Parliamentary Form of Government
India has a parliamentary form of government. In a parliamentary form of government, the Parliament of the country has the power to make and execute laws.
- The President is only the nominal head of the country, while the Prime Minister and his cabinet are the real head of the country.
- The Prime Minister along with his ministers is responsible to the Parliament. The Prime Minister, members of the Cabinet and the Council of Ministers work as a team and work as long as they enjoy the power and confidence of the Parliament.
- At the state level, power is vested in the Chief Minister and his Council of Ministers. The Governor is only the nominal head.
- India also has a Cabinet system of government. The Cabinet consists of ministers who hold important portfolios and formulate major policies of the government.
- The Cabinet ministers are appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister. They along with the Prime Minister are responsible to the Lok Sabha and remain in office as long as they enjoy majority in the Parliament. If the vote of No Confidence is passed against them in the Parliament, all the ministers have to resign collectively from office.
Important functions performed by the CabinetÂ
- Domestic and international policies are framed by the cabinet ministers. It takes decisions on important matters such as defence, foreign policy, economic policies and formation of new states.
- It also coordinates the workings of various departments for the smooth implementation of the government’s policies.
- Most of the bills in the Parliament are introduced by the cabinet ministers. The bills are read, discussed and scrutinised clause by clause by the members of the Parliament.
- The cabinet ministers answer questions asked by the members of the Lok Sabha and provide information on the working of their departments.
- The Cabinet prepares the President’s Special Address to the Parliament and advises the President to issue Ordinances when the Parliament is not in session.
- Also Read Constitution – Directive Principles of State Policy