Election Commission of India and State Election Commission

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering the establishment, roles, constitutional provisions, and differences between the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the State Election Commissions (SEC).

Election Commission of India (ECI)

A permanent and independent Constitutional Body established directly under the provisions of the Constitution of India to ensure free and fair elections in the country.

Constitutional Body

A body established directly under the provisions of the Constitution, such as the Election Commission of India.

Jurisdiction of ECI

Responsible for elections to the Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha), State Legislatures, the Office of President of India, and the Office of Vice-President of India.

Article 324

The constitutional provision vesting the superintendence, direction, and control of elections in an Election Commission.

Article 325

States that no person shall be ineligible for inclusion in, or claim to be included in a special, electoral roll on grounds of religion, race, caste, or sex.

Article 326

Specifies that elections to the House of the People and the Legislative Assemblies of States shall be on the basis of adult suffrage.

Article 327

Grants power to Parliament to make provisions with respect to elections to Legislatures.

Article 328

Grants power to the Legislature of a State to make provisions with respect to elections to such Legislature.

Article 329

Bars interference by courts in electoral matters.

Part XV

The specific part of the Indian Constitution that deals with elections and establishes the Election Commission.

ECI Establishment Date

25th January 1950, in accordance with the Constitution.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC)

The head of the Election Commission of India who also acts as the Chairman of the ECI when other Election Commissioners are appointed.

ECI Appointment

The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners are appointed by the President of India.

Tenure of ECI Commissioners

A term of 6 years or until they reach the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.

Proven misbehavior or incapacity

The constitutional grounds on which judges of High Courts and the Supreme Court, the CEC, and the CAG may be removed by a resolution passed by Parliament.

Impeachment

A term exclusively used in the Constitution for the removal of the President, requiring a special majority of two-thirds of the entire strength of both chambers.

Administrative Powers

The ECI's authority regarding the supervision, direction, and control of the conduct of elections as conferred by Article 324.

Advisory Powers

The role of the ECI in advising the President on whether a person convicted of corrupt practices should be disqualified from competing in elections.

Quasi-Judicial Powers

Functions such as the registration of political parties, which the Supreme Court has ruled is a quasi-judicial job performed by the ECI.

Model Rules of Ethics

A code of ethics used by the ECI to monitor the acts and activities of political parties and candidates to ensure free and fair elections.

Consolidated Fund of India

The fund from which the salaries of the Chief Election Commissioner are charged.

Regional Commissioners (RCs)

Commissioners appointed by the President, after consultation with the ECI, to assist the ECI as deemed necessary.

State Election Commission (SEC)

An autonomous and constitutional body authorized to conduct elections for local governance, including rural Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies.

Part IX and Part IXA

The parts of the Indian Constitution dealing with Panchayats (rural local government) and Municipalities (urban local government) respectively.

Article 243K and Article 243ZA

Constitutional provisions dealing with the establishment and authority of the State Election Commission in every state.

State Election Commissioner Appointment

The head of the State Election Commission is appointed by the Governor of the state.

SEC Removal Process

The State Election Commissioner can only be removed from office on the same grounds and manner specified for a High Court judge (via President and Parliament).

Delimitation of Constituencies

A responsibility of the State Election Commission to determine the boundaries of local body constituencies before every general election.