KNC501/KNC601 Constitution of India, Law and Engineering
Chapter 4: President of India
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 3
Unit 4
Unit 5
Appendix
Comparison of powers of Indian President with the United States
S. No. | Indian President | American President |
1. | He is only a figurehead. The real executive power is vested in the Prime Minister. | He is real head of the executive. |
2. | He appoints Prime Minister, leader of the majority. Only the advice of the Prime Minister, he appoints other ministers. In appointing the Ministers, he has been no choice, discretion. | The members of the cabinet are nominated by the President. Then they are called secretaries, not Ministers. |
3. | He is bound to follow the advice of the cabinet. | He is not bound to follow the advice of the cabinet. The President is Boss and Secretaries are his subordinates. |
4. | The Cabinet makes the laws. The assent of the President is necessary. | The President is not a member of legislature. It is the duty of the Congress to make the laws. |
5. | He has been no vote power. | He has been veto power. |
6. | He can dissolve the “Loka Sabha” only the advice of the Cabinet. | He cannot dissolve Legislature. |
7. | The term of office is 5 years. | The term of office is 4 years. |
8. | Immunity: No criminal cases can be instituted against the President. Civil proceedings can be instituted against President, after giving a statutory notice u/s 80 of Civil Procedure Code. There is no immunity to civil proceedings. | Immunity: there is no such immunity to American President, either civil or criminal proceedings. e.g., Water Gate case against Nixon, Monica’s case against Bill Clinton, etc. |
9. | He is elected by indirect election by a special process known as “Electoral College”. | He is elected by direct elections. |
10. | President represents Parliamentary Democracy. | American President represents Presidential Democracy. |
11. | He is not too strong not too weak. A balanced position is given to him. | He is very strong. |
12. | The President of India possesses the equal characteristics of the King of Britain. | The President of America combines in himself the functions of the King and the Prime Minister of England. |
13. | If the Bill is defeated, the Council of Ministers should resign. | If the Bill is defeated, neither the President nor the Congress should resign. |
14. | No Spoils system– Indian President has been no power to appoint administrative services of his choice. There is a separate of “Union Public Service” to appoint the Administrative Officers. | Spoils system: The American President can appoint 20% of the administrative services of his own choice. |
15. | A person may be re-elected for many times. | A person cannot function for more than 2 terms of office. |