CBSE Class 9 Answered

 Four ways in which Parliament exercise political authority on behalf of people are:

• All the bills have to be presented and passed in Lok Sabha before they become laws. Since Lok Sabha consists of elected representatives of the people, it exercises authority over the government.
• The first hour in every sitting of Lok Sabha is called the Question Hour. The members of Lok Sabha can ask questions from the cabinet ministers on various policies formulated by them and the latter have to reply to their queries. In this way Parliament keeps a check on their work.
• The Prime Minister and the cabinet ministers are responsible to the Parliament for all the work done by them. If the Parliament passes the motion of no confidence with majority against any minister, then the Prime Minister and his council of ministers have to resign collectively.
•  All money bills including the budget have to be passed in the Lok Sabha with majority. Thus, the Parliament keeps a check on the income and expenditure of the government.

Powers of the Prime Minister of India are:

• The Prime Minister can appoint the cabinet ministers. He can also ask for the resignation of any minister if the latter is not able to fulfill his duties. Thus, all the council of ministers hold cabinet at the pleasure of the Prime Minister.
• As Chairperson of the Cabinet, he summons its meetings and presides over them. He also takes important decisions that are related to the working of the government and the country.
• The Prime Minister is the link between the President and the cabinet ministers. All the communications to the President regarding the policies formulated by the cabinet is made by the Prime Minister.
• The Prime Minister decides the foreign policy of the country (also declaring wars and signing peace treaties). He represents the country in key foreign summits.
• All the key appointments in the government department and various ministries take place with the approval of the Prime Minister.
• All the key economic policies are formulated by the government with the approval of the Prime Minister. He may also give important guidelines to the Finance Minister while the preparing the budget of the country.