Chapter 20 Prime Minister

1. Who is the nominal executive authority and who is the real executive authority in India’s parliamentary system?

2. Who is the head of the State and who is the head of the government?

3. Does the Constitution specify a procedure for the selection and appointment of the Prime Minister?

4. What does Article 75 state regarding the appointment of the Prime Minister?

5. What is the convention for the President’s appointment of the Prime Minister when a party has a clear majority in the Lok Sabha?

6. When can the President exercise personal discretion in the selection and appointment of the Prime Minister?

7. In a situation where no party has a clear majority, whom does the President usually appoint as Prime Minister?

8. When was the President’s discretion first exercised in appointing the Prime Minister?

9. What other situation may require the President to exercise individual judgment in appointing the Prime Minister?

10. What happened when Indira Gandhi was assassinated in 1984 regarding the appointment of the Prime Minister?

11. What is the President’s choice if the ruling party elects a new leader upon the death of an incumbent Prime Minister?

12. What did the Delhi High Court rule in 1980 regarding the Prime Minister’s majority in the Lok Sabha?

13. What did the Supreme Court rule in 1996 regarding the appointment of a person not a member of Parliament as Prime Minister?

14. Can the Prime Minister be a member of either House of Parliament?

15. Who administers the oaths of office and secrecy to the Prime Minister?

her oath of office?

her oath of secrecy?

18. Is the term of the Prime Minister fixed?

19. Can the President dismiss the Prime Minister at any time?

20. What happens if the Prime Minister loses the confidence of the Lok Sabha?

21. Who determines the salary and allowances of the Prime Minister?

22. What are the powers and functions of the Prime Minister in relation to the Council of Ministers?

23. What happens to the Council of Ministers if the Prime Minister resigns or dies?

24. What are the powers and functions of the Prime Minister in relation to the President?

25. What are the powers and functions of the Prime Minister in relation to Parliament?

26. What are the other powers and functions of the Prime Minister?

27. How did Dr. B.R. Ambedkar compare the Indian Prime Minister to the US President?

28. What does Lord Morely describe the Prime Minister as?

29. How did Herbert Marrison describe the Prime Minister’s position?

30. How did Sir William Vernor Harcourt describe the Prime Minister?

31. How did Jennings describe the Prime Minister’s role?

32. How did H.J. Laski describe the Prime Minister’s relationship with the cabinet?

33. How did H.R.G. Greaves describe the Prime Minister’s role?

34. How did Munro describe the Prime Minister?

35. How did Ramsay Muir describe the Prime Minister?

36. Which Article deals with the Council of Ministers to aid and advise President?

37. Which Article deals with Other provisions as to Ministers?

38. Which Article deals with the Conduct of business of the Government of India?

39. Which Article deals with Duties of Prime Minister as respects the furnishing of information to the President?

40. Which Article deals with Rights of Ministers as respects the Houses?

41. How many Chief Ministers have become Prime Ministers in India?

42. Who was the first non-Congress Prime Minister who was also a Chief Minister before?

43. Does the Constitution of India contain any provision for a caretaker government?

44. What is the meaning of a caretaker government?

45. What is the limited role of a caretaker government?

46. What did the Tarkunde Committee (1974–75) recommend regarding the caretaker government’s actions?

47. What did the Calcutta High Court observe in December 1979 regarding a caretaker government?

48. What are the two reasons why caretaker Prime Ministers are constrained?