President and Vice-President

Question 1

President

Answer 1

1) Executive and constitutional head of the parliament
2) Head of State and supreme commander of the Defense Forces of India
3) Exercises his power directly or through officers of the Union in accordance with the Constitution
4) Exercises his power on advice of the Prime minister and the Council of Ministers

Question 2

Qualifications of President for Election

Answer 2

1) Indian citizen having completed 35 years of age

2) Qualified for election as a member of the Lok Sabha

Question 3

Criteria for Ineligibility for Election as President

Answer 3

1) Holds an office of profit under the Government of India or any other State or any local authority

Question 4

Process of Presidential Election

Answer 4

1) Elected indirectly by an electoral college, in accordance with the system of proportional representation by single transferrable vote.
2) Voting is by secret ballot

Question 5

Composition of Electoral College of President

Answer 5

1) elected members of both houses of the Parliament
2) Elected members of Legislative assemblies of the States incl. NCR and Puducherry
3) Nominated members of either houses are not eligible to be included

Question 6

Reasons for indirect election of President

Answer 6

1) If directly elected, could become a rival center of power to the council of ministers - would be against the parliamentary system with ministerial responsibility
2) Election by merely a majority of members of the union parliament could make him a nominee of the ruling party like the prime minister, as membership in the houses is dominated by one party - cannot represent the constituent states of the Union

Question 7

Term of Office of President

Answer 7

1) five years from the date on which he enters his office

2) Shall continue to hold his office notwithstanding the expiry of his term till his successor takes charge

Question 8

Vacation of Presidential Office

Answer 8

1) Submit a resignation letter to the Vice-President to resign from his office
2) such resignation will be communicated to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha by the Vice-President
3) May be impeached, for violation of the Constitution on a charge leveraged by either house of the Parliament

Question 9

Procedure for impeachment

Answer 9

Either house of Parliament can level a charge by:

1) a resolution which is moved after 14 days notice in writing, signed by atleast 1/4th of the total members of the house
2) passed by a majority of not les than 2/3rds of the total membership of the house
3) such a charge is then investigated by the other house - president has the right to appear and be represented at the investigation
4) If as a result of the investigation, a resolution is passed by atleast 2/3rd membership of the house declaring sustenance of such a charge, the resolution has the effect of impeaching the President

Question 10

Powers of the President

Answer 10

1) Executive powers
2) Legislative powers
3) Discretionary powers
4) Emergency powers