The Indian Government

The Republic of India follows a parliamentary democratic system of government, and is comprised of 28 states and seven territories. Of all the independent countries in the world, India has the distinction of having the longest and the most detailed constitution. This constitution was implemented on January 26, 1950, and it defines the country as a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic. In terms of structure, the country has a two party parliamentary system, which is largely based on the Westminster model. While traditionally a country that was comprised of a single powerful state along with a few lesser satellite states, the years beginning in the 90s has seen a shift towards a system more akin to federalism, mainly due to various political, economic and social developments.

The Republic of India is headed by a President who is elected to power by an electoral college for a term of five years and is designated the head of the state. It is the Prime Minister however who is designated the head of the government, and is the one who wields most of the executive authority. Nevertheless, it is the responsibility of the President to appoint the Prime Minister, who is traditionally endorsed by the majority party of the lower house of Parliament. The country’s executive branch is made up of the President, a Vice-President, and a Council of Ministers that is governed by the Prime Minister. The Cabinet serves as the executive committee for this Council of Ministers.

Under the rules of the house of parliament, a minister that is in possession of a portfolio is required to choose allegiance to one of both houses. The parliamentary system is set up in such a way that the executive is answerable to the legislature, and the Prime Minister along with the Council members are in fact subordinates of the lower house.

The legislature or the bicameral Parliament is comprised of the Council of States, which is designated the upper house, and the House of People, which is designated the lower house. These houses are known as Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha respectively. The Council of States is comprised of a permanent body of members numbering 245, all of whom remain in office for a period of six years. Most of these representatives are elected into office by the state and by legislation that is reflective of the population of their respective states. The House of the People’s representatives on the other hand are elected to 5 year periods, with 543 members being elected by vote, and the remaining two left to the discretion of the President. These two members are drawn from the Anglo-Indian community if the President feels that there is a lack of representation for that particular community.