The President and the Vice-President
ICSE Class 10 · History & Civics · Chapter 3
What this chapter covers
- The Union Executive and the place of the President
- Qualifications for election as President
- The Electoral College and the method of election
- Reasons for indirect election of the President
- Term of office and procedure for impeachment
- Executive powers of the President
- Legislative powers of the President
- Financial powers of the President
- Judicial powers of the President
- Discretionary powers of the President
- Emergency powers of the President
- The Vice-President
Key points
- The executive power of the Union is vested in the President, but the President acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers; the President is the nominal head and the Council of Ministers the real executive.
- To be President a person must be a citizen of India, at least 35 years old, qualified for election to the Lok Sabha, and must hold no office of profit.
- The Electoral College for the President consists of the elected members of both Houses of Parliament and of the state Legislative Assemblies, including Delhi and Puducherry.
- The President is elected indirectly by proportional representation through the single transferable vote, by secret ballot.
- Indirect election suits a nominal head, avoids a costly nationwide poll, keeps the President above party politics and gives the states a voice.
- The President's term is five years; the President may resign to the Vice-President and is eligible for re-election.
- The President can be impeached only for violation of the Constitution, by a two-thirds majority of the total membership of each House.
- Executive powers include appointing the Prime Minister, ministers, Governors, judges and other high officials, and acting as Supreme Commander of the Defence Forces.
- Legislative powers include summoning and proroguing Parliament, dissolving the Lok Sabha, assent to bills, the suspensive and pocket veto, and issuing ordinances.
- Financial powers include the recommendation of Money Bills, laying the Budget, control of the Contingency Fund and appointing the Finance Commission.
- Judicial powers include appointing judges, seeking the Supreme Court's advice, and granting pardon, commutation, remission, respite and reprieve.
- Discretionary powers are used mainly when no party has a clear majority in the Lok Sabha.
- The three emergencies are National Emergency (Article 352), President's Rule (Article 356) and Financial Emergency (Article 360), each with its own grounds, approval and effects.
- The Vice-President must be a citizen, at least 35, qualified for the Rajya Sabha and holding no office of profit, and is elected by all members of both Houses of Parliament.
- The Vice-President serves five years, resigns to the President, and is removed by a resolution of the Rajya Sabha agreed to by the Lok Sabha.
Questions answered
State any three qualifications for election as President of India.
A candidate must be a citizen of India, must have completed 35 years of age, must be qualified for election as a member of the Lok Sabha, and must not hold any office of profit under the government. Any three of these are correct.
Describe the composition of the Electoral College that elects the President.
It consists of the elected members of both Houses of Parliament and the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of the states, including Delhi and Puducherry. Nominated members and members of Legislative Councils are not included.
Give two reasons why the President of India is elected indirectly.
The President is only a nominal head, so a directly elected President with a popular mandate could become a rival centre of power to the Prime Minister. A nationwide direct election for a mainly ceremonial office would also be very costly. Other valid reasons are that indirect election keeps the President above party politics and preserves the federal character through the votes of state legislators.
What is the term of office of the President? To whom does the President address a letter of resignation?
Five years from the date of entering office, and the President continues until the successor takes office. The letter of resignation is addressed to the Vice-President.
On what ground can the President be impeached? Outline the procedure.
The only ground is violation of the Constitution. The charge is brought in either House by a notice signed by at least one-fourth of its total members after 14 days' notice, and must be passed by two-thirds of its total membership. The other House investigates, with the President entitled to appear or be represented, and if it also passes the resolution by two-thirds of its total membership, the President is removed from that date.
Name two executive and two legislative powers of the President.
Executive: appointing the Prime Minister and, on the Prime Minister's advice, other ministers; and acting as Supreme Commander of the Defence Forces. Legislative: summoning and proroguing Parliament and dissolving the Lok Sabha; and giving assent to bills or issuing ordinances.
What is an ordinance? How long can it remain in force after Parliament reassembles?
An ordinance is a temporary law issued by the President when Parliament is not in session and immediate action is needed. It ceases to operate six weeks after Parliament reassembles unless Parliament replaces it with a law.
State two financial powers of the President.
A Money Bill can be introduced only on the President's recommendation, and the Contingency Fund of India is at the President's disposal. The President also causes the Union Budget to be laid before Parliament and appoints the Finance Commission every five years.
Past board exam questions
ICSE 2027 sample paper · 2 marks
Which category of power is being exercised by the President in the following? (a) Appointment of Cabinet ministers (b) Approval of a Money Bill
Show answer
(a) Appointment of Cabinet ministers – Executive power.
(b) Approval (prior recommendation) of a Money Bill – Financial power.
ICSE 2027 sample paper · 3 marks
The President is the nominal head of the executive and the first citizen of the country. With reference to this statement, answer the following questions: Mention any three legislative powers of the President which justify his nominal position.
Show answer
The President exercises these powers on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. Any three:
1. Summons and prorogues the sessions of Parliament and can dissolve the Lok Sabha.
2. Addresses the first session of Parliament after each general election and at the start of each year, and can send messages to Parliament.
3. Gives assent to Bills passed by Parliament; a Bill becomes law only after his assent.
4. Promulgates ordinances when Parliament is not in session.
5. Nominates 12 members to the Rajya Sabha.
6. Gives prior sanction for introducing Money Bills and Bills on the formation or alteration of States; can call a joint session of Parliament.
ICSE 2027 sample paper · 3 marks
The President is the nominal head of the executive and the first citizen of the country. With reference to this statement, answer the following questions: Mention any three points to enumerate the financial powers vested in the President of India.
Show answer
Any three:
1. A Money Bill can be introduced in Parliament only with the prior recommendation of the President.
2. The Annual Financial Statement (Budget) is laid before Parliament on behalf of the President.
3. He can authorise advances out of the Contingency Fund of India to meet unforeseen expenditure.
4. He appoints the Finance Commission every five years to recommend the distribution of taxes between the Union and the States.
(The specimen's marking scheme says 'Consolidated Fund of India' for point 3; advances are drawn from the Contingency Fund.)
ICSE 2026 board paper · 1 mark
Given below are the details of a few Indian Citizens. | Person | Age (In years) | Description | |---|---|---| | W | 30 | Is an army officer | | X | 25 | Is a Union Leader | | Y | 34 | Is a school Principal | | Z | 69 | Is a retired Professor | Select the one who is eligible to be a Vice President.
- X
- W
- Y
- Z
Show answer
Z
ICSE 2026 board paper · 1 mark
The rule mentioned in the headline below can be proclaimed in a state on the recommendation of ___________. Headline (Indian Express): "Punjab is in for President's rule"
- The President
- The Vice President
- The Governor
- The Chief Justice of India
Show answer
The Governor
ICSE 2026 sample paper · 3 marks
The President is the nominal head of the executive and the first citizen of the country. With reference to this, answer the following questions: The President is the nominal head of the country and cannot act independently. Mention any three legislative powers of the President which justify the nominal position.
Show answer
The President exercises these legislative powers on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers (any three):
1. Summons and prorogues the sessions of Parliament and can dissolve the Lok Sabha.
2. Addresses the first session of Parliament after a general election and the first session each year, and can send messages to Parliament.
3. Gives assent to Bills passed by Parliament to make them law.
4. Promulgates ordinances when Parliament is not in session.
5. Nominates 12 members to the Rajya Sabha.
6. Gives prior sanction for the introduction of Money Bills and Bills on the formation or alteration of States; summons a joint sitting of both Houses.
ICSE 2026 sample paper · 4 marks
The President is the nominal head of the executive and the first citizen of the country. With reference to this, answer the following questions: Describe the constitutional procedure to remove the President.
Show answer
The President is removed by impeachment for violation of the Constitution:
1. The charge can be introduced in either House of Parliament, by a resolution signed by at least one-fourth of its members after 14 days' notice.
2. The resolution must be passed by a two-thirds majority of the total membership of that House and is then sent to the other House.
3. The other House investigates the charges; the President has the right to appear and be represented during the investigation.
4. If the second House also passes the resolution by a two-thirds majority of its total membership, the President stands removed (impeached) from the date of the resolution.
ICSE 2026 board paper · 2 marks
Mention any two reasons for the indirect election of the President.
Show answer
1. A direct election by the whole electorate of India would be extremely costly and time-consuming.
2. The President is only the nominal (constitutional) head; real power lies with the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers. A directly elected President might claim a popular mandate and become a rival centre of power.
(Also: the electoral college of elected MPs and MLAs makes the President a representative of both the Union and the States.)