This book is a study of the president of India's authority to enact legislation (or ordinances) at the national level without involving parliament.

This landmark volume of specially commissioned, original contributions by top international scholars organizes the issues and controversies of the rich and rapidly maturing field of comparative constitutional law. Divided into sections on constitutional design and redesign, identity, structure, individual rights and state duties, courts and constitutional interpretation, this comprehensive volume covers over 100 countries as well as a range of approaches to the boundaries of constitutional law. While some chapters reference the text of legal instruments expressly labeled constitutional, others focus on the idea of entrenchment or take a more functional approach. Challenging the current boundaries of the field, the contributors offer diverse perspectives - cultural, historical and institutional - as well as suggestions for future research. A unique and enlightening volume, Comparative Constitutional Law is an essential resource for students and scholars of the subject.

Investigates how recent Presidents have engaged Congress on issues of domestic policy. Peterson (Government, Harvard) argues against the presidency-centered perspective on national government and contends that Congress is far more influential in crafting proposals. He identifies five types of congressional responses to the proposals submitted by the executive branch and includes an analysis of some 300 presidential initiatives. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

'Well written, solidly researched and cogently argued' --Shashi Tharoor 'Bhanu has ably argued the case' --Kuldip Nayar 'This timely book... looks at the many advantages of the presidential system.' --Shanta Kumar At one time or another, Dr Ambedkar, Mahatma Gandhi, M.A. Jinnah, Sardar Patel and many other top leaders strongly opposed India's adoption of the parliamentary system. History has proven them right. Given its diversity, size, and communal and community divisions, the country needed a truly federal setup -- not the centralized unitary control that the parliamentary system offers.Why India Needs the Presidential System tells the dramatic story of how India's current system of government evolved, how it is at the root of the problems India faces. The result of years of meticulous research, this book makes a passionate plea for a radical rethink of India's future as a nation. Why India Needs the Presidential System is not just an expose of what is wrong, but a serious effort at offering a possible solution.