides the President a clear voice and support of the states as well.
- If elected directly, it could develop into a rival centre of power for the Council of Ministers.
Question 22 : With reference to the powers of the President, write down the options open to the President when an Ordinary Bill is sent to him for his assent.
Answer : A Bill when passed by both the Houses, is sent to the President for his approval. The President may give his assent or withhold the Bill or send it back to the House with recommendation, however, if the same bill comes again, the President is bound to give his assent.
Question 23 : Mention the three Executive powers of the President.
Answer : The Executive powers of the President are as follows:
- As a head of the Union Administration, all executive orders are issued in the name of the President.
- He makes appointment to the key posts to run the Government’s Administration.
- The Administration of the Union Territories (UTs) and the Border Areas is the responsibility of the President.
Question 24 : Mention the three Financial powers of the President.
Answer : The Financial powers enjoyed by the President are as follows:
- As a head of the Union Administration, a Money Bill cannot be introduced in the Lok Sabha.
- The President is responsible for laying the Annual Budget of the Government.
- The President appoints Finance Commission after every 5 years which gives its recommendations on financial matters.
Question 27 : Describe the circumstances under the President can declare an emergency in the country.
Answer : The President of India can declare an emergency under the following circumstances:
- National Emergency : When the President is satisfied that the security of the nation is threatened by the war or external aggression or armed rebellion.
- State Emergency : If the Governor of a State reports the President of the breaking of constitutional machinery in the state and if the President is satisfied with the report so given, he can declare a State Emergency.
- Financial Emergency : When the financial stability or credit of the nation is threatened, the President can declare the Financial Emergency.
4 Marks Questions
Question 29 : The President is the Constitutional Head of Nation. In this context explain. The executive powers of the President with reference to
a) Appointments
b) Right to be informed
Answer : a) Appointments – The President makes appointments to key posts to run the Administration of the Union as well as the state. He appoints:
- The Prime Minister and Council of Ministers
- The Chief Justice and Judges of Supreme Court and High Courts.
- The Governors of the States
- The Attorney General of India
- The Comptroller and Auditor General of India
- Chief of Three Wings of the Armed Forces etc.
b) Right to be informed – According to constitutional provisions, it is the responsibility of the Prime Minister to inform the President regarding the policy matters and international treaties on day to day basis.
Question 30 : Write down any two Judicial Powers and two Discretionary powers of the President.
Answer : Judicial powers of the President are as follows:
- The President has the power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites or remissions of the punishment or to suspend, remit or commute the sentence of any person convicted for an offence.
- The President is not answerable before any Court of Law for exercising the powers and duties of his office.
Discretionary powers of the President are as follows:
- The President appoints the Prime Minister in a situation where no single party secures the majority of the Lok Sabha.
- When a vote of no-confidence is passed in the Lok Sabha, the President can either dissolve the Lok Sabha or ask another party to prove its majority in the house.
Question 32 : Under what circumstances can the President dismiss the Council of Ministers and dissolve the Lok Sabha? What is meant by ‘President’s Address’?
Answer : When the vote of no-confidence is passed against the Council of Ministers and the council has not resigned, the President can dismiss the Council of Ministers and dissolve the Lok Sabha.
At the beginning of the first session of every year and after each general election at the first meeting, the President addresses the Parliament wherein he elaborates the achievements and aspirations of the government.
Question 33 : Mention two Executives and two Legislative powers of the President of India.
Answer : The Executive powers of the President are as follows:
- Being the executive head, all orders are issued under his name.
- The administration of the Union Territories is the responsibilities of the President.
Legislative powers of the President are:
- He addresses both the Houses of the Parliament at the first session of the year and after the general election.
- He has power to summon, prorogue the Parliament and to dissolve the Lok Sabha.
Question 34 : Enumerate the Legislative powers of the President.
Answer : Legislative powers of the President are as follows:
- The President can send messages to either House of the Parliament, at any point with regard to any matter of importance.
- The power to summon, prorogue the House and to dissolve the Lok Sabha lies with the President. The President nominates 14 members to the Parliament (12 to Rajya Sabha and 2 to the Lok Sabha).
- Any Bill cannot become an act until it receives assent of the President. The President may send it back with some recommendations, but in the second time he has to give his assent.
- A Bill regarding formation of a new state can only move in the Parliament after the assent of the President.