The Prime Minister is the executive head of the country. With reference to the Prime Minister and his Cabinet, answer the following questions:
(i) On whose advice are the Cabinet Ministers appointed? Name the other two categories of the Council of Ministers.
(ii) What is meant by the term collective responsibility of the Council of Ministers?
(iii) The Prime Minister is central to the life of the Cabinet.
Justify this statement by mentioning any four powers of the Prime Minister with reference to the Cabinet.
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(i) The Cabinet Ministers are appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister selects his/her senior and trustworthy colleagues and advises the President to appoint them.
The other two categories of the Council of Ministers are Ministers of State and Deputy Ministers.
(ii) Under Article 75(3) of the Constitution, the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. The principle of collective responsibility implies the following:
- The decisions taken in the meetings of the Cabinet are equally applicable to all the Ministers, even though they may differ among themselves on a particular policy.
- All Ministers jointly share the responsibility for the government's policies and performance. They must function as a team in supporting and defending government policies inside as well as outside Parliament.
- A Vote of No-Confidence against one Minister is a vote against the whole Ministry. A Ministry that has lost the confidence of the Lok Sabha has to resign.
(iii) The Prime Minister is central to the life of the Cabinet because of the following powers:
- Leader of the Cabinet — The Prime Minister is the head of the Cabinet. The Constitution makes no provision for the appointment of different categories of Ministers, so it is the Prime Minister who decides these matters.
- Power to Select and Dismiss Ministers — The Prime Minister chooses the Ministers and recommends their names to the President. He/She can also ask an erring Minister to resign.
- Power to Allocate Portfolios and Reshuffle the Council of Ministers — It is the Prime Minister who allocates departments or portfolios to the Ministers and he/she can reshuffle the Council of Ministers whenever he/she pleases.
- Power to Direct and Coordinate Policy — The Prime Minister coordinates the working of the various departments so that administration is carried on smoothly. Moreover, the Prime Minister's resignation implies the resignation of the whole Cabinet.