list the powers of a President and a Prime minister (any 5 main points)
Answers
President
1. The Executive powers
Art 53 of the constitution lays down that the executive power of the union shall be vested in the President. Thus making him the head of the executive. All executive actions of the union must be expressed to be taken in the name of the President and as such he shall have a right to be informed of the affairs of the union. The executive power includes the power to appoint and remove the high constitutional authority of the country. Under this power he appoints the Prime Minister and other members of the Council of Ministers and distributes portfolios among them. He also appoints the judges of the Supreme Court and the High Courts in the states.
2. Legislative powers
The President of India is an integral part of the Union Parliament. The Parliament cannot function without involving him. Because he alone can summon and prorogue the Houses of Parliament. If there is a deadlock in the process of legislation between both the Houses of Parliament, the President has the power to summon a joint session to do away with the impasse. He addresses both the Houses on the inaugural session after each general election and presents the agenda of the government. Apart from this he can send messages to either House of Parliament on any important matter of national, constitutional or public interest.
3. Military Powers
The constitution vests the Supreme Command of the Defence Force in the President of India. As such he makes all important appointments in the Defence Force including the Chief of the three wings the Armed Force, the Air Force and the Naval Force. He can declare war and conclude peace. However the President cannot do so himself. Under the Constitution he is required to do so under the control and authority of the Parliament.
4. Diplomatic Powers
The President enjoys wide diplomatic powers or powers over foreign or external affairs. For the purpose of maintaining ties with the other countries he appoints diplomatic representatives like Ambassadors or the High Commissioners to those countries. The diplomatic representatives of other foreign countries also present their credentials to him before taking up their assignments in this country. He also takes up the task of negotiating treaties and agreements with other countries subject to ratification by Parliament.
5. Judicial Powers
The President of India as head of the executive enjoys some judicial powers like most other heads of democratic countries the world over. The purpose of granting such powers to the President is to rectify the possible judicial errors. No human system of judicial administration can ever be foolproof. The President of India can grant pardons, reprieves or respites or remission of punishment.
Prime Minister
(1) Head of Government:
The President of India is Head of state while PRIME MINISTER is Head of Government. Although the President of India is vested with many executive powers, in actual practice he or she acts only at the advice of the Prime Minister and the cabinet.
(2) Leader of the Cabinet:
The Prime Minister is the leader of the cabinet. According to Article 74(i), "There shall be I a council of ministers with the Prime Minister at the head." Like I the feritish Prime Minister he is not only primus inter pares but to use Ivor Jeanings phrase, a sun around which other ministers revolve like planets. It is he who selects the other ministers. It is he who distributes portfolios among them.
(3) Link between President and the cabinet:
Article 78 of the constitution defines the duties of the Prime Minister, and in the discharge of those duties reacts as a link between the President and the cabinet.
(4) Leader of the Parliament:
The Prime Minister is the leader of the Parliament. He determines the dates of its meetings, as also its programmes for the session. He decides when the Houses is to be prorogued or dissolved. He is the chief spokes man of the Government in the House and it is he who usually keeps it informed about the Government's intentions.
(5) Chief Spokesman in foreign relations:
In International relations the Prime Minister is regarded as chief spokesman of the country. His statements are, for the outside world; statements of policies of the nation. In international conferences it is he who speaks for the nation.