• The Parliament alone can make ‘extraterritorial legislation’. Thus, the laws of the Parliament are also applicable to the Indian citizens and their property in any part of the world.
• The Parliament has exclusive powers to make laws with respect to inter-state trade and commerce.

• During a national emergency, the state governments are brought under the complete control of the Centre, though they are not suspended.
• A resolution of disapproval of the national emergency is required to be passed by the Lok Sabha only by a simple majority only.
• A resolution of continutation of the national emergency is required to be passed by both the Houses of Parliament by a special majority.
• The national emergency is declared by the President. But it is revoked by the Lok Sabha by passing a resolution for its revocation.
• During the President’s Rule, the president administers the state through the Governor and the Parliament makes laws for the state.

The Constitution provides for 

• Adjudication of inter-state water disputes.
• Coordination through the inter-state councils.
• Freedom of inter-state trade, commerce and intercourse.

Neither the Supreme Court nor any other court is to have jurisdiction in respect of any water dispute which may be referred to such a tribunal under the Inter-State Water Disputes Act.

• A constitution amendment bill can be introduced by a minister or a private member.
• It does not require prior permission of the President.
• The following provisions can be amended by Special majority of the Parliament and Consent of States
  • Election of the President and its manner
  • Extent of the executive power of the Union and the States
  • Supreme Court and High Courts
  • Distribution of legislative powers between the Union and the States
  • Any of the lists in the 7th Schedule
  • Representation of States in Parliament
  • Power of Parliament to amend the constitution and its procedure (Article 368)

In the Waman Rao Case (1981), the Supreme Court adhered to the doctrine of the ‘Basic Structure’ and further clarified that it would apply to constitutional amendments enacted after April 24,1973 (i.e. the date of judgement in the Kesavananda Bharati Case)

Collective Responsibility is the bedrock principle of parliamentary government. The ministers are collectively responsible to the Parliament in general and to the Lok Sabha in Particular (Article 75).

• The basic structure doctrine was evolved from the Kesavananda Bharati Case (1973). 
• It states that certain features of the constitution are so essential to it that they cannot be abrogated.
• Over the period of time, certain provisions are added to the doctrine by various judgements. According to which, the fundamental rights can be amended provided that Article 14, 21 and 32 are not touched. 
• The constitution can be amended by simple majority and in accordance with Article 368.
• Preamble is a part of the constitution and it can be amended provided that it is not done to the 'basic structure'.

• Collective Responsibility is the feature of Parliamentary system.
• Office of CAG is a constitutional body and it represents the unitary feature of the constitution

The Indian federation resembles the Canadian federation in the following ways –

1. In its formation (by way of disintegration)
2. In its preference to the term ‘Union’ (Canadian federation is also called Union)
3. In its centralising tendency (i.e vesting more powers in the centre vis-à-vis the states)

• All the given provisions can be amended by a simple majority amendent and not considered as the consitution amendment under Article 368. It falls outside the scope of Article 368.

Britain has the system of legal responsibility of the minister while India has no such system. Unlike in Britain, the ministers in India are not required to countersign the official acts of the Head of the State

• The Indian state may engage with religion negatively to oppose religious tyranny. This is reflected in such actions as the ban on untouchability. It may also choose a positive mode of engagement.
• Thus, the Indian Constitution grants all religious minorities the right to establish and maintain their own educational institutions which may receive assistance from the state.

• When the President thinks that the advice has certain flaws or legal lacunae, or that it is not in the best interests of the country, the President can ask the Council to reconsider the decision.
• There is no mention in the Constitution about the time limit within which the President must send the bill back for reconsideration This gives the President an informal power to use the veto in a very effective manner. This is sometimes referred to as ‘pocket veto’.
• The President can act on his discretion (that is, without the advice of the ministers) under the following situations -

1. Appointment of Prime Minister when no party has a clear majority in the Lok Sabha or when the Prime Minister in office dies suddenly and there is no obvious successor
2. Dismissal of the council of ministers when it cannot prove the confidence of the Lok Sabha
3. Dissolution of the Lok Sabha if the council of ministers has lost its majority

• In 1983, the central government appointed a three-member commission on Centre-State relations under the chairmanship of R S Sarkaria and submitted submitted its report on 1987.
• It made 247 recommendations to improve Centre-State relations.
• The residuary power of taxation should continue to remain with the Parliament, while the other residuary powers should be placed in the Concurrent List.
• The Centre should consult the states before making a law on a subject of the Concurrent list.
• When the president withholds his assent to the State bills, the reasons should be communicated to the State government.

Before the 91st Amendment Act (2003), the size of the Council of Ministers was determined according to exigencies of time and requirements of the situation. But this led to very large size of the Council of Ministers. Besides, when no party had a clear majority, there was a temptation to win over the support of the members of the Parliament by giving them ministerial positions as there was no restriction on the number of the members of the Council of Ministers.

Therefore, an amendment was made that the Council of Ministers shall not exceed 15% of total number of members of the House of the People.

Almost like a living being, this document keeps responding to the situations and circumstances arising from time to time. Like a living being, the Constitution responds to experience. In fact that is the answer to the riddle we mentioned at the beginning about the durability of the Constitution. Even after so many changes in the society, the Constitution continues to work effectively because of this ability to be dynamic, to be open to interpretations and the ability to respond to the changing situation. This is a hallmark of a democratic constitution.

• The president can promulgate an ordinance only when both the Houses of Paliament are not in session or when either of the two Houses of Parliament is not in session. (not whenever council of ministers advises).
• The maximum life of an ordinance can be six months and six weeks.
• The ordinance making power of the President is coextensive with the law-making powers of the Parliament except the duration.
• It cannot be issued to amend the constitution (Transfering an entry from state to concurrent list requires constitutional amendment)

Article 360 empowers the president to proclaim a Financial Emergency if he is satisfied that a situation has arisen due to which the financial stability or credit of India or any part of its territory is threatened.

The consequences of the proclamation of a Financial Emergency are as follows:

1. The executive authority of the Centre extends (a) to directing any state to observe such canons of financial propriety as are specified by it; and (b) to directions as the President may deem necessary and adequate for the purpose.
2. Any such direction may include a provision requiring (a) the reduction of salaries and allowances of all or any class of persons serving in the state; and (b) the reservation of all money bills or other financial bills for the consideration of the President after they are passerby the legislature of the state.
3. The President may issue directions for the reduction of salaries and allowances of (a) all or any class of persons serving the Union; and (b) the judges of the Supreme Court and the high court.
4. Thus, during the operation of a financial emergency, the Centre acquires full control over the states in financial matters. H N Kunzru, a member of the Constituent Assembly, stated that the financial emergency provisions pose a serious threat to the financial autonomy of the states.

• The Interstate council is a constitutional body established under the Article 263 of the Constitution 
• The 5 Zonal Councils are statutory bodies established by the State Reorganisations Act, 1956 
• North-Eastern Council is a statutory body established by the North-Eastern Council Act, 1971