Indian and US constitutions

 US  presidential election  is  scheduled on 6th November

US constitution is different from the Indian Constitution.

* Indian constitution is written by using 1 ,17, 369 words ( came to force on 26th Jan 1950 = Republic Day )

US constitution is written  by using 4345 words, the  shortest constitution in the world.( came to force on  4th Mar 1789)

* In India, the President is the head of the State ( Country ), PM is the Head of the Government.

In US, the President is both the Head of the State and  Head of the Government.

*India is having PM as the supreme executive ( Parliamentary democracy, UK type 

US is having President as  the supreme executive.( Presidential democracy)

* Indian PM is elected by the the majority party of the Lok Sobha for 5 years.

 US President is directly elected by the people  through electoral colleges for 4 years.

* In India, there are PM as well President. PM is  the real executive, President is the nominal executive.( without real powers)

In US, there is no PM. President is all powerful real executive ( Ruler )

* India if the  PM dies , The  senior most Cabinet minister will become the acting PM, then the  ruling party in the  Lok Sabha will elect a PM again for the remaining period.

* In US, if the President dies, immediately the vice president will become the President for the remaining period.

When President Kennedy was shot dead, Vice president Lyndon Johnson  became  immediately the President.

* In India,  the tenure of the Lok Sabha  ( Lower house )  five years.

In US, the tenure of the House of representatives ( Lower house )  is only 2 years, For the Lower House the election is conducted once in 2 years.

* In India, there is multiparty democracy. ( many political parties are allowed )

In US, there is two party system ( only two political parties  are allowed, Democratic and Republic  party)

* In India, the President is elected by  both  MPs & MLAs, V.President  elected by the MPs only.( For president election, system of electoral college is used, for every MP and MLA value is determined  by keeping the number of voters of the respective states.)

In US, President and V.President are directly by the people through Electoral colleges, there are 535 Electoral colleges.

Winning candidate  should win in majority of  Electoral colleges  currently  270  . In case of a tie , the  President is elected by the Lower House and Vice President by Upper House.

* In India, the President has practically no ruling power, even the mercy petitions are decided by the Home Dept.( Govt.)

In US , the president is the most powerful administrative head or real Chief Executive .

* In India, one can become president  for any number of times continuously.

In US ,no President can remain  for more than two consecutive terms, 

Obama if elected  for second term, he cannot contest for third term consecutively, there should be a gap. After a gap of one term , he can contest again.

* In India Parliament is bicameral : Lok Sabha ( Lower House- 5 yrs) and Rajya Sabha ( Upper House-6 yrs )

Congress is  the name given to the  US parliament.
In US,  Congress ( Parliament ) is bicameral :  House of Representatives( Lower house -2 yrs ) ,Senate ( Upper House - 6 yrs)

Bicameral = Bi= 2 = Two Chambers. 

( Unicameral =unit =1 =  only one legislative Chamber, China is having only  one Chamber which is the highest legislative body called  National People's  Congress)

The election is scheduled  on 6th Nov 2012.

Democratic Party Candidate  is Obama,  Republican Candidate  is Romney

Only in TV  the debates are going on on policies of  political parties.

No street poster, no procession, no loud speaker propaganda, no pamphlets, in short no sign of election.

The whole country is silent.

People hear the three debates  in TV of the  two candidates   and decide whom to vote.

While debates are going on, the  public, the press people  are allowed  to question. Candidates answer.

People are worried about the safety of the country and economy of the country.

The most of the questions are on these subjects.

For students use,

Presidential Election in US is fixed on the  Tuesday between 2 and 8th  of Nov. once in 4 years ( first  Tuesday  is 6th Nov. this year )

Voting age  is 18.

The elected President will take the oath of affirmation on 20th Jan 2013. ( it is a  fixed date )

In those days, members of the Congress ( Parliament )  should come by coaches drawn by horses to Washington to attend the function of the President's oath taking. The distances of some of the  states from Washington are very far, to felicitate them  to reach Washington , so many days were allotted in those days. It is followed even now.Till then, the existing President will continue.

All the world countries have written Constitution, Only UK has the  Unwritten  Constitution which  is an evolved Constitution grown with the history of UK.

( I was teaching ' Constitutions of the World ' for BA students of our Tutorial Institution for 20 years, this knowledge helped to prepare this article )