Q. In the context of India, which of the following principles is/are implied institutionally in the parliamentary government?

  1. Members of the Cabinet are Members of the Parliament.
  2. Ministers hold the office till they enjoy confidence in the Parliament.
  3. Cabinet is headed by the Head of the State.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

  • 1 and 2 only
  • 3 only
  • 2 and 3 only
  • 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only

Features of Parliamentary Government
  • Nominal and Real Executives: The President is the nominal executive (also known as the de jure or titular executive), whereas the Prime Minister is the real executive (de facto executive). As a result, the President is the President of the State, whereas the Prime Minister is the Prime Minister of the Government.
  • Double Membership: The Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers serve as the executive, while the Parliament serves as the legislature. Members of parliament elect the Prime Minister and ministers, meaning that the executive comes from the legislative.
  • Collective Responsibility: The executive has a collective responsibility to the legislative. There is a collective responsibility, which means that each minister’s responsibilities are shared by the entire Council.
  • Secrecy of procedure: A requirement of this type of administration is that cabinet proceedings be kept secret and not made public.
  • Prime Ministerial Leadership: The Prime Minister is in charge of this system of administration.
  • Majority Party Rule: The Prime Minister is usually appointed by the leader of the party that obtains a majority in the lower chamber.
  • Bicameral Legislature: Bicameral legislatures are used in most parliamentary democracies.
  • Political Homogeneity: Members of the council of ministers are usually from the same political party, and so have similar political ideologies. The ministers in a coalition government are bound by consensus.
  • No fixed term: The government’s term is determined by the lower house’s majority support. The council of ministers must resign if the government fails to win a vote of no confidence. There will be elections, and a new government will be formed.