THE : UNION EXECUT WE— THE PRESIDENT AND THE VICE PRESIDENT mererd ) ‘THE PRESIDENT—Head of the Indian Union. 1st citizen of the country. Must be at least 35 years of age and have all qualifications to be an MP of the Lok Sabha. Holds office for 5 years. Is eligible for re-election for 2nd time only. Till date, only our first President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, has enjoyed two terms. The President may be removed by a special trial called impeachment conducted in the two Houses of Parliament. Both Houses must find him guilty of violating the constitution to remove him. ‘The President is indirectly elected because of his position as Head of the State of India. He/she enjoys executive powers as he is the Head of the Union Executive, He/She has military powers as Supreme Commander of the Defence Forces of India. The President enjoys diplomatic powers, and has legislative powers because he/she is a part of the Union Parliament. The President also enjoys financial, judicial and emergency powers. However, these powers are exercised only with the aid and advice of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers. It is only the discretionary powers which the President can call his own for he needs no help of the Prime Minister for this function. THE VICE PRESIDENT—Is elected by the elected MPs of both Houses of Parliament only. He also must be a citizen of India with minimum age 38 years and must be qualified to be a Rajya Sabha MP. His term is for 5 years. He may be removed only by the Rajya Sabha when the resolution is also approved by the Lok Sabha. ‘The normal duty of the Vice President is to be the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Other than that he acts as the President of India when the latter is not able to carry out his functions for some reason. {MPORTANT QUESTIONS Q1. Who is called the Head of the State or Chief Executive of India? Ans. The President of India. Q2. What qualifications are required to be the President of India? Ans. Citizen of India. Minimum age 35 years. Must be qualified to be a Lok Sabha MP. Q3. Name any two holders of office of profit who may contest a Presidential election. Ans. President, Vice President, Governor, Minister of the union or of the state, Speaker of Lok Sabha or any state Vidhan Sabha. How long can a President remain in office? a4. Ans. 5 years. Is eligible for a second term. May resign earlier by writing to the Vice President. What may be the reason for removed of the President? What is the process called? Violating the Constitution, ‘The process is called impeachment. Give two reasons for indirect election of President. ‘The Constitution makers wanted Presidential election to be a dignified affair. Q5. Ans Q6. $m ICSEHISTORY AND CIVICS Pape, eenDifficult to provide an election system for such a vast population to elect only one person. Q7. Who elects the President of India? Ans. Elected MPs of 2 Houses of Parliament and elected MLAs of states and 2 union territories. Q8. Who delivers Oath of Office to the President? Ans. The Chief Justice of India, Q9. In case of dispute over election of the President and Vice President, which body solves it? Ans, The Supreme Court. Q10. State two executive powers of the President. Ans. All executive orders are issued in his name. He appoints the Prime Minister on whose advice he appoints the other ministers. Q11.Who summons and prorogues Parliament and dissolves the Lok Sabha? Ans. ‘The President of India. Q12, When does the President address both the Houses together? Ans. On the first day of the first session every year. At the first session after each general election, i.e., normally every five years. Q13. How many MPs does President nominate to Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha? Ans. Lok Sabha—2 Anglo-Indian MPs. Rajya Sabha—12 specially talented Indians. Q14. When can the President issue an Ordinance? Ans. When both Houses of Parliament are not in session. \.Q15. What does the President do when he receives an Ordinary Bill? ‘Ans. He may sign; may not sign; may send it back to the originating Houses with suggestion. In case, it is sent back with or without his recommendations, he has to sign the Bill. Q16. State two financial Powers of the President. Ans. Money Bill cannot be introduced in the Lok Sabha without his recommendation. Appoints a Finance Commission every five years. Q17. Write two judicial powers of the President. Ans. The President is not answerable to any court for the exercise of his powers. He may grant pardon or reduce punishment of prisoners, or No criminal case can be filed against him is any Court during his term of office. Q18. State two discretionary powers of the President. No time limit for the President to sign, or refuse or returns a Bill. When no political party has majority in the Lok Sabha, the President is free to decide whom to appoint as the Prime Minister. Name the three types of emergencies provided by the Indian Constitution. Ans. Qis. ‘Ans, National emergency. President’s Rule in a State Financial emergency. Who can be elected is Vice President of India? Citizen of India. Minimum age 35 years. Must be qualified to be Rajya Sabha MP. How long is the Vice President's term of office? Q20. Qai. ‘Ans. 5 years. He may resign earlier by writing to the President. Q22. Who delivers Oath of Office to the Vice President? Ans. The President. 923. In what way may the Vice President be removed? Ans. By a resolution passed by the Rajya Sabha and accepted by the Lok Sabha, No impeachment of the Vice President, Q24. Who elects the Vice President? Elected MPs of both Houses of Parliament. State two important functions of the Vice President. The usual function is to act as ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Takes over office of the President during his absence, or illness, or death or resignation. 925. Ans.