Qualification, Powers, and functions of — President and Vice-president Union Council of Ministers Governor State Council of Ministers

On a Republic Day parade the President takes the salute, yet the decision to reduce a tax, send a Bill to Parliament or appoint an ambassador is made by a Council of Ministers. The Governor of Maharashtra lives in Raj Bhavan, yet the Chief Minister’s office runs the State. So who actually holds executive power, and what can the head of State or the Governor do on their own? Articles 52 to 78 and 153 to 167 answer this, and several Supreme Court cases test the edges.

In two minutes

Executive power is vested formally in the President (Art. 53) and the Governor (Art. 154), but is exercised on the aid and advice of a Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister or Chief Minister (Arts. 74, 163), which is collectively responsible to the lower House.

The rest of this chapter

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