Parliamentary System

• Examples — India, Britain, Canada, Japan — USA, Brazil, Russia (semi), Sri Lanka (semi)
• Model — Westminster model; Responsible government; Cabinet government;
  Prime Ministerial government — Non-responsible government;
  Fixed Executive government
• Responsibility — Executive is responsible to Legislature — Executive is not responsible to Legislature
• Independence — — Executive is independent for term of office
• Features — 1. Dual executive (President Head of State; PM Head of Government) — 1. Single executive
• — 2. Majority party rule — 2. President and legislators elected separately for a fixed term
• — 3. Collective responsibility — 3. Non-responsibility
• — 4. Political homogeneity — 4. Political homogeneity may not exist
• — 5. Double membership — 5. Single membership
• — 6. Leadership of prime minister — 6. Domination of president
• — 7. Executive can get legislature dissolved — 7. Executive can’t get legislature dissolved
• — 8. Fusion of powers — 8. Separation of powers
• Merits — 1. Harmony between legislature and executive — 1. Stable government
• — 2. Responsible government — 2. Definiteness in policies
• — 3. Prevents despotism — 3. Based on separation of powers
• — 4. Wide representation — 4. Government by experts
• Demerits — 1. Unstable government — 1. Conflict between legislature and executive
• — 2. No continuity of policies — 2. Non-responsible government
• — 3. Against separation of powers — 3. May lead to autocracy
• — 4. Government by amateurs — 4. Narrow representation

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 3 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: 1 and 2 only

Ministers are MPs and hold office while they enjoy the confidence of Parliament; the Cabinet is headed by the PM, not the Head of State.

1. more autonomy to Punjab on the model of J&K
2. suitability of Presidential form of government for India
3. precedence of DPSP over FR
4. Administrative reforms

Answer: precedence of DPSP over FR

The Swaran Singh Committee (1976) led to the 42nd Amendment, which gave DPSPs precedence over FRs and added Fundamental Duties. Answer keys differ across sources for this one; confirm before relying on it.

1. all political parties in Parliament are represented in Govt
2. Govt is responsible to Parliament and can be removed by it
3. Govt is elected by people and can be removed by them
4. Govt is chosen by Parliament but cannot be removed by it before completion of a fixed term

Answer: Govt is responsible to Parliament and can be removed by it

Government is responsible to Parliament and can be removed by it.

1. the executive and independently.
2. it provides continuity of policy and is more efficient.
3. the executive remains responsible to the legislature.
4. the head of the government cannot be changed without election

Answer: the executive remains responsible to the legislature.

The executive remains responsible to the legislature.

1. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by public
2. Council of Ministers is responsible to Legislature
3. of distribution of power between Centre and States
4. of a single constitutional framework

Answer: Council of Ministers is responsible to Legislature

The Council of Ministers is responsible to the legislature.

1. Lok Sabha is elected directly by the people
2. Parliament can amend the constitution
3. Rajya Sabha cannot be dissolved
4. Council of Ministers is responsible to Lok Sabha

Answer: Council of Ministers is responsible to Lok Sabha

Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha (Art. 75(3)).

1. An arrangement for minimizing the criticism against the Government whose responsibilities are complex and hard to carry out to the satisfaction of all.
2. A mechanism for speeding up activities of Govt whose responsibilities are increasing day by day
3. A mechanism of parliamentary democracy to ensure collective responsibility of Govt to people
4. A device for strengthening hands of head of Govt whose hold over people is in a state of decline

Answer: A mechanism of parliamentary democracy to ensure collective responsibility of Govt to people

Cabinet government ensures collective responsibility of the government to the people.

• Type of Government — Constitutional Monarchy (Hereditary) — Republic (Elected)
• Sovereignty of Parliament — Sovereign (no written Constitution) — Not sovereign/supreme (written Constitution, federal system, judicial review, and fundamental rights)
• Eligibility of Ministers — Only MPs can be made Minister — Non-MP can be Minister for 6 months
• Legal Responsibility of Ministers — Ministers countersign official acts (legal responsibility) — No legal responsibility like countersigning official acts
• Selection of Prime Minister — Must be from the Lower House (House of Commons) — Can be from either House (Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha)
• Existence of a Shadow Cabinet — Yes — No

1. British Monarch
2. President of U.S.A
3. President of Egypt
4. President of U.S.S.R

Answer: British Monarch

The President is a nominal (constitutional) head like the British monarch.

1. both a real and a nominal executive
2. a system of collective responsibility
3. Bicameral legislature
4. the system of judicial review

Answer: the system of judicial review

Unlike Britain, India has judicial review (and a written Constitution).

1. A single citizenship
2. Three lists in Constitution
3. Dual judiciary
4. A federal Supreme Court to interpret constitution

Answer: A federal Supreme Court to interpret constitution

Both have a federal Supreme Court to interpret the Constitution; India has single citizenship and an integrated judiciary.

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: Both 1 and 2

Indian Parliament's power is limited by the Constitution, and constitutional questions go to a Constitution Bench (Art. 145(3)).