Samacheer Class 10 Social Science - State Government

The Governor is the constitutional head of a state and holds an important position in the state government. He is appointed by the President and represents the Union government in the state, thus acting as a link between the Centre and the state. All the executive actions of the state government are carried out in his name. He appoints the Chief Minister and, on the Chief Minister's advice, the other ministers, and he summons, prorogues and can dissolve the Legislative Assembly. He gives his assent to bills passed by the state legislature and may reserve certain bills for the consideration of the President. He also appoints important officials and the Advocate General of the state. In times of crisis, his report can lead to the imposition of President's Rule, which makes his role especially significant.

The Constitution lays down only a few qualifications for the appointment of a Governor. First, the person must be a citizen of India. Secondly, he or she must have completed thirty-five years of age. Certain conditions are also attached to the office: the Governor should not be a member of either House of Parliament or of a State Legislature, and if such a member is appointed he must vacate his seat; and the Governor should not hold any other office of profit. By convention, the Governor is usually appointed from outside the state concerned, so that he can act in an impartial manner. He is appointed by the President, holds office during the President's pleasure, and normally serves for a term of five years.

The original jurisdiction of a High Court is its power to hear and decide certain cases directly, that is, in the first instance, rather than on appeal from a lower court. Under this jurisdiction a person can bring a case straight to the High Court. It includes matters such as the enforcement of Fundamental Rights, for which the High Court can issue writs like habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, quo warranto and certiorari under Article 226 of the Constitution. It also covers cases relating to wills, divorce, company matters, contempt of court, and election petitions concerning members of Parliament and of the state legislature. In all these matters the High Court acts as the court of first instance and decides the case itself.

The appellate jurisdiction of a High Court is its power to hear and decide appeals against the judgments and orders of the courts that are subordinate to it. This means that a person who is dissatisfied with the decision of a lower court can appeal to the High Court for a review of that decision. This jurisdiction covers both civil and criminal cases. In civil matters, appeals come from the decisions of district courts and other subordinate civil courts. In criminal matters, appeals may be made against the decisions of sessions courts, especially in cases where a heavy sentence, such as a long term of imprisonment or the death penalty, has been awarded. After hearing the appeal, the High Court may confirm, reverse or modify the decision of the lower court.

The Governor enjoys important legislative powers in the state. He is a part of the state legislature, and he summons and prorogues its sessions and can dissolve the Legislative Assembly. He addresses the legislature at the beginning of the first session each year and after every general election. Every bill passed by the legislature must receive his assent before it becomes law; he may give his assent, withhold it, return a bill other than a Money Bill for reconsideration, or reserve certain bills for the consideration of the President. Where there is a Legislative Council, he nominates some of its members from among persons with special knowledge, and to the Assembly he may nominate one member of the Anglo-Indian community. When the legislature is not in session, he can issue ordinances that have the same force as laws.

The Chief Minister is the real head of the state government and the leader of the Council of Ministers. His main powers and functions are as follows. He forms the Council of Ministers, allocates departments among the ministers, and can reshuffle or drop them. He presides over the meetings of the Cabinet and coordinates the work of all the departments of the government. He is the chief link between the Governor and the Council of Ministers, conveying the decisions of the Cabinet to the Governor and advising him on important appointments. He leads the government in the legislature and is its chief spokesperson. He plays the main role in framing the policies and programmes of the state government, and he advises the Governor on the summoning and dissolution of the Assembly. Thus he is the most powerful functionary in the state.

The Council of Ministers, headed by the Chief Minister, is the real executive of the state government. The Governor is the constitutional head, but he acts on the aid and advice of this Council. Its main functions are as follows. It frames and decides the policies of the state government and is responsible for running the administration through the various departments. It prepares and introduces bills and the annual budget in the legislature and gets them passed. It implements the laws and looks after law and order, development and welfare in the state. The Council is collectively responsible to the Legislative Assembly, which means that if the Assembly passes a vote of no-confidence against it, the entire Council must resign. Each minister is also individually responsible for the working of his own department.

The State Government's administrative setup begins with the Governor, who is the constitutional head. The real executive power rests with the Chief Minister, who is the head of government. The Chief Minister is assisted by the Council of Ministers, who head various departments. The Chief Secretary oversees the State Secretariat, which comprises various departments headed by Secretaries. These departments are responsible for policy formulation and implementation. Below the secretariat are Directorates and the District Administration, headed by the District Collector, responsible for implementing policies at the local level. Finally, Local bodies like Municipalities and Panchayats, along with Field offices and line departments, carry out day-to-day administrative functions. The High Court functions as a separate constitutional organ overseeing the judicial functions within the state.

Students should consult the official Tamil Nadu government sources (e.g., https://www.tn.gov.in or https://www.tnrajbhavan.gov.in) for the current list of the Governor, Chief Minister and Ministers.