The President of India is an integral part of the Parliament and exercises several important legislative powers.
Under:
Article 79
Parliament consists of:
However, the President is:
Not a Member of Either House
The President's legislative powers include:
Important Articles relating to the President's legislative powers include:
Article 79 → Constitution of Parliament
Article 85 → Sessions of Parliament
Article 86 → Right to Address and Send Messages
Article 87 → Special Address
Article 80 → Nomination to Rajya Sabha
Article 111 → Assent to Bills
Article 117 → Financial Bills
Article 123 → Ordinance-Making Power
Article 108 → Joint Sitting
Article 79 provides that:
Parliament consists of the President and two Houses.
The two Houses are:
Rajya Sabha
and:
Lok Sabha
The President is a:
Constituent Part of Parliament
but is:
Not a Member of Either House
President is a member of Parliament because Article 79 includes the President.
False
The President is a component of Parliament, not a member of either House.
Under:
Article 85
the President summons:
Both Houses of Parliament
The President determines:
Time and Place of the Sessions
subject to the constitutional requirement that:
Not more than six months shall intervene between two sessions of Parliament.
President → Summons Parliament
Maximum Gap → 6 Months
The Constitution does not require Parliament to meet after exactly six months.
It requires that:
Six months must not intervene between the last sitting of one session and the first sitting of the next session.
Therefore:
Maximum Constitutional Gap → Less than Six Months
Parliament must meet exactly twice every year.
False
The Constitution only specifies the maximum interval between sessions.
The President can:
Prorogue either House
or:
Both Houses
Prorogation means:
Termination of a Session of Parliament
Prorogation is different from:
Adjournment
Means:
Suspension of a sitting
It is done by:
Presiding Officer
Means:
Termination of a Session
It is done by:
President
Adjournment → Sitting
Prorogation → Session
The President can:
Dissolve Lok Sabha
This ends the:
Life of the Lok Sabha
In the parliamentary system, the President ordinarily exercises this power on:
Advice of the Council of Ministers
Rajya Sabha:
Cannot Be Dissolved
because it is a:
Permanent House
| Dissolution | Prorogation |
|---|---|
| Ends Lok Sabha's life | Ends a session |
| Only Lok Sabha | Either House or both |
| Fresh election required | No fresh election |
| President | President |
Dissolution → House Ends
Prorogation → Session Ends
Under:
Article 86
the President may address:
Either House
or:
Both Houses
assembled together.
The President may also:
Send Messages to either House
on pending Bills or other matters.
Under:
Article 87
the President addresses both Houses assembled together:
At the commencement of the first session after each general election
and:
At the commencement of the first session of each year
Article 87 → Special Address
President:
May Address
either House or both Houses.
President:
Must Address
both Houses assembled together on specified occasions.
Both Article 86 and Article 87 deal with exactly the same presidential address.
False
The President's Special Address outlines:
Government's Policies and Priorities
It is prepared by:
The Government
and delivered by:
The President
The speech represents:
Government Policy
rather than the President's personal political programme.
Under:
Article 80
the President nominates:
12 Members
to the Rajya Sabha.
These persons should have:
Special Knowledge or Practical Experience
in:
Rajya Sabha → 12 Nominated by President
The nomination provision allows Parliament to benefit from:
Specialised Knowledge and Experience
that may not necessarily be represented through ordinary elections.
The Constitution earlier allowed the President to nominate up to:
Two Anglo-Indian Members
to Lok Sabha in specified circumstances.
However, this provision ceased to operate after the:
104th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019
Anglo-Indian Nomination to Lok Sabha → No Longer Operational
After a Bill is passed by Parliament, it is presented to:
The President
Under:
Article 111
the President may exercise different options depending on the type of Bill.
For an ordinary Bill, the President may:
When the President:
Withholds Assent
the Bill does not become law.
This is known as:
Absolute Veto
It means:
Bill Rejected
The President may return an ordinary Bill to Parliament for:
Reconsideration
This is called:
Suspensive Veto
If Parliament passes the Bill again:
The President must give assent.
Suspensive veto does not apply to:
Money Bills
The Constitution does not prescribe a specific period within which the President must decide an ordinary Bill.
Therefore, the President may keep a Bill pending.
This is commonly known as:
Pocket Veto
No Constitutional Time Limit → Pocket Veto Possible
For an ordinary Bill:
President receives Bill
↓
Give Assent
or:
Withhold Assent
or:
Return Once for Reconsideration
↓
If Parliament passes again:
Assent Becomes Mandatory
A Money Bill has special constitutional treatment.
A Money Bill can be introduced in Lok Sabha only with:
Prior Recommendation of the President
However, after Parliament passes the Money Bill:
The President cannot return it for reconsideration.
The President may:
Give Assent
or:
Withhold Assent
according to the constitutional framework.
Money Bill → Recommendation Before Introduction
No Return → After Passage
Certain Financial Bills require:
President's Recommendation
before introduction.
The specific requirements depend on the category of Financial Bill under:
Article 117
Do not treat:
Money Bill
and:
Financial Bill
as identical.
A Constitutional Amendment Bill is governed by:
Article 368
After being properly passed according to the constitutional procedure:
The President shall give assent.
The President therefore does not have:
Veto Power
over a duly passed Constitutional Amendment Bill.
President can return a Constitutional Amendment Bill for reconsideration.
False
Under:
Article 108
the President may summon a:
Joint Sitting of Both Houses
in certain cases of disagreement over an ordinary Bill.
The joint sitting is presided over by:
Speaker of Lok Sabha
The President does not personally preside over the joint sitting.
A joint sitting may be summoned when:
subject to constitutional limitations.
Joint sitting does not apply to:
Money Bills
or:
Constitutional Amendment Bills
The President's legislative powers apply within the constitutional parliamentary process.
Certain Bills may require:
Presidential Recommendation
depending on their subject matter.
Therefore the President has a formal role even when legislative initiatives originate from:
Private Members
where constitutional requirements apply.
Under:
Article 123
the President may promulgate an:
Ordinance
when:
Both Houses of Parliament are not in session
and:
Immediate action is necessary
Although exercised by the President, ordinance-making is classified as:
Legislative Power
because an Ordinance has:
The Same Force and Effect as an Act of Parliament
subject to constitutional limitations.
Ordinance is an executive order with no legislative character.
False
It is a legislative power of the President.
The constitutional conditions are:
Both Houses are not in session
Immediate action is necessary
The President acts on:
Advice of the Council of Ministers
An Ordinance must be laid before:
Both Houses of Parliament
When Parliament reassembles, the Ordinance ceases to operate:
Six weeks after reassembly
unless:
Ordinance → 6 Weeks After Reassembly
The ordinance-making power is:
Temporary
and:
Subject to Parliamentary Approval
It cannot constitutionally be used as a permanent substitute for:
Parliamentary Legislation
Repeatedly issuing the same Ordinance without placing it properly before Parliament can undermine:
Legislative Supremacy
The Supreme Court has strongly disapproved of:
Routine Re-promulgation
D.C. Wadhwa v. State of Bihar, 1987
D.C. Wadhwa → Re-promulgation
In:
Krishna Kumar Singh v. State of Bihar, 2017
the Supreme Court further examined:
Ordinance-Making Power
and:
Constitutional Limits on Re-promulgation
Krishna Kumar Singh → Ordinance Limits
The President has formal powers relating to:
Summoning
Prorogation
Dissolution
These powers ensure:
Continuity of Parliamentary Government
The President can:
The President can:
The President:
Cannot Dissolve Rajya Sabha
When the two Houses disagree on an ordinary Bill, the President may summon:
Joint Sitting
subject to Article 108.
This mechanism is intended to resolve:
Legislative Deadlock
The President's role in constitutional amendment is limited but essential.
After Parliament follows the required procedure under:
Article 368
the President:
Shall Give Assent
Article 368 → Mandatory Presidential Assent
The President also has a role in relation to certain Bills passed by:
State Legislatures
A Governor may reserve a Bill for the consideration of the President.
The President may then:
This is an important aspect of:
Union-State Legislative Relations
When a State Bill is reserved for the consideration of the President:
Article 201
governs the President's options.
For a Bill other than a Money Bill, the President may direct the Governor to:
Return the Bill to the State Legislature for reconsideration
If the State Legislature passes it again:
The Constitution does not make presidential assent mandatory in the same manner as Article 111 for an ordinary parliamentary Bill.
State Bill Reserved for President → Article 201
The President has no direct power to create or abolish a State Legislative Council.
Under:
Article 169
Parliament may create or abolish a State Legislative Council after the State Legislature passes the required resolution.
The President's role is therefore different from:
Parliament's Legislative Authority
The President is not a member of either House and therefore does not participate in parliamentary proceedings as a member.
However, the President is constitutionally connected to Parliament through:
Article 79
and exercises several formal legislative functions.
The President's legislative powers are generally exercised on:
Aid and Advice
Therefore:
Formal Constitutional Role → President
Policy Decision → Council of Ministers
The Supreme Court held that the President and Governors generally exercise constitutional powers:
On the Aid and Advice of the Council of Ministers
Shamsher Singh → Aid and Advice
The Supreme Court criticised:
Repeated Re-promulgation of Ordinances
because it can undermine:
Legislative Process
D.C. Wadhwa → Ordinance Re-promulgation
The Supreme Court further clarified the constitutional limitations surrounding:
Ordinance-Making Power
and parliamentary control.
Krishna Kumar Singh → Ordinance + Legislative Accountability
Article 79 → Parliament
Article 80 → Rajya Sabha Composition
Article 85 → Sessions
Article 86 → Address and Messages
Article 87 → Special Address
Article 108 → Joint Sitting
Article 111 → Assent to Bills
Article 117 → Financial Bills
Article 123 → Ordinances
Article 201 → State Bills Reserved for President
Summon → President
Prorogue → President
Dissolve Lok Sabha → President
Dissolve Rajya Sabha → No
Maximum Gap Between Sessions → 6 Months
Adjournment → Presiding Officer
Prorogation → President
Ordinary Bill → Return Once
Money Bill → Cannot Return
Constitutional Amendment Bill → Assent Mandatory
Financial Bill → Certain Categories Require Recommendation
Joint Sitting → Certain Ordinary Bills
Money Bill → No Joint Sitting
Constitutional Amendment Bill → No Joint Sitting
Article 123 → Ordinance
Both Houses Not in Session → Required
Immediate Action Necessary → Required
Same Force and Effect as Act of Parliament
Six Weeks After Reassembly → Normal Constitutional Limit
Parliamentary Control → Essential
President is a member of Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha.
False
The President is a:
Part of Parliament
but not a member of either House.
President can dissolve Rajya Sabha.
False
Rajya Sabha is:
Permanent House
Prorogation ends the life of Lok Sabha.
False
Prorogation ends:
A Session
Dissolution ends:
The Life of Lok Sabha
Adjournment is done by the President.
False
Adjournment is done by:
Presiding Officer
President must address Parliament at the beginning of every session.
False
Article 87 specifies:
First Session After General Election
and:
First Session of Each Year
President can return a Money Bill for reconsideration.
False
A Money Bill:
Cannot Be Returned
President can return a Constitutional Amendment Bill.
False
The President:
Shall Give Assent
after proper passage.
President can issue an Ordinance while both Houses are in session.
False
The constitutional condition requires:
Both Houses Not in Session
Ordinance is permanent unless Parliament repeals it.
False
It is temporary and normally ceases:
Six Weeks After Parliament Reassembles
unless otherwise dealt with.
President personally drafts the government's policy speech.
False
The Special Address reflects:
Government Policy
President nominates members to Lok Sabha from the Anglo-Indian community today.
False
The provision ceased to operate after the:
104th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019
President can always withhold assent from a Constitutional Amendment Bill.
False
Under Article 368:
Presidential Assent is Mandatory
Summon
Prorogue
Dissolve Lok Sabha
Address
Send Messages
Assent
Withhold Assent
Return Ordinary Bill
Recommendation for Certain Bills
Promulgate Ordinance
Withdraw Ordinance
Lay Ordinance Before Parliament
12 Rajya Sabha Members
from:
Literature + Science + Art + Social Service
Reserved State Bill → President
Article 201
The President's legislative powers demonstrate the principle that:
Executive + Legislature are Constitutionally Interconnected
The President is a component of Parliament while remaining:
Outside the Membership of Either House
The President's legislative powers balance:
Executive Initiative
with:
Parliamentary Deliberation
and:
Constitutional Control
The ordinance power provides:
Speed of Legislative Action
but creates a risk of:
Bypassing Parliamentary Deliberation
Therefore, constitutional safeguards and judicial review are important.
The President's veto powers can act as:
A Constitutional Check
but in a parliamentary system they are ordinarily exercised within:
Ministerial Advice
The President's consideration of State Bills reserved under:
Article 201
illustrates the role of the Union constitutional framework in:
Centre-State Legislative Relations
For:
"Discuss the legislative powers of the President of India."
Use:
Mention:
Article 79 + President as Component of Parliament
Article 123
12 Rajya Sabha Members
Article 201
Article 74
Parliamentary Control
Judicial Review
The President acts as a constitutional link between the executive and legislative branches.
"The President is an integral component of Parliament under Article 79 and exercises several legislative powers ranging from summoning and proroguing Parliament to assenting to Bills and promulgating Ordinances. However, these powers operate within India's parliamentary framework and are ordinarily exercised on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers."
"The legislative powers of the President therefore represent a constitutional bridge between the executive and legislature. While they facilitate continuity, legislative action and constitutional checks, parliamentary control, ministerial responsibility and judicial review ensure that these powers do not become instruments of arbitrary executive authority."
Article 79 → President + Rajya Sabha + Lok Sabha
Article 85 → Summon + Prorogue
Article 86 → Address + Messages
Article 87 → Special Address
Article 111 → Assent
Ordinary Bill → Return Once
Money Bill → No Return
Constitutional Amendment → Mandatory Assent
Article 123
↓
Both Houses Not in Session
↓
Immediate Action Necessary
↓
Ordinance
↓
Parliamentary Control
↓
Six Weeks After Reassembly
Article 80
↓
12 Rajya Sabha Members
↓
Literature
Science
Art
Social Service
Article 201
↓
State Bill Reserved by Governor
↓
President
↓
Assent / Withhold / Return Non-Money Bill
President's Legislative Powers
↓
Summon + Prorogue + Dissolve Lok Sabha
↓
Article 86 + Article 87
↓
Assent + Veto + Reconsideration
↓
Recommendations
↓
12 Rajya Sabha Members
↓
Article 123
↓
Article 201
↓
Article 74 → Aid and Advice
Parliamentary Control
Judicial Review
↓
President = Integral Component of Parliament + Constitutional Legislative Authority
But
Parliamentary Democracy → Legislative Powers Operate Within Ministerial Responsibility and Constitutional Limits
