The Union Executive Questions and Answers AP Inter 2nd Year Civics Chapter 3

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Reviewing AP Inter 2nd Year Civics Study Material Chapter 3 The Union Executive Questions and Answers can help students prepare confidently for exams.

AP Inter 2nd Year Civics 3rd Lesson The Union Executive Questions and Answers

Very Short Answer Questions

Question 1.
Composition of Union Executive.
Answer:
Composition of Union Executive:

  1. The President
  2. The Vice-President
  3. The Prime Minister
  4. The Council of Ministers and
  5. The Attorney-General of India.
    This Union Executive is as per Articles 52 to 78.

Question 2.
Qualifications required to contest for the office of the President.
Answer:
The qualifications required to contest for the office of the President of India :
The contestant

  1. should be a citizen of India.
  2. should have completed the age of 35 years.
  3. should be qualified for election as a member of the Lok Sabha.

Question 3.
Election of President.
Answer:
The President of India is elected indirectly by an Electoral College :
Composition of Electoral College:

  1. The elected members of both Houses of Parliament
  2. The elected members of Legislative Assemblies of the States.
  3. The elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of the Union Territories.

Question 4.
Name any four Presidents of India.
Answer:
Four Presidents of India:

  1. Dr. Rajendra Prasad – First President of India (1950-1962)
  2. Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan – Second President of India (1962-1967)
  3. Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam – Eleventh President of India (2002-2007)
  4. Smt. Droupadi Murmu- Fifteenth President of India (2022 onwards)

Question 5.
Qualifications required to contest for the office of the Vice-President.
Answer:
The qualifications required to contest for the office of the Vice-President of India :
The contestant

  1. should be a citizen of India.
  2. should have completed the age of 35 years.
  3. should be qualified for election as a member of the Rajya Sabha.
  4. should not hold any office of profit under the Union, State, or local Governments in India.

Question 6.
Categories of Union Council of Ministers.
Answer:
Categories of Union Council of Ministers:

  1. Cabinet ministers
  2. Ministers of State (Independent charge)
  3. Deputy ministers (Without independent charge)

The Union Executive Questions and Answers AP Inter 1st Year Civics Chapter 3

Question 7.
Collective Responsibility.
Answer:

  • Collective responsibility is the he fundamental principle of the parliamentary system.
  • As per Article 75(3) of the Constitution, the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. This means that all ministers are jointly responsible to the Lok Sabha for every action or failure of the government.

Short Answer Questions

Question 1.
Explain the powers and functions of the Vice-President.
Answer:
The powers and functions of the Vice-President are two-fold:

1. Ex-Officio Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha:

  • The Vice-President is the ex-officio Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha. In this capacity, his/ her powers and functions are similar to those of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

2. Acting as the President:

  • The Vice-President acts as the President when a vacancy occurs in the office of the President due to death, resignation removal, or any other reason. This can be done for a maximum period of six months, within which a new President must be elected.
  • When the President is unable to discharge duties due to absence, illness, or any other reason, the Vice President performs the functions of the President until the President resumes office. During this period, the Vice President does not act as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Instead, the duties of the Chairman are performed by the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

Question 2.
Write briefly the role of the Prime Minister in relation to the Parliament of India.
Answer:

  • The Prime Minister (PM) is the most important and powerful functionary in the Union Government.
  • The President is the nominal executive, while the Prime Minister is the real executive authority. In other words, the President is the head of the State, whereas the Prime Minister is the head of the Government.

Role of Prime Minister in relation to the Parliament:
The Prime Minister (PM) is the leader of the House.

In this capacity PM enjoys the following powers:

  1. PM advises the President regarding the summoning and postponing of Parliament.
  2. PM can recommend the dissolution of Lok Sabha to the President at any time.
  3. PM acts as the chief spokesperson of the government in Parliament, announcing and explaining policies.
  4. PM defends and justifies the decisions of the government on the floor of the House.
  5. PM answers questions, participates in debates, and ensures discipline and unity among members of the ruling party or coalition in the House.

Question 3.
Discuss the constitutional provisions for the imposition of National Emergency and Constitutional Emergency in India.
Answer:
1. National Emergency (Article 352):
The President can declare a National Emergency if the security of India or any part thereof is threatened by war, external aggression, or armed rebellion.

  • The President can proclaim an emergency only on the basis of the written advice of the Union Cabinet headed by the Prime Minister.
  • It must be approved by both Houses of Parliament within one month.
  • Once approved by both Houses, the emergency remains in force for six months.
  • During this period, the Centre gets more powers, and Fundamental Rights may be suspended (except Articles 20 and 21).

2. Constitutional Emergency/President’s Rule (Article 356)

  • The President’s Rule is also known as Constitutional Emergency or State Emergency.
  • It is imposed when a state government cannot function according to the Constitution.
  • The President can act either on a report of the Governor of the State or otherwise too.
  • It must be approved by both Houses of Parliament within two months.
  • It can be imposed for six months at a time and extended up to a maximum of three years.
  • The State government is dismissed and the Governor administers the state on behalf of the Centre.

Long Answer Questions

Question 1.
Write any four executive powers and any four legislative powers of the President of India.
Answer:
I. Executive powers of the President of India (Article 53):

The President is the formal head of the Union Executive, and all executive actions of the Government of India are taken in his/her name.

These powers include the authority to appoint the following:

  1. The Prime Minister of India (Article 75(1)) and, on his advice, other Ministers of the Union Council of Ministers (Article 75).
  2. The Attorney General of India (Article 76).
  3. Judges of the Supreme Court (Article 124) and Judges of the High Courts (Article 217)
  4. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (Article 148).
  5. Governors of States (Article 155).
  6. Administrators of Union Territories, including Lieutenant Governors (Article 239).

II. Legislative Powers(Article 79):

The President is an integral part of Parliament. Though not a member of either House, the President exercises significant legislative powers as follows:

  1. The President summons and postpones the Parliament and can dissolve the Lok Sabha. (Article 85)
  2. He/she may summon a joint sitting of both Houses in case of a deadlock, which is presided over by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. (Article 108)
  3. He/she addresses the first session of Parliament after each general election and the first session of every year, outlining the government’s policies.
  4. He/she nominates 12 members to the Rajya Sabha from persons distinguished in Literature, Science, Art, and Social Service. (Article 80).
  5. He/she decides on questions of disqualification of MPs under Articles 102-103, but is bound by the opinion of the Election Commission of India.

The Union Executive Questions and Answers AP Inter 1st Year Civics Chapter 3

Question 2.
Explain briefly the Powers and Functions of the Union Cabinet.
Answer:

  • Cabinet Ministers (Union Cabinet) are the senior members of the Council of Ministers in the Union Government.
  • They are appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.
  • Cabinet Ministers hold important departments like Defence, Finance, Home, and External Affairs.
  • They help in making major policies and decisions of the government.

Powers and Functions of the Union Cabinet

1. Policy-Making Functions

  • It is the chief policy-formulating body, deciding both domestic and foreign policies of the Union Government.
  • It determines and directs foreign policy and foreign affairs under the leadership of Prime Minister.

2. Legislative Functions:

  • It plays a central role in piloting government bills in Parliament and ensuring the passage.
  • When Parliament is not in session and urgent legislation is required, the Cabinet advises the President to promulgate an ordinance under Article 123.

3. Executive Functions:

  • It is the highest decision-making authority in India’s politico-administrative system
  • It acts as the supreme executive authority of the Union Government.
  • It serves as the chief coordinator of the Union administration, ensuring harmony among ministries and departments.
  • It exercises control over higher appointments, including constitutional authorities, senior bureaucrats, and heads of public institutions (through Cabinet Committees).

4. Financial Functions

  • It is the chief financial authority of the Union Government.
  • It finalizes the annual Union Budget after detailed discussions and presents it in Parliament in the name of the President.

5. Advisory Functions

  • Under Article 74, it renders binding advice to the President in the exercise of his/her functions.

6. Crisis-Management Functions

  • It acts as the chief crisis manager, taking decisions during national emergencies. Security threats, economic crises, and natural calamities such as floods, famines earthquakes, or cyclones.

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1.
Who among the following is appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister?
1. Vice-President
2. Chief Justice of India
3. Council of Ministers
4. Advocate-General
Answer:
3. Council of Ministers

Question 2.
Who inquires into and decides disputes relating to the election of the President?
1. Election Commission of India
2. Parliament
3. Supreme Court of India
4. Lok Sabha
Answer:
3. Supreme Court of India

Question 3.
Who can participate in the impeachment of the President though they cannot participate in his/her election?
1. Elected members of State Legislative Assemblies
2. Nominated members of Rajya Sabha
3. Members of State Legislative Councils
4. Nominated members of State Assemblies
Answer:
2. Nominated members of Rajya Sabha

Question 4.
The provision for nomination of Anglo-Indian members to the Lok Sabha by the President was abolished by
1. 101st Constitutional Amendment
2. 102nd Constitutional Amendment
3. 103rd Constitutional Amendment
4. 104th Constitutional Amendment
Answer:
4. 104th Constitutional Amendment

Question 5.
The President has no veto power with respect to
1. Money Bills
2. Constitutional Amendment Bills
3. State Reorganisation Bills
4. Private Members’ Bills
Answer:
2. Constitutional Amendment Bills

Question 6.
The Annual Financial Statement (Union Budget) is laid before Parliament under
1. Article 110
2. Article 112
3. Article 117
4. Article 280
Answer:
2. Article 112

Question 7.
Collective responsibility of the Council of Ministers to the Lok Sabha is provided under which Article?
1. Article 74(1)
2. Article 75(3)
3. Article 77(1)
4. Article 78
Answer:
2. Article 75(3)

The Union Executive Questions and Answers AP Inter 1st Year Civics Chapter 3

Question 8.
Who said: “The Prime Minister is first among equals”?
1. Ramsay Muir
2. Munro
3. Lord Morley
4. Ivar Jennings
Answer:
3. Lord Morley

Fill in the Blanks

Question 1.
The constitutional head of the State at the national level is ____________
Answer:
President of India

Question 2.
The process of removal of the President before completion of tenure is called ____________
Answer:
Impeachment.

Question 3.
The Vice-President is the ex-officio Chairman of ____________
Answer:
Rajya Sabha

Question 4.
The Prime Minister of India is appointed by ____________
Answer:
President of India

Question 5.
The President may seek advisory opinion of the Supreme Court under Article ____________
Answer:
143

Question 6.
According to the 91 st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003, the total number of Minister in the Council of Ministers cannot exceed ____________
Answer:
15% of the total strength of Lok Sabha

One Word Answer

Question 1.
If both the offices of President and Vice-President are vacant, who discharges the functions of President?
Answer:
Chief Justice of India

Question 2.
Which Article empowers the President to appoint the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG)?
Answer:
Article 148

Question 3.
Who presides over a joint sitting of Parliament summoned by the President?
Answer:
Speaker of the Lok Sabha

Question 4.
Who appoints the Finance Commission of India?
Answer:
President of India

Question 5.
Under which Article can the President impose President’s Rule in a State?
Answer:
Article 356

The Union Executive Questions and Answers AP Inter 1st Year Civics Chapter 3

Question 6.
Who administers the oath of office to the Vice-President of India?
Answer:
President of India