Question

Mention three important features of the Cabinet system of Government.

Answer 1

Hint: India adopted its parliamentary system from the British constitution. All cabinet members in Britain are privy counsellors.

Complete Step by Step Answer: In India, the Prime Minister, who is the real executive authority heads the council of ministers. Ivor Jennings called the parliamentary system also a cabinet system because it is the nucleus of power in a parliamentary system. The status of the council of ministers is contained in Article 74 of our constitution while Article 75 of the constitution deals with the appointment, tenure, responsibility, qualification, oath, salary and allowances of the ministers.

Important features of the Cabinet system of Government are as follows:
- The cabinet is a small body who holds key portfolios and works under the leadership of the Prime Minister. The Cabinet formulates the policies of the state and controls the executive branch.
- The political party which secures the majority of seats in Lok Sabha forms the government. The President appoints the leader of the majority party as the Prime Minister of the country. Other ministers are appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. The bedrock principle of the cabinet system of government is a collective responsibility. According to Article 75, the ministers are collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha in particular and to Parliament in general.
- Political homogeneity is another feature of the cabinet system of government. Members of the council of ministers have the same political ideology as they belong to the same political party.

Note: The Cabinet includes only cabinet ministers whereas the council of ministers are categorised into three divisions - cabinet ministers, ministry of state and deputy ministers. In a political system, a cabinet is a body of advisers whose aim is to coordinate government and pass important decisions through a collective process.