1) The Constitution provides a Council of Ministers to aid and advise the
President. In this context, answer the following questions:
a) What are the various categories of Ministers (explain in short)?
b) Explain their Individual and Collective responsibility.
c) Write any two points distinguishing the Council of Ministers and Cabinet
Ministers.
Answers
Answer:
1.The Council of Ministers is the official name for the body that includes all the Ministers. It usually has 60 to 80 Ministers of different ranks
- Cabinet Ministers are usually top-level leaders of the ruling party or parties who are in-charge of the major ministries. Usually the Cabinet Ministers meet to take decisions in the name of the Council of Ministers. Cabinet is thus the inner ring of the Council of Ministers. It comprises about 20 ministers.
- Ministers of State with independent charge are usually in-charge of smaller ministries. They participate in the Cabinet meetings only when specially invited.
- Ministers of State are attached to and required to assist Cabinet Ministers.
2.Individual ministerial responsibility is a constitutional convention in governments using the Westminster System that a cabinet minister bears the ultimate responsibility for the actions of their ministry or department. Individual ministerial responsibility is not the same as cabinet collective responsibility, which states members of the cabinet must approve publicly of its collective decisions or resign. This means that a motion for a vote of "no confidence" is not in order should the actions of an organ of government fail in the proper discharge of their responsibilities. Where there is ministerial responsibility, the accountable minister is expected to take the blame and ultimately resign, but the majority or coalition within parliament of which the minister is part, is not held to be answerable for that minister's failure.
3.Cabinet
- The cabinet consists of many senior ministers who hold important portfolios such as defence, home affairs, education etc.
- It was conferred the status of a constitutional body after the passing of the Constitutional Amendment Act of 1978 (Also Known as 44th Amendment)
- The Cabinet consists of some of the most experienced ministers. Thus the Prime Minister seeks their advice on important matters. The decisions of the cabinet are binding to all ministers
- It enforces the collective responsibility of the council to its members
- The Cabinet meets as frequently as possible to formulate policies and to decide on certain matters of national importance
- The size of the cabinet is about 15-20 ministers
Council of Ministers
- They consist of Cabinet Ministers, Deputy Ministers and Ministers of State
- It is a constitutional body
- It is up to the Prime Minister to consult with the council of ministers or not when it comes to making important decisions
- It enforces collective responsibility to the lower houses of the parliament
- The meetings between the council of ministers are rare.
- The council of ministers usually consists of about 60 to 70 ministers of the government.