Pointwise summary of Chapter 2: The Union Executive.

1. The Composition of the Union Executive

• The Union Executive is the branch of government responsible for implementing laws made by the Legislature.
• It consists of the President, the Vice-President, the Prime Minister, and the Council of Ministers.

2. The President of India (Head of State)

• The President is the nominal head of the State, while real executive powers are exercised by the Prime Minister.
• Qualifications: To be President, one must be a citizen of India, at least 35 years old, qualified to be a member of the Lok Sabha, and hold no office of profit under the government.
• Election and Term: The President is indirectly elected for a five-year term by an Electoral College consisting of elected members of both Houses of Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies.
• Removal: The President can be removed through a process called impeachment for violating the Constitution.

3. Powers of the President

• Executive: Appoints the Prime Minister, other ministers, the Attorney-General, Governors, and judges of the Supreme and High Courts.
• Military: Acts as the Chief Commander of the Armed Forces and has the power to declare war and make peace.
• Legislative: Summons and prorogues Parliament, addresses joint sessions, and must give assent to bills before they become law. The President can also issue Ordinances when Parliament is not in session.
• Financial: Money bills can only be introduced on the President's recommendation.
• Judicial: Has the power to grant pardons or reduce punishments.
• Emergency: Can declare three types of emergencies: National Emergency (security threat), State Emergency (breakdown of constitutional machinery), and Financial Emergency.

4. The Vice-President

• The Vice-President is elected by members of both Houses of Parliament.
• The primary role is serving as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
• The Vice-President officiates as President in the event of the President's death, resignation, or removal.

5. The Prime Minister (The Real Executive)

• The Prime Minister is the leader of the majority party in the Lok Sabha and the real executive head of the country.
• Key Functions:
  • Acts as the link between the President and the Council of Ministers.
  • Advises the President on the appointment of other ministers and distributes portfolios.
  • Presides over Cabinet meetings and is the chief spokesperson of the government in Parliament.
  • Represents India at international conferences.

6. The Council of Ministers and the Cabinet

• The Council of Ministers consists of Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State, and Deputy Ministers.
• The Cabinet is a small, trusted group of senior ministers who form the nucleus of the administration and decide major government policies.
• The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha.
• Functions of the Cabinet include framing policies, coordinating various departments, and advising the President on issuing Ordinances or declaring emergencies.

Analogy: To understand the Union Executive, think of a large ocean liner. The President is like the owner of the ship; the vessel is registered in their name, and all official documents carry their seal. However, the Prime Minister is the Captain who actually steers the ship, makes the day-to-day decisions, and manages the crew (the Council of Ministers) to ensure the journey is successful.