Presentation by Dr. Subhash C. Kashyap
0
It is necessary that we, the people of India, know about the political system under which we live and are governed. In a democracy, citizens have to be wide awake and aware of e r er es, r g s an respons es. Ultimately, the success of our political system will depend largely on our willingness to understand the system and become active participants in the democratic process.
1
Identifies Identifies and establishes the organs and units of the state Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary Judiciary Distributes Distributes powers between the Union and the units and regulates relationships between them Establishes Establishes accountability and relationship of the organs of the State with the people. people. 2
Political system generally denotes the structure of institutions that constitute the State and its Government. It delineates the framework and form of inter--relationships between institutions and organs of inter the StateState-the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary--and the linkage of each with the people. Judiciary Political system gives shape and form to some fundamental principles round which politics and po ca ns u ons ave eve ope or are propose o be organized to govern the country. It also consists of the manner in which the rulers are selected or elected, governments are formed and political decisions taken. Political interactions in society and structures and procedures for decision making are all rooted in a country’s political system. 3
Sovereignty Sovereignty vesting in the people at large – uncontrolled and unregulated – is like the vast energy in a wild wild mountainous river running down the hills in its full force and fury causing extensive damage and devastation devastation.. Political Political system is like a dam that gives shape and content to the sovereign will of the people and institutionalises it to provide security and public weal weal.. 4
Political Political system is a dynamic, everever-growing process, nothing static or inert inert.. A living organism of functioning institutions getting new meanings and content from the manner n w c an e peop e y w om s worked from generation to generation generation.. Changes Changes and growth come through – Constitutional Constitutional Amendments and laws by Legislatures – Interpretation Interpretation by Courts – Operation Operation by Executive institutions at various levels 5
Monarchy Monarchy Aristocracy/oligarchy Aristocracy/oligarchy Authoritarian/Totalitarian/Dictatorial Authoritarian/Totalitarian/Dictatorial Democrac : Worst Form exce t that none better “About forms of government, let fools contest whatever is best administered is the best” - Pope
6
Direct/Representative/Participatory Direct/Representative/Participatory Federal/Unitary Federal/Unitary Republican Republican Presidential/Parliamentary Presidential/Parliamentary
Unique Unique – does not fit into any one model Compromise Compromise between – – Presidential and Parliamentary – Federal and Unitary – Republican & Parliamentary
Republican, Republican, quasi quasi--federal federal,, representative, parliamentary.. parliamentary Not built on the plinth of country’s past – continuation of the British colonial model – transfer of power not to the people people.. 8
Very Very broadly the adult population, i.e., those who have attained the age of 18 18,, constitute the electorate;; they electorate they elect the members of the Lok Sabha and the Legislative Assemblies of their States.. The State Assemblies, States Assemblies, in turn, elect the members of the Rajya Sabha Sabha.. The President President is elected by an electoral college consisting of the elected members of the Rajya Sabha, Sabha, the the Lok Sabha and the Legislative Assemblies of the States.. He is the nominal or the constitutional States Continued
9
Continued
executive, the real or the political executive being the Council of Ministers Ministers.. The ministers are from Parliament and collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha Sabha.. The judges judges of the Supreme Court and of the Hi Hi h Courts are to be a ointed b the President but the Supreme Court has held that the decisive authority in the matter would vest in the Judicial Judicial Wing Wing..
10
Survival Survival potential Dynamism, , resilience, conflict resolution mechanism – Dynamism
Ability Ability to adjust and accommodate Abilit Abilit to face crises - both internal and external, natural and man man--made – withstanding several aggressions Preservation Preservation of freedom, rule of law, democracy, secularism and unity and integrity of the nation
11
Preservation of Freedom of Institutions Independence of Judiciary Judiciary Freedom of the Press Integration Integration and Reorganization of States Liberation of French & Portuguese possessions in Economic development, solving the food problem Development of a meaningful foreign policy 15 Free & Fair General Elections Peaceful Transfers of Power Land Reforms & abolition of Zamindari Local Self Govt Govt.. – Nagar Palikas & Panchayats 12
95 Constitutional Amendments – one every 7 months Over Over 120 failures of Constitutional machinery – President’s rule Strains Strains in Relations between Union and States Judiciary, Legislature and Executive – conflicts and controversies Misuse Misuse of Emergency provisions Continued
13
Continued
Disconnect between the people and the politicians Democracy & Freedom under threat Governance Deficit – Disdain & disregard for ordinary citizens Insecurity, Insecurity, illiteracy, poverty, unemployment and Devaluation of values and de-institutionalization of institutions – – Parliament, Council of Ministers & Prime Minister – Judicial system- Delays, costs Continued
14
Continued
Criminalization, corruption, casteism and communalism Erosion of representational legitimacy of Role Role of Money, Muscle and Mafia power – 300 crorepatis in Lok Sabha Sabha,, many multiplied their wealth & assets wealth assets in 5 yrs yrs,, 175 175 with criminal background.. background
15
Nation is passing through critical times times.. Our political system is under severe strain strain.. There is a crisis of confidence confidence.. Faith of the , governmental institutions and of public functionaries stands seriously eroded eroded.. The life of the ordinary citizen citizen is getting more and more miserable.. The case for political reforms is miserable unassailable.. unassailable 16
THANK
17
