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actions approved by the Parliament, it cannot 5. The opposition tries to bring down the
become despotic. government at all times, so this form of
government is unstable.
4. The President (head of the state) does not
belong to any party. All government business 6. Vote-politics (also called dirty politics) is the
is carried in his name, but he has to act on the chief feature of the parliamentary form of
advice of the Council of Ministers. He enjoys government, because the Council of Ministers
some limited powers under certain tries to look after the welfare of its loyal voters,
circumstances. forgetting the common people or national
interests. Most of the times, the ministers allow
5. Since the members in the Parliament are
elected by the people directly, and the Council many unsuitable practices to continue because
of Ministers is responsible to the Parliament, an action against them can make their vote
bank dissatisfied. Thus, petty politics is
the ultimate power lies with the people. This
makes the people aware of their rights. rampant.
7. The principle of separation of power between
6. The Council of Ministers is formed by the party
the legislature and the executive is not
or coalition which enjoys majority, so it seeks
observed in this type of government, as the
to execute the agenda of the party/coalition to
which it belongs. Prime Minister heads both these organs.
Taking into consideration the merits and demerits
Info Bits of the parliamentary form of government, we can
Info Bits
say that this is the most suitable form of
Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the first President of government for India, though it has certain
India. Also, he is the only President to remain in demerits. In this, the Council of Ministers is
office for two terms. Mrs. Pratibha Patil is the first responsible to the legislature, in essence, to the
woman President of India. people; thus, it is a responsible type of
government.
Demerits of Parliamentary Form of
Government Reasons for Choosing Parliamentary Form
of Government in India
The parliamentary form of government is not fully
free from demerits. Some of its demerits are as India is inhabited by the people of different
follows : religions, communities, cultures, races, castes,
languages and regions. Therefore, it was necessary
1. Since the Council of Ministers belongs to the
to bind them all in a common bond of unity.
majority party in the Lok Sabha, it becomes Though the parliamentary form of government
very powerful, sometimes even despotic.
had some demerits, yet it was capable of fulfilling
2. This Council of Ministers is responsible to the the aspirations of the people due to its merits. A
Parliament, and if its actions are rejected by parliamentary form of government is strong,
the Parliament, it has to resign. Thus, this type because the Council of Ministers is formed and
of government is unstable. supported by the majority in the Parliament,
3. Elections are very expensive, both for which in turn is responsible to Parliament. The
President is the head of the state, and he possesses
candidates as well as the nation. In a
parliamentary form of government, elections some powers to stop the Council of Ministers from
have to be held from time to time, which put a becoming despotic.
lot of pressure on the national economy. Just Think!
4. As the ministers can be voted out of office any
time, they can indulge themselves in corrupt Was the parliamentary form of government rightly
practices. chosen for India?
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