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President &
Vice- President
Civics - Chapter 2.
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Scope & Syllabus:
 President:
1. Qualification
2. Composition of Electoral College
3. Reasons of Indirect Elections
4. Term of Office
5. Procedure of Impeachment
 Powers of President: Legislative, Financial,
Judicial, Discretionary & Emergency
 Vice-President:
1. Qualification, Election
2. Term of Office and
3. Powers
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Qualifications to be President:
 Citizen of India
 Completed 35 years of age
 Is qualified for election as a member of Lok
Sabha.
 Shouldn’t hold any office of profit under
Government of India
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Composition of Electoral College
 President is indirectly elected by the members
of Electoral College (few MPs and few MLAs).
It consists of:
 Elected members of both the
houses
 Elected members of Legislative Assemblies of
the states and UTs.
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Electoral College
MLAs
MPs
Reasons for Indirect Elections
1. If President was elected directly, then he
could become a rival centre of power to the
Council of Ministers , which would be against
the parliamentary system.
President V/S Council of
Ministers
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Reasons for Indirect Elections
2. Two houses may be dominated by one party
and if President would have been elected by
only the members of Union Parliament, then
President would be like PM who is a nominee
of the ruling party. Such president cant
represent constituent states of the Union.
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Reasons for Indirect Elections
3. President would be elected by Electoral
College, consisting members of parliament and
members of legislative assemblies of the
States, this would make the elected President a
true representative of the whole nation.
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Term of Office
5 years from the date on which he enters
upon his office.
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Oath of Office
Chief Justice of India administers
President’s oath of office.
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Procedure of Impeachment
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• A written notice signed by more than 1/4th of the total number
of members of the House(any) is submitted. Once it is
received, after 14days a Resolution is moved.
2
• The Resolution is passed by majority i.e. more than 2/3rd of
the total members of the House.
3 & 4
• The charge is sent to the other house for investigation.
President needs to be present for the investigation.
• After the investigation, if the charge is proved right and
passed by 2/3rd of the total members of the house (which
investigated) then the President is removed.
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Powers of President
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Executive Powers
 Head of the Union Administration: all union official are
his subordinates.
 Appointment of officials of the State:
a) PM and Council,
b) Chief Justice and Judges of SC and HC
c) Governors
d) Chairman and members of- Union Public Service Commission
e) Chairman and members of- Planning Commission
 Control over the State Governments:
Union Government gives directions to State governments.
And During Emergency completely control states.
 Union Territories & Border areas:
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Legislative Powers
1. Addresses session of Parliament
2. Message to Parliament
3. Summon & Prorogue the Houses.
4. Dissolve Lok Sabha
5. Nomination of members (12-RS, 2-LS)
6. Assent to Bills
7. Promulgate Ordinances
8. Assent to Some State bills
9. Formation of New States
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Financial Powers
1. Money bill can be introduced only on
recommendation of President
2. Annual Budget is presented by Finance Minister on
behalf of President. Annual Budget is the estimate of
income and expenditure of Union Government for
the coming year.
3. Annual Financial Statement is also presented on
behalf of President.
4. President can authorize withdrawal of advances
from the Contingency Fund of India.
5. After every five years President appoints Finance
Commission (1 Chairman + 4 Members). It makes
recommendations to the President on financial
matters.
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Judicial Powers
1. President isn’t answerable before any court of
law.
2. No criminal suit can be initiated against him during
his tenure of office.
3. President has power to reduce or increase the
punishment in the followings cases:
a) Cases of Court Martial
b) In all cases listed in Union or Concurrent list.
c) In all cases where there is a Death Sentence.
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Discretionary Powers
1. Appointment of PM in a situation of Hung Parliament i.e.
where no single party commands a clear majority of the Lok
Sabha members.
2. Appointment of PM in the cases of sudden death of PM. And in
case if the ruling legislative party is unable to meet
immediately to elect a leader.
3. When the ruling party who has lost majority in Lok Sabha or
when a vote of no-confidence is passed against it, the
President decides either to dissolve the House or ask another
party to prove its majority on the floor of the House.
4. President can dismiss ministers in case of Council of Ministers
loses the confidence of the House but refuses to resign.
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Emergency Powers
 The three Emergencies that President can proclaim
are as follows:
1. National/General Emergency: in the case of
foreign aggression or civil war.
2. Financial Emergency: when set-back to financial
stability or credit feasibility of the country has
occurred.
3. Breakdown of Constitutional Machinery: When
President is reported by the Governor of a state that
the state can’t be governed in accordance with the
Constitution, then he may declare this emergency. It
can declared in whole nation, whole state or part of
the state.
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Vice-President
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Qualifications to be Vice- President:
 Citizen of India
 Completed 35 years of age
 Is qualified for election as a member of Rajya
Sabha.
 Shouldn’t hold any office of profit under
Government of India
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Composition of Electoral College
 President is indirectly elected by the members
of Electoral College (few MPs)
It consists of:
 Elected members of both the
houses.
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Electoral College
MPs
Term of Office
5 years from the date on which he enters
upon his office.
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Oath of Office
President administers Vice-President’s
oath of office.
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Powers of Vice-President
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Powers of Vice-President
A) Takes over the office of President in the
following cases:
a) Death of the President.
b) Resignation of the President.
c) Removal/Impeachment of the President.
d) When President is unable to discharge his duties
owing to absence, illness or any other cause.
When Vice-President takes over the office of the President then
the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha heads the Rajya Sabha.
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Powers of Vice-President
B) As a Ex-Officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha he
conducts the following functions:
a) He regulates proceedings and debates of the
House.
b) He decides the order of the speech.
c) He decides the admissibility of resolutions or
questions.
d) He may adjourn or suspend the business of the
House.
e) He gives directions to the chairmen of various
committees.
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