Question 1

Question 6The President's Special Address to Parliament is prepared by ............... .The Prime MinisterThe Vice PresidentThe CabinetThe Speaker of the Lok Sabha

Accepted Answer

The Cabinet

Question 2

Question 7Which, amongst the following, is not a Financial Power of the Cabinet?BudgetSummoning the Lok SabhaFinances of the GovernmentIntroduction of Money Bills

Accepted Answer

Summoning the Lok Sabha

Question 3

Question 8Identify the Legislative powers of the Cabinet.P : The Cabinet is responsible for the expenditure of the Government.Q : The Cabinet initiates almost 95 per cent of the Bills.R : The ministers answer questions put to them by the members of the Lok Sabha.S : The Cabinet directly advises the President of India.Q and RP and QQ and SR and S

Accepted Answer

Q and R

Question 4

Question 9Whose resignation implies resignation of the whole cabinet?Prime MinisterPresidentChief Justice of IndiaDeputy Minister

Accepted Answer

Prime Minister

Question 5

Question 10Identify the methods by which Parliament maintains control over the Executive.P : By passing a vote of No-confidence in the Council of Ministers.Q : By changing the Council of Ministers after every six months.R : By electing new Prime Minister after a gap of three years.S : By passing an amendment to a bill against the wishes of the Government.Q and RP and SR and SP and R

Accepted Answer

P and S

Question 6

Question 11Who amongst the following has the power to select and dismiss Ministers?PresidentChief Justice of IndiaCabinet MinisterPrime Minister

Accepted Answer

President

Question 7

Question 12The initiative of summoning the Houses of Parliament is taken by ................ .the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairsthe Prime Ministerthe Presidentthe Chief Justice

Accepted Answer

the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs

Question 8

Question 13Which of the following statements are correct?P : The Council of Ministers are collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha.Q : A Vote of No-confidence against one Minister does not have any effect on the entire Ministry.R : The Ministers are individually responsible to the Prime Minister of India.S : Every Minister is answerable to Parliament for the department under his/her control.P and RR and SP and QP and S

Accepted Answer

P and S

Question 9

Question 1With reference to the powers and functions of the Cabinet, briefly state the following:(a) Three Administrative Functions.(b) Three Legislative Functions.(c) Four Financial Functions.

Accepted Answer

(a) Three administrative functions of the Cabinet are as follows-Policy Making — The Cabinet formulates both external and domestic policies of the Government. Individual Ministers have reasonable freedom of action, but on all major matters they have to consult the Cabinet.Implementation of Policies — Once a policy decision is taken by the Cabinet on any subject, it is conveyed to the Minister of State and the Deputy Minister of the concerned Ministry. They work out the details and pass it to the civil servants under that Ministry to implement the decision.Coordinating the Functioning of Various Ministers — The Cabinet coordinates the working of various departments for the smooth implementation of government policies.(b) Three legislative functions of the Cabinet are as follows-Amendment to the Constitution — The Cabinet is instrumental in planning and moving the Amendment to the Constitution.Summoning the Houses of Parliament — Although the Houses are summoned by the President, initiative in this matter is taken by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.Issuing Ordinances — Cabinet also advises the President to issue ordinances when the Parliament is not in session.(c) Four financial functions of the Cabinet are as follows-Budget — The Finance Minister prepares the Annual Budget containing estimates of income and expenditure for the ensuing year.Though the budget is passed by Parliament, usually no changes are made in the budget figures against the wishes of the Cabinet.Any amendment to the budget proposals against the wishes of the Cabinet that may be passed by the Lok Sabha amounts to a vote of No-Confidence in the Ministry. It happens only when the Ministry has lost the support of the majority in the Lok Sabha. In such a situation the Ministry must resign.Finances of the Government — The Cabinet is responsible for the expenditure of the government for presenting the demand for grants and also for raising necessary income by various means including taxation.Introduction of Money Bills — A Money Bill can be introduced in the Lok Sabha only by a Minister.

Question 10

Question 2The Constitution provides a Council of Ministers to aid and advise the President. In this context, answer the following questions:(a) Briefly mention three of their functions.(b) How does the Parliament exercise an effective control over the Council of Ministers?(c) State the Cabinet's role in the formulation of policies of the Government.

Accepted Answer

(a) Three functions of Council of Ministers are-Policy Making — The Cabinet formulates both external and domestic policies of the Government. Individual Ministers have reasonable freedom of action, but on all major matters they have to consult the Cabinet.Implementation of Policies — Once a policy decision is taken by the Cabinet on any subject, it is conveyed to the Minister of State and the Deputy Minister of the concerned Ministry. They work out the details and pass it to the civil servants under that Ministry to implement the decision.Finances of the Government — The Cabinet is responsible for the expenditure of the government for presenting the demand for grants and also for raising necessary income by various means including taxation.(b) Parliament ensures Cabinet's responsibility to the people, in general, and to the Parliament as a whole. The methods adopted by the Parliament are —A vote of No-Confidence in the Council of Ministers.Rejection of a Government bill.Passing a bill opposed by the Government.Voting a cut in the Budget.Passing an amendment to a bill against the wishes of the Government.Reducing the salaries of the Ministers.Asking questions.Adjournment motions.Rejecting some government measures.(c) The Cabinet formulates both external and domestic policies of the Government.It takes decisions on matters such as defence, economic policy, security needs, President's rule in State, formation of new States, industrial policy, imports and electoral reforms.Individual Ministers have reasonable freedom of action, but on all major matters they have to consult the Cabinet.

Question 11

Question 3With reference to the Prime Minister of India, answer the following questions:(a) State any three qualifications which a person should possess to be eligible for appointment as Prime Minister.(b) What is the position of the Prime Minister under the Parliamentary system of government?(c) How is the Prime Minister a link between the Cabinet and the President?

Accepted Answer

(a) Three qualifications which a person should possess to be eligible for appointment as Prime Minister are-He should be a citizen of India.He must have completed 25 years of age in case he is a member of Lok Sabha and 30 years in case of Rajya Sabha.He must be a member of either house of Parliament.(b) While the President is the nominal head of State, the Prime Minister is the real head of the nation.Leader of the Lok Sabha — As the Prime Minister is the leader of the majority party in Parliament, he is said to be the leader of the House.Spokesperson of the Government — The Prime Minister is the chief spokesman of the Government in the Parliament. He makes all important announcements on national policies on the floor of the House.Defender of Government Policies — The Prime Minister defends the Government in the Parliament. When a policy or a Minister comes under attack in the Parliament, the Prime Minister comes to defend the issue involved.Intervention in case of Controversial Issues — There are some controversial issues like the language issue, Centre-State relations, price-rise and atrocities on women over which members lose their temper. If an ugly situation arises in any of the Houses, the matter generally ends with the intervention of the Prime Minister.(c) The Prime Minister is a link between the Cabinet and the President.Our Constitution lays down that it shall be the duty of the Prime Minister to communicate to the President all decisions of the Council of Ministers relating to the administration of the Union and the proposals for legislation.A Minister cannot discuss any matter of national policy with the President on his/her own.

Question 12

Question 4With reference to the Prime Minister of India, answer the following questions:(a) How can we say that the Prime Minister occupies a unique position in the Parliament?(b) State any three powers of the Prime Minister as a Chairperson of the Cabinet?(c) Mention three ways in which the Constitution ensures the pre-eminent position of the Prime Minister in relation to the Union Council of Ministers.

Accepted Answer

(a) The Prime Minister occupies a unique position in the Parliament as can be seen by the following points-Leader of the Lok Sabha — As the Prime Minister is the leader of the majority party in Parliament, he is said to be the leader of the House.Spokesperson of the Government — The Prime Minister is the chief spokesman of the Government in the Parliament. He makes all important announcements on national policies on the floor of the House.Defender of Government Policies — The Prime Minister defends the Government in the Parliament. When a policy or a Minister comes under attack in the Parliament, the Prime Minister comes to defend the issue involved.Intervention in case of Controversial Issues — There are some controversial issues like the language issue, Centre-State relations, price-rise and atrocities on women over which members lose their temper. If an ugly situation arises in any of the Houses, the matter generally ends with the intervention of the Prime Minister.(b) Three powers of the Prime Minister as a Chairperson of the Cabinet are as follows-Power to Allocate Portfolios and to Reshuffle the Council of Ministers — It is the Prime Minister who allocates departments or portfolios to the Ministers. He can reshuffle his Council of Ministers whenever he pleases.Power to Select and Dismiss Ministers — The Prime Minister chooses the Ministers and has the power to dismiss them too. He can ask an erring Minister to resign.Power to Direct and Coordinate Policy — The Prime Minister coordinates the working of various departments so that administration is carried on smoothly. In critical matters such as, foreign, defence, economic and technological affairs, he coordinates the policy of the Government.(c) Three ways in which the Constitution ensures the pre-eminent position of the Prime Minister in relation to the Union Council of Ministers are as follows-Appointment of Council of Ministers — The Prime Minister chooses the ministers and, on his advice, the President appoints them.Power to Allocate Portfolios and to Reshuffle the Council of Ministers — It is the Prime Minister who allocates departments or portfolios to the Ministers. He can reshuffle his Council of Ministers whenever he pleases.Power to Dismiss Ministers — The Prime Minister has the power to dismiss the ministers. He can ask an erring Minister to resign.

Question 13

Question 5Read the following excerpt and answer the questions that follow:Madhavrao Scindia tended his resignation as Civil Aviation Minister on January 9, 1993 following the crash of TU-154 aircraft which was carrying 165 persons on board including the crew. Although all the passengers survived the crash Madhavrao resigned on moral grounds as the aircraft had been leased from Russia.(a)	Does Madhavrao's resignation reflect Individual Responsibility or Collective Responsibility? Justify.(b)	State two important differences between Individual and Collective Responsibility.(c)	Which of these two responsibilities is more important? Why?

Accepted Answer

(a) Madhavrao's resignation reflects Individual Responsibility. This is because he was directly in charge of the Civil Aviation Ministry and not the entire Council of Ministers.(b) Two important differences between Individual and Collective Responsibility are as follows:Individual ResponsibilityCollective Responsibility1.The Ministers are individually responsible to the President, i.e., they hold office during the pleasure of the President and may be dismissed by him/her, on the advice of the Prime Minister even when they may have the confidence of the Legislature.The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Parliament and has to resign if it loses the confidence of the Lok Sabha. A Vote of No-Confidence against one Minister is a vote against the whole Ministry. Such a Ministry that has lost the confidence of the Lok Sabha has to resign.2.Each Minister is answerable to Parliament for the department under his/her control. It is obligatory for him/her to answer all the questions asked by the MPs, regarding the functioning of his/her department.All Ministers jointly share the responsibility for the government's policies and performance. The Ministers must function as a team in supporting and defending government policies inside as well as outside Parliament.(c) Collective Responsibility can be considered more crucial and important because it ensures accountability at a larger scale. This can be clearly noticed when a vote of No-Confidence against one minister is considered a vote against the whole Ministry, in the case of which the whole Ministry has to resign.

Prime Minister and Council of Ministers

Multiple Choice Questions

Structured Questions