Politics of India

Political Institutions & Parties

Republic of India

• A federal republic with a parliamentary system of government

• capital: New Delhi

A federal system

• 29 states and 7 centrally administered Union Territories– 2 states are partially claimed by Pakistan and

China

What are union territories?

• A union territory is a type of administrative division in the Republic of India.

• Unlike states, which have their own elected governments, union territories are ruled directly by the Union Government (Central Government), hence the name 'union territory'.

Union Territories in India

1.Andaman and Nicobar Islands2.Chandigarh3.Dadra and Nagar Haveli4.Daman and Diu5.Lakshadweep6.National Capital Territory of Delhi7.Puducherry

Federal system

• Relatively centralized

• federal government controls the most essential government functions– defense– foreign policy– taxation– public expenditures– economic (industrial) planning

Federal system

• state governments formally control– agriculture– education– law and order within states– dependent on central government for funds

Federal system

• considerable center-state conflict when ruling political party in a state is different from national ruling party

Parallel state structure

• Formal political structure of the states parallels that of the national government

• national state

• President Governor

• Prime Minister Chief Minister

• Parliament Assembly

• Supreme Court High Court

Organs of government

• Legislature

• Executive

• Judiciary

The legislature

• Parliamentary system of government– the executive authority is responsible to the

Parliament

The legislature

• bicameral Parliament– Rajya Sabha (Council of States)– Lok Sabha (House of the People)

Rajya Sabha (Council of States)

• The Upper House

Upper House

• Rajya Sabha (Council of States)

• not more than 250 members(currently 245)– 12 are nominated by the President of India– the rest are indirectly elected

• by state Legislative Assemblies

• The Council of States can not be dissolved– members have terms of 6 years– 1/3 members retire at end of every 2nd year

Lok Sabha

• House of the People

Lower House

• Lok Sabha (House of the People)

• 545 members– 2 are appointed by the President of India– the rest are directly elected from single-

member districts

• 5-year terms unless dissolved

• Lok Sabha elects its presiding officer– the Speaker

Lok Sabha

• Elections held at least every 5 years

• Prime Minister may call elections earlier.

Prime Minister

• Leader of the majority party leader in Lok Sabha becomes the prime minister

• prime minister nominates a cabinet– members of Parliament in the ruling coalition– Council of Ministers

• effective power is concentrated in the office of the prime minister– where most of the important policies originate

Prime Ministers of India

• 38 years in the Nehru-Gandhi family

• more and more rapid turnover

The President of India

• Head of the State

• Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces

• elected by an electoral college– national Parliament– state legislature

• 5-year terms

• can be reelected

The President of India

• Ceremonial office– symbolize national unity– supposedly above partisan politics

• mostly acts on the advice of the prime minister

• President plays a significant role when the selection of a prime minister is complex– in 1998 President requested BJP to form govt.

The Judiciary

• Fundamental contradiction in constitution– principle of parliamentary sovereignty– principle of judicial review

The Judiciary

• judiciary tries to preserve the constitution’s basic structure

• to ensure that legislation conforms with the intent of the constitution

• parliament tries to assert its right to amend the constitution