Parliament of India

PARLIAMENT OF INDIA

Under the Constitution of India, the President enjoys dual official position. On the one hand the executive power of the Union is vested in the President and -Tt the same time he is an integral part of the Parliament. The relationship between the iwo is determined on the basis of the dual position of the President. Both authorities have certain obli­gations and powers with respect to each other under various pro isions of the Constitution; which are explained below :

Parliament’s Powers and Res­ponsibilities witli Respect to the President

(1)    The elected members of the Parliament participate in the election of the President along with the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of the States. It should be noted that the total value of the voles of all the members of Parliament is equal to the total value of the votes of all the Legislative Assemblies of the States. This arrangement has been made keeping in view the federal nature of our political system. Thus, .he Parliament has an important role in the election of the President.

(2)   The Parliament has the power to remove the President from his office by passing an Impeachment Motion, supported by not less than two-thirds majority oi the total mem­bership in each House separately in the same session of the Parliament. The Impeachment Motion may be introduced in either Mouse of Parlia­ment on the giound of violation of the Constitution.

(3)   The Declaration of any kind of Emergency by the President under Articles 352, 356 or 3f>0 cannot remain in force if not’ approved by the Parliament within the stipulated period. Thus the Parliament has an important role in the election and removal of the President.

B) President’s Powers and Res­ponsibilities with Respect to the Parliament

The President also has certain powers and functions with respect to Parliament, which are given below :

(1)   The President dissolves the Lok Sabha on the advice of the Coun­cil of Ministers and nominates ‘wo members of Anglo-Indian community in the Lok Sabha and 12 members in the Rajya Sabha.

(2)   The President addresses the first joint meeting of the two Houses after each General election and the first joint meeting at the beginning of each year.

(3)   The President may send mes­sages to each House of Parliament with respect to any matter pending before the Parliament.