Source: Polity 9th NCERT chapter V
- The Government of India had appointed the Second Backward Classes Commission in 1979. It was headed by B.P. Mandal. Hence it was popularly called the Mandal Commission. It was asked to determine the criteria to identify the socially and educationally backward classes in India and recommend steps to be taken for their advancement. The Commission gave its Report in 1980 and made many recommendations. One of these was that 27 per cent of government jobs be reserved for the socially and educationally backward classes.
- Parliament exercises political authority on behalf of the people in many ways:
1 Parliament is the final authority for making
laws in any country. This task of law making or legislation is so crucial that
these assemblies are called legislatures.
2. Parliaments all over the world can
make new laws, change existing laws, or abolish existing laws and make new ones
in their place.
3. Parliaments all over the world exercise
some control over those who run the government. In some countries like India
this control is direct and full. Those who run the government can take
decisions only so long as they enjoy support of the Parliament.
Parliaments control all the money that
governments have. In most countries any the public money can be spent only when
the Parliament sanctions it
4. Parliament is the highest forum of discussion
and debate on public issues and national policy in any country. Parliament can
seek information about any matter.
- In our country, the Parliament consists of two Houses. The two Houses are known as the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and the House of the People (Lok Sabha). The President of India is a part of the Parliament.
- Prime Minister is the most important political institution in the country.
- The President appoints the Prime Minister. But the President cannot appoint anyone she likes.
- The President appoints the leader of the majority party or the coalition of parties that commands a majority in the Lok Sabha, as Prime Minister. In case no single party or alliance gets a majority, the President appoints the person most likely to secure a majority support.
- The Prime Minister does not have a fixed tenure. He continues in power so long as he remains the leader of the majority party or coalition.
- After the appointment of the Prime Minister, the President appoints other ministers on the advice of the Prime Minister.
- The Prime Minister is free to choose ministers, as long as they are members of Parliament. Sometimes, a person who is not a member of Parliament can also become a minister. But such a person has to get elected to one of the Houses of the Parliament within six months of appointment as minister.
- 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.
- Since it is not practical for all ministers to meet regularly and discuss everything, the decisions are taken in Cabinet meetings. That is why parliamentary democracy in most countries is often known as the Cabinet form of government. The Cabinet works as a team. The ministers may have different views and opinions, but everyone has to own up to every decision of the Cabinet.
- The President is the head of the State.
- The President is not elected directly by the people. The elected Members of Parliament (MPs) and the elected Members of the Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) elect her. A candidate standing for President’s post has to get a majority of votes to win the election. This ensures that the President can be seen to represent the entire nation.
- At the same time the President can never claim the kind of direct popular mandate that the Prime Minister can. This ensures that she remains only a nominal executive
- The President is the supreme commander of the defence forces of India.
- The Supreme Court and the High Courts have the power to interpret the Constitution of the country. They can declare invalid any law of the legislature or the actions of the executive, whether at the Union level or at the state level, if they find such a law or action is against the Constitution. Thus they can determine the Constitutional validity of any legislation or action of the executive in the country, when it is challenged before them. This is known as the judicial review.
- The Supreme Court of India has also ruled that the core or basic principles of the Constitution cannot be changed by the Parliament.