The Greatest Democracy
The Constitution of India which declares the nation to be a SOVERRIGN, SOCIALIST, SECULAR, and DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC is regarded as the supreme law of the land. The Constitution also declares that India should have a federal form of government (with a high degree of Centralization) and a bicameral parliament operating under a Westminster-Style parliamentary system. Besides there should also be good specimen of the Separation of Powers, between the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary. From the 26th January 1950, the date on which the Constitution came into force, this system of governance has been going on, with the interruption of the National Emergency in 1975.
For this tradition of years India has been regarded as the largest democracy in the world, that have earned the awe of others. The chief reason behind is that India is operating in spite of being a multi-religious multi-ethnic, multi-cultural state, which is not an easy task to continue for years. What is the greatest reason behind this? It is the cultural legacy of the nation, and the apt style of governance. In this respect, for the Union government of India, the President happens to be the Head of State. The person though has a largely ceremonial role, including interpreting the constitution, signing laws into action, issuing administrative orders and issuing pardons, but from time to time or during national crisis he/she happens to be the ultimate decision maker.
He is also the Commander-in-chief of India's Armed Forces. An electoral college elects the President indirectly for five-year terms, consisting of the members of Parliament and of all the state Legislative Assemblies in a very complicated scheme. The Prime Minister is the de facto head of Government, and has most executive powers. He or she is appointed by the President. As a general rule and rather a very strict convention, the President appoints only that person as the Prime Minister who enjoys the support of the majority of the members in the Lok Sabha (the lower house of the Parliament), and serves a five-year term, with re-selection possible. The State Governments are elected by the citizens of the states at a gap of five years.
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