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Powers of the President and Emergencies ICSE Class 10

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History & CivicsICSE Class 10 · The President

Powers of the President: Executive, Legislative, Financial, Judicial, Discretionary and Emergency (ICSE Class 10 Civics)

Updated 17 October 2026 · Fact-checked

The President's powers are grouped as executive (appointments, supreme commander), legislative (summons Parliament, assent, ordinances), financial (Money Bill recommendation, Contingency Fund), judicial (pardons), discretionary (such as choosing a Prime Minister in a hung House) and emergency (National Emergency, President's Rule, Financial Emergency). In normal times the President acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers.

Notice that the President's powers fall into six groups, and the Emergency group splits into three types; normally he acts on ministers' advice.

Illustration drawn for QuestionBuddy.

Understand Powers of the President and the Three Emergencies

The President is the nominal head; most powers are used on ministerial advice. Keep each group of powers under its own heading.

1. Executive powers. Appoints the Prime Minister and, on his advice, the other ministers; appoints Governors, judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, the Attorney General, the Comptroller and Auditor General, the Chief Election Commissioner, Election Commissioners, UPSC members and ambassadors; is Supreme Commander of the armed forces; and administers Union Territories through administrators.

2. Legislative powers. Summons and prorogues both Houses; dissolves the Lok Sabha; addresses both Houses at the start of the first session after an election and of each year; calls a joint sitting; nominates 12 Rajya Sabha members; gives assent to bills (may return an Ordinary Bill once); and issues ordinances under Article 123 when Parliament is not in session. An ordinance has the force of an Act, must be laid before Parliament on reassembly and lapses six weeks after reassembly unless approved earlier.

3. Financial powers. Money Bills can be introduced only on his recommendation; the Annual Financial Statement (Budget) is laid before Parliament in his name; the Contingency Fund of India is at his disposal for unforeseen expenditure; he appoints a Finance Commission every five years.

4. Judicial powers. Article 72: grants pardons, reprieves, respites and remissions, and may suspend, remit or commute sentences, including death sentences and court-martial sentences. Appoints judges; may seek the Supreme Court's advisory opinion; is not answerable to any court for official acts.

5. Discretionary powers (used by personal judgement): appointing a Prime Minister when no party has a clear majority and asking for proof of majority; dismissing a ministry that has lost its majority but refuses to resign; dissolving the Lok Sabha when no alternative government is possible; returning an Ordinary Bill; asking the ministry to reconsider its advice once.

6. Emergency powers (any two effects of each).

  • *National Emergency (Article 352)* — war, external aggression or armed rebellion, on written advice of the Union Cabinet. Effects: Parliament can make laws on State List subjects; the Union directs the states, so the system works like a unitary one; Article 19 freedoms are suspended in war or external aggression; the Lok Sabha's life can be extended one year at a time.
  • *President's Rule (Article 356)* — failure of constitutional machinery in a state. Effects: the state ministry is dismissed; the Assembly is suspended or dissolved; the Governor runs the state for the President; Parliament makes laws for the state.
  • *Financial Emergency (Article 360)* — threat to financial stability or credit of India. Effects: salaries of government employees including judges may be reduced; states directed to follow financial rules; state money bills reserved for the President. It has never been used.

Powers of the President and the Three Emergencies: key facts

Six groups of powers
  • Executive
  • Legislative
  • Financial
  • Judicial
  • Discretionary
  • Emergency
Headings for a 6-mark answer.
Ordinance
  • Article 123
  • Parliament not in session
  • Same force as an Act
  • Lapses six weeks after reassembly
Four facts.
Three emergencies
  • Article 352 National
  • Article 356 State failure
  • Article 360 Financial
Article numbers.
Pardon power
  • Article 72
  • Pardon, reprieve, respite, remission
  • Suspend, remit, commute
Judicial power.

How to answer Powers of the President and the Three Emergencies questions

Part II asks for powers in groups (3-4 marks per group) and emergencies with any two effects each. A common 10-mark question is split as 3 + 3 + 4.

  1. 1Name the type of power the question asks for before listing.
  2. 2Give 3-4 points for 3-4 marks, each in a short sentence.
  3. 3For emergencies give the ground, the article and exactly two effects.
  4. 4Keep discretionary powers separate from executive ones.

Powers of the President and the Three Emergencies in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Acting on advice

Suppose a school principal formally signs every timetable that the staff committee prepares, but alone decides which student leads if no group has a majority of votes.

Which powers are these in the President's case?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Signing on advice resembles normal powers.
  2. Deciding when no majority exists resembles a discretionary power.

Answer: Signing on advice is like normal executive power; choosing a leader when there is no majority is a discretionary power.

Memory hook: Advice normally; judgement in a hung House.

Emergency order

Imagine a school rule that during a flood the head of the school can temporarily take over all decisions from class committees.

Which Indian provision does this resemble, and how does it affect federalism?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. The head takes over decisions in a crisis.
  2. Under a National Emergency the Union directs the states.
  3. The federal system works like a unitary one.

Answer: It resembles a National Emergency, where the Union directs the states and the federal system works as a unitary one.

Memory hook: Crisis centralises.

Tricks to remember Powers of the President and the Three Emergencies

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

  • E-L-F-J-D-E

    Executive, Legislative, Financial, Judicial, Discretionary, Emergency.

    Use it when: Order of powers.

  • 352-356-360

    National, State, Financial.

    Use it when: Article numbers.

Powers of the President and the Three Emergencies: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: Pardoning power · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level

Name the power under which the President can commute a death sentence and state what it means to commute. [2]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Judicial power, Article 72 (1 mark).
  2. Commute: replace with a lighter punishment (1 mark).

Answer: It is the judicial power under Article 72. To commute is to replace a sentence with a lighter one, such as death by life imprisonment.

Example 2: Ordinance · 3 marks · Short answerBoard level

What is an ordinance? State two conditions on its issue and validity. [3]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Law made by the President (1 mark).
  2. Issued only when Parliament is not in session (1 mark).
  3. Lapses six weeks after reassembly unless approved (1 mark).

Answer: An ordinance is a law issued by the President under Article 123, with the force of an Act of Parliament. It can be issued only when Parliament is not in session and urgent action is needed, and it lapses six weeks after Parliament reassembles unless approved earlier.

Example 3: Executive and legislative · 4 marks · Short answerHarder board level

Distinguish between the executive and the legislative powers of the President with two examples each. [4]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Executive appointments (2 marks).
  2. Legislative: summoning, assent (2 marks).

Answer: Executive powers concern running the administration: for example appointing the Prime Minister and the Governors, and being Supreme Commander. Legislative powers concern Parliament: for example summoning and proroguing the Houses, and giving assent to bills or issuing ordinances.

Example 4: Emergencies · 5 marks · Short answerHarder board level

Name the three types of emergency and give any two effects of a National Emergency. [5]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Three types (3 marks).
  2. Two effects (2 marks).

Answer: The three are a National Emergency (Article 352), failure of constitutional machinery in a state or President's Rule (Article 356), and Financial Emergency (Article 360). In a National Emergency Parliament can legislate on State List subjects, and the Union can give directions to the states, so the federal system works like a unitary one.

Example 5: Case: no clear majority · 6 marks · Case-basedHOTS / competency

Case. After an election, no party wins a majority in the Lok Sabha. (i) Which power does the President use? [1] (ii) Whom may he invite? [1] (iii) What can he ask that person to do? [2] (iv) Why is this power called discretionary? [2]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. (i) Discretionary power (1 mark).
  2. (ii) Leader likely to command majority (1 mark).
  3. (iii) Prove majority within a time limit (2 marks).
  4. (iv) Used by personal judgement not on advice (2 marks).

Answer: (i) The discretionary power of appointing the Prime Minister. (ii) The leader of the party or coalition most likely to command a majority. (iii) To prove his majority in the Lok Sabha within a stated time. (iv) Because there is no ministry to advise him, he uses his own judgement.

Where students lose marks in Powers of the President and the Three Emergencies

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

  • Mistake: Mixing executive and legislative powers

    Listing summoning Parliament as an executive act.

    Wrong working

    Executive powers: summons Parliament, appoints Governors.

    Right working

    Summoning and proroguing are legislative; appointments are executive.

    Do this: Sort by function.

    Usually costs: 1-2 marks.

  • Mistake: Confusing the emergencies

    Giving Article 356 for a financial crisis.

    Wrong working

    Article 360 is President's Rule.

    Right working

    Article 352 National, 356 President's Rule, 360 Financial.

    Do this: Learn 352-356-360.

    Usually costs: 1-2 marks.

  • Mistake: Treating advice as personal choice

    Forgetting the Council of Ministers.

    Wrong working

    The President personally decides all appointments.

    Right working

    Most appointments are made on the advice of the Council of Ministers; only a few powers are discretionary.

    Do this: Write on the advice of the ministers.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

  • Mistake: Calling the return of a bill an executive power

    Placing returning of bills under executive.

    Wrong working

    Returning a bill is an executive power.

    Right working

    Returning a bill for reconsideration is a legislative or discretionary power.

    Do this: Check what the power concerns.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

Exam tips

  • Write the name of the group of powers as a heading and then list.
  • For emergencies write the article number, the ground and two effects.
  • Do not call the ministry's decision a personal decision of the President.

Practice questions on Powers of the President and the Three Emergencies

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

  1. Q1 · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level

    Mention two financial powers of the President. [2]

    Hint

    Recommendation and fund.

    Answer

    A Money Bill can be introduced in the Lok Sabha only on his recommendation, and the Contingency Fund of India is at his disposal for unforeseen expenditure (he also appoints a Finance Commission every five years).

  2. Q2 · 4 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    Explain President's Rule: when is it imposed and what are two effects? [4]

    Hint

    Article 356.

    Answer

    It is imposed under Article 356 when the President is satisfied that the government of a state cannot be carried on according to the Constitution. The state ministry is dismissed, the Assembly is suspended or dissolved, and the Governor runs the state on behalf of the President while Parliament makes laws for it.

  3. Q3 · 4 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    Describe two effects each of a National Emergency and a Financial Emergency. [4]

    Hint

    Two each.

    Answer

    National Emergency: Parliament can make laws on State List subjects, and the Union can direct the states. Financial Emergency: salaries of government employees including judges may be reduced, and states can be told to observe financial rules.

  4. Q4 · 5 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    Why are discretionary powers considered essential even in a parliamentary system? Give three situations. [5]

    Hint

    Hung House, dismissal, dissolution.

    Answer

    In a parliamentary system the President acts on advice, but there are times when there is no stable ministry to advise him. He must choose a Prime Minister when no party has a majority, can dismiss a ministry that has lost its majority but refuses to resign, and can dissolve the Lok Sabha when no alternative government can be formed. These powers keep the system working in a political crisis.

  5. Q5 · 6 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

    "The President is a rubber stamp." Evaluate this view using the executive, legislative and discretionary powers. [6]

    Hint

    Normal times versus crisis.

    Answer

    In normal times the President acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers in appointments, assent and ordinances, so the claim has some truth. But he is not merely a rubber stamp: he may return an Ordinary Bill once, can ask the ministry to reconsider its advice, and uses discretion in a hung House, in dismissing a ministry that has lost its majority or dissolving the Lok Sabha. He also has a formal role in emergencies. The President is therefore a constitutional head with limited but real powers, especially in crises.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

  1. 1.Which article allows ordinances?Show answer

    Article 123.

  2. 2.Which article gives the pardoning power?Show answer

    Article 72.

  3. 3.Who advises the President to declare a National Emergency?Show answer

    The Union Cabinet, in writing.

  4. 4.Has a Financial Emergency ever been declared?Show answer

    No.

  5. 5.How many members does the President nominate to the Rajya Sabha?Show answer

    12.

  6. 6.When does an ordinance lapse?Show answer

    Six weeks after Parliament reassembles, unless approved earlier.

Powers of the President and the Three Emergencies: frequently asked questions

Can the President make laws?

Only ordinances, when Parliament is not in session.

Who is the Supreme Commander of the armed forces?

The President.

Which emergency suspends the state government?

Failure of constitutional machinery in a state (President's Rule).

Can the President return a Money Bill for reconsideration?

No. A Money Bill is introduced on his recommendation and cannot be returned.