Legislative Powers

The President is an integral part of the Parliament of India, and enjoys the following legislative powers.

(a) He can summon or prorogue the Parliament and dissolve the Lok Sabha. He can also summon a joint sitting of both the Houses of Parliament, which is presided over by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

(b) He can address the Parliament at the commencement of the first session after each general election and the first session of each year.

(c) He can send messages to the Houses of Parliament, whether with respect to a bill pending in the Parliament or otherwise.

(d) He can appoint any member of the Lok Sabha to preside over its proceedings when the offices of both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker fall vacant. Similarly, he can also appoint any member of the Rajya Sabha to preside over its proceedings when the offices of both the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman fall vacant.

(e) He nominates 12 members of the Rajya Sabha from amongst persons having special knowledge or practical experience in literature, science, art and social service.

(f) He can nominate two members to the Lok Sabha from the Anglo- Indian Community.

(g) He decides on questions as to disqualifications of members of the Parliament, in consultation with the Election Commission.

(h) His prior recommendation or permission is needed to introduce certain types of bills in the Parliament. For example, a bill involving expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of India, or a bill for the alteration of boundaries of states or creation of a new state.

(i) When a bill is sent to the President after it has been passed by the Parliament, he can:

(i) give his assent to the bill, or

(ii) withhold his assent to the bill, or

(iii) return the bill (if it is not a money bill) for reconsideration of Parliament.

However, if the bill is passed again by the Parliament, with or without amendments, the President has to give his assent to the bill.

(j) When a bill passed by a state legislature is reserved by the governor for consideration of the President, the President can:

(i) give his assent to the bill, or

(ii) withhold his assent to the bill, or

(iii) direct the governor to return the bill (if it is not a money bill) reconsideration of the state legislature. It should be noted that it is not obligatory for the President to give his assent ev the bill is again passed by the state legislature and sent agai him for his consideration.

(k) He can promulgate ordinances when the Parliament is not in session. These ordinances must be approved by the Parliament within six weeks from its reassembly. He can also withdraw an ordinance at any time.

(l) He lays the reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General, Union Public Service Commission, Finance Commission, and others, before the Parliament.

(m) He can make regulations for the peace, progress and good government of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu and Ladakh. In the case of Puducherry also, the President can legislate by making regulations but only when the assembly is suspended or dissolved.