The President is elected by members of the Parliament and the state legislatures, the representatives of the people. As such citizens of India are not directly involved (take part) in the election of the President. The legislators elect the President by secret ballot.
Term of Office:
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He is elected for five years. He can be re-elected.
Powers of the President:
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(1) The President is the executive head of the Union of India.
(2) The President has extensive financial, judicial and emergency powers.
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(3) All executive actions are taken in his name.
(4) He is the Supreme Commander of the Defence Forces.
(5) He can summon, prorogue (postpone) address and send message to the two Houses of Parliament. He gives his assent to the bills passed by Parliament.
(6) He appoints the Prime Minister and other Ministers of the Union Government, Governors, Diplomats, Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, the members of the Public Service Commission, the Comptroller and Auditor-General and the Attorney-General.
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(7) He can grant pardon and suspend, remit or commute (make it less severe) sentences in certain cases.
(8) He can issue ordinance when the Parliament is not in session.
(9) He can declare war or make peace.
(10) He can declare a state of emergency in the event of a war, external aggression, internal disturbances, and failure of constitutional machinery in any state or threat of financial stability.
Salary :
The present salary of the President is Rs. 50,000/- per month.
Pension:
The pension of the President is Rs. 3,00,000/- per annum.
Method of Electing the Vice-President of India:
The Vice-President is elected by the members of Parliament only by secret ballot in accordance with the system of proportional representation by a single transferable vote.
Term of Office:
His term of office is 5 years.
Functions:
The Vice-President acts as ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. He acts as the President during the absence of the President if there is a casual vacancy in the office of the President.
The present salary of the Vice-President is Rs. 40,000/- per month.