“The executive in India derives legitimacy from legislative confidence but increasingly exercises dominance over the law-making process”. Assess the constitutional relationship between the executive and the legislature. Evaluate the factors leading to executive dominance. Suggest measures to restore institutional balance.
Kartavya Desk Staff
Topic: Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning
Topic: Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning
Q4. “The executive in India derives legitimacy from legislative confidence but increasingly exercises dominance over the law-making process”. Assess the constitutional relationship between the executive and the legislature. Evaluate the factors leading to executive dominance. Suggest measures to restore institutional balance. (15 M)
Difficulty Level: Easy
Reference: InsightsIAS
Why the question Understanding of the parliamentary form of government in India, particularly the evolving balance between the executive and legislature, an issue increasingly debated due to declining legislative scrutiny and growing executive influence over law-making. Key demand of the question The question requires examining the constitutional relationship between the executive and legislature in India’s parliamentary system, highlighting how executive legitimacy flows from legislative confidence. Structure of the answer Introduction Briefly introduce the fusion of executive and legislature under the parliamentary system and the principle of collective responsibility to the Lok Sabha as the constitutional basis of executive legitimacy. Body Constitutional relationship between executive and legislature: Indicate the principle of collective responsibility and mechanisms of legislative accountability which define their constitutional relationship. Factors leading to executive dominance: Highlight institutional and political factors such as party discipline, anti-defection law, ordinance power and executive control over legislative agenda. Measures to restore institutional balance: Suggest strengthening parliamentary scrutiny, reforms in legislative procedures and empowering committee oversight to rebalance institutional power. Conclusion Emphasise that robust parliamentary deliberation and oversight are essential to maintain the constitutional balance between executive efficiency and democratic accountability.
Why the question
Understanding of the parliamentary form of government in India, particularly the evolving balance between the executive and legislature, an issue increasingly debated due to declining legislative scrutiny and growing executive influence over law-making.
Key demand of the question The question requires examining the constitutional relationship between the executive and legislature in India’s parliamentary system, highlighting how executive legitimacy flows from legislative confidence.
Structure of the answer
Introduction Briefly introduce the fusion of executive and legislature under the parliamentary system and the principle of collective responsibility to the Lok Sabha as the constitutional basis of executive legitimacy.
• Constitutional relationship between executive and legislature: Indicate the principle of collective responsibility and mechanisms of legislative accountability which define their constitutional relationship.
• Factors leading to executive dominance: Highlight institutional and political factors such as party discipline, anti-defection law, ordinance power and executive control over legislative agenda.
• Measures to restore institutional balance: Suggest strengthening parliamentary scrutiny, reforms in legislative procedures and empowering committee oversight to rebalance institutional power.
Conclusion Emphasise that robust parliamentary deliberation and oversight are essential to maintain the constitutional balance between executive efficiency and democratic accountability.