The constitution of India provides for a parliamentary system of government, Both at the Centre and in the state. Articles 74 and 75 deal with the parliamentary system at the Centre and articles 163 and 164 in the states. Modern democratic government are classified into parliamentary system and presidential system on the basic of nature of relation between the legislative and the executive organs of government The parliamentary system of government is the one in which the executive is responsible to the legislature o its policies and acts. Parliament of India – Wikipedia the parliamentary government is also known as cabinet government or responsible government or Westminster model of government and is prevalent in Britain, Japan, Canada, India among others.
Lvor Jennings called the parliamentary system as ‘Cabinet system’ because the cabinet is the nucleus of power in a parliamentary government is also known as ‘responsible government’ as the cabinet (the real executive) is accountable to the parliament and stays in offices so long as it enjoys the latter’s confidence It is described as ‘Westminster model of government’ after the location of the British parliament, where the parliamentary system originated. In the past, the British constitutional and political experts described the prime minister as ‘primus inter Pares’ (first among equals) in relation to the cabinet.
In the recent period, the prime minister’s power, influence and position have increased significantly vis-a-vis the cabinet. He has come to play a ‘dominant’ role in the British politico-administrative system.
Hence the later political analysis, like Crossman, mackintosh and others have as ‘prime ministerial government’. The same description holds goods in the Indian context too.
Feature of parliamentary system government in India
- Nominal and real executive
President is the nominal executive while the prime minister is the real executive. thus, the president is the head of the state, while the prime minister is head of the government. Article 74 provides for a council of minister headed by the prime minister to aid and advice the president in the exercise of his functions. The advice so tendered is binding on the president.
- Majority party rule
The political party which secures majority seats in the Lok Sabha forms the government. The leader of the party is appointed as the prime minister by the president and other ministers are appointed by the president on the advice single party gets the majority, a coalition of form the government.
- Collective responsibility
This the bedrock principle of parliamentary government. The minister is collectively responsible to the parliament in general and to the Lok Sabha in particular (article 75). They act as a team, and swim and sink together. The principle of collective responsibility implies that the Lok Sabha can remove the ministry (i.e., council of ministers headed by the prime minister) from office by passing a vote of no confidence.
- Political homogeneity
Usually, members of the council of ministers belong to the same political party and hence they share the same political ideology. In case of coalition government, the ministers are bound by consensus.
- Double membership
The ministers are member of both the legislature and the executive. This means that a person cannot be a minister without being a member of the parliament. The constitution stipulates that a minister who is not a member of the parliament for a period of six consecutive months ceases to be a minister.
- Leadership of the prime minister
The prime minister plays the leadership role in this parliamentary system of government. He is the leader of council of ministers, leader of the parliament and leader of the party in power. In these capacities, he plays a significant and highly crucial role in the functioning of the government.
- Dissolution of the lower house
The lower house of the parliament (Lok Sabha) can be dissolved by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister. (in other words, the prime minister can advise the president to dissolve the Lok Sabha before the expiry of its term and hold fresh election) This means that the executive enjoys the right to get the legislature dissolved in a parliamentary system.
- Secrecy
The ministers operate on the principle of secrecy of procedure and cannot divulge information about their proceedings, policies and decisions. they take the oath of secrecy before entering their office. the oath of secrecy to the ministers is administered by the president.