Government: Checks & Balances

Question 1

What are the powers of the legislative over the executive? [3]

Answer 1

1. Impeachment of the president
2. The vote of no confidence - Impeachment of the Council of Ministers [requires a 2/3 majority]
3. Election of president and vice president

Question 2

What are the powers of the legislative over the judiciary? [1]

Answer 2

1. Impeachment of judges - in the event that their actions go against the Constitution

Question 3

What are the powers of the executive over the legislature? [1]

Answer 3

1. Veto power of the president (for bills)

Question 4

What are the powers of the executive over the judiciary? [2]

Answer 4

1. Appointment of judges and Chief Justice of India
2. Pardoning power of the executive (for criminal cases)

Question 5

What are the powers of the judiciary over the executive? [1]

Answer 5

1. Judicial review - is used to check if all the actions of the legislature, and executive are lawful and abide by regulations in regard with the constitution

Question 6

What are the powers of the judiciary over the legislature? [3]

Answer 6

1. Judicial review
2. Doctrine of basic structure
3. Unnameability

Question 7

What does the principle of ‘checks and balances’ mean?
[2]

Answer 7

1. Checks and balances is the principle of government under which separate branches are empowered to prevent actions by other branches and are induced to share power.

Question 8

How does the system of checks and balances fulfill its objective? [2]

Answer 8

1. In practical use, the authority to take a given action rests with one department, while the responsibility to verify the appropriateness and legality of that action rests with another.