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The Cabinet - Coggle Diagram
The Cabinet
The Prime minister
Powers and duties
PM and cabinet
If the Prime minister resigns or loses support of the majority in the house, then the entire government has to resign
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He allocates the different portfolios of the ministers and assigns their ranks. He can transfer a minister or force him to resign
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PM and President
The President, on the advice of the Prime minister, appoints as well as dismisses the members of the council of ministers. All major appointments are done in the same way
He advises the president when to summon and prorogue the houses of the Parliament and dissolve the Lok sabha
He informs the president about all the decisions of the council of ministers relating to the administration and legislation. He is a link between the President and the cabinet
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Though the Prime minister is the head of the government, he is answerable to the parliament and through it to the people of the country. He is responsible for the lapses and the failure of the policies of his government.
Checks on his authority
Though he is the leader of the ruling party, he still needs to secure the support of his ministers. He is closely watched not only by the opposition but also by members of his own party. Questions raised by the opposition act as an effective check on the Prime ministers authority.
If his ego assumes dictatorial proportions, he cannot escape censure at the hands of the Parliament and of course, at the hands of the electorate in the next general elections
Composition
The Prime minister prepares a list of his colleagues from among the members of the parliament to be appointed as ministers and the President is obliged to appoint them as such
If a non- member is appointed as a minister, he must be elected to either house of the parliament within 6 months or he will have to resign
If no single political party secures an absolute majority, the president can excercise a bit of discretion and can appoint only smeone who can prove that he has the support of some other smaller groups and thus has a majority in the house.
Appointment
The Prime minister and the council of ministers are appointed by the President and hold office during the pleasure of the president.
However, the president is not free in the appointment of either the prime minister or the council of ministers
The leader of the political party securing absolute majority in the Lok sabha is appointed by the President as the prime minister and he has no discretion in this regard
Categories of ministers
Cabinet Ministers
They are the most important members of the Council of ministers. They are full- fledged ministers who hold important portfolios
Ministers of State
These ministers may or may not hold an independent charge of a portfolio. The Prime minister may or may not consult them
Deputy Ministers
These ministers assist the Cabinet ministers and the Council of ministers. They take no part in cabinet deliberations
Functions
Administrative
Decisions on issues like defence and internal security, economic policy, industrial policy, imports and trade, peacekeeping requirements, electoral reforms are by the cabinet
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The cabinet is the policy framing organ of the government. It thus frames governmental policies, both external and domestic
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Term of Office
The Prime Minister and the council of ministers are directly responsible to the Lok Sabha and can remain office so long as they enjoy the majority support in the House of the people. When a vote of no confidence is passed against the council of minister, they have to resign collectively.