Class 9 Civics Chapter 2 Extra Question Answers - Constitutional Design

Q1. Which of the guiding values of the Constitution of India means that people have the supreme right to make decisions?

Answer:  The guiding value called 'Sovereign' means that people have the supreme right to make decisions on internal as well as external matters. No external power can dictate to the Government of India. 

Q2. How many members did the Constituent Assembly have that wrote the Indian Constitution?

Answer: The Constituent Assembly that wrote the Indian Constitution had 299 members. 

Q3. Name the President of the Constituent Assembly?

Answer: Dr Rajendra Prasad was the President of the Constituent Assembly. 

Q4. Is it true that non-democratic countries do not have a Constitution?

Answer: No, it is not true. Whether democratic or not, most countries in the world need to have some basic rules which are called the Constitution.  

Q5. Name the Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee of India?

Answer:  Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar, an eminent lawyer and politician, was the Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee of India.  

Q6. Earlier to 1992, South Africa practiced a form of racial discrimination. What is it termed as?

Answer:  The racial discrimination practiced in South Africa prior to 1992 was called apartheid. 

Q7. In a republic, how is the Head of State decided or chosen?

Answer: In a republic, the Head of State is a person elected by people. 

Q8. Nelson Mandela remained in prison for treason for how many years?

Answer: Nelson Mandela remained in prison for about 27 years in South Africa’s most dreaded prison, Robben Island. 

Q9. On which day did South Africa gain independence from the rule of the White minority?

Answer: South Africa gained independence from the rule of the White minority on 26th April, 1994.  

Q10. What is the title of the autobiography of Nelson Mandela?

Answer: The title of the autobiography of Nelson Mandela is, "Long Walk to Freedom".  

Q11. Which national leader tried to draft a Constitution for India as far back as in 1928?

Answer: Pandit Moti Lal Nehru tried to draft a Constitution for India in 1928. 

Q12. When were the elections to the Constituent Assembly held in India?

Answer:  The elections to the Constituent Assembly were held in July, 1946 

Q13. In which country did a large number of 'Whites' settle and become the local rulers?

Answer: The country is South Africa.  

Q14. Who said, ".... I shall work for an India in which the poorest shall feel that it is their country in whose making they have an effective voice. ......"?

Answer: Mahatma Gandhi said this statement.   

Q15. Which organisation led the freedom movement in South Africa?

Answer:  The African National Congress (ANC) was the umbrella organisation that led the struggle against the policies of segregation.  

Q16. Which Indian politician bitterly criticized Mahatma Gandhi's vision?

Answer: Dr BR Ambedkar, who played a key role in the making of the Constitution, had a different understanding from Mahatma Gandhi of how inequalities could be removed. He often bitterly criticised Mahatma Gandhi and his vision. 

Q17. From which country's Constitution have most countries of the world chosen to begin their Constitution with a Preamble?

Answer:  Taking inspiration from American model, most countries in the contemporary world have chosen to begin their constitutions with a preamble 

Q18.  Did all members of the Constituent Assembly of India hold the same views on all provisions of the Constitution?

Answer: No, they did not. But the Constituent Assembly worked in a systematic, open and consensual manner to decide all matters. 

Q19. Why is India considered as a sovereign country?

Answer: India is a sovereign country because people have supreme right to make decisions.  

Q20. How do you define a country where citizens have complete freedom to follow any religion?

Answer: A country where citizens have complete freedom to follow any religion in known as secular state.  

Q21. Define the Preamble.

Answer: An introductory statement containing guiding values in a Constitution is known as Preamble.  

Q22. Name the leader who used to write in the magazine 'Young India' in 1931.

Answer:  Mahatma Gandhi used to write in the magazine 'Young India' in 1931.  

Q23. Who is known as the Father of Indian Constitution?

Answer:  Dr BR Ambedkar is known as the Father of Indian Constitution. 

Q24. What is 'Constituent Assembly Debates'?

Answer:  Each and every document presented and every word spoken in the Constituent Assembly have been recorded and preserved as 'Constituent Assembly Debates'.  

Q25. In which session of the Congress did Indian National Congress Plan on how independent India's Constitution should look like?

Answer:In Karachi Session(1931), Indian National Congress planned on how independent India's Constitution should look like 

Q26. When did the Indian Constitution come into force?

Answer: On 26th January, 1950, the Indian Constitution came into force.  

Q27. In the Constituent Assembly, the first captain of the Indian hockey team also has a role. Who was he?

Answer: The first captain of the Indian hockey team also has a role in the Constituent Assembly was Jaipal Singh.  

Q28. Which country has the longest written Constitution of the world?

Answer: India has the longest written Constitution of the world. 

Q29. On the basis of what did the system of apartheid divide people?

Answer: On the basis of skin colour the system of apartheid divided    people.   

Q30. "I have fought against the white domination and I have fought against the Black domination''. Who said this sentence?

Answer: Nelson Mandela said this statement. 

Q31. Name the founder of Andhra Mahila Sabha. 

Answer: G Durgabai Deshmukh was the founder of Andhra Mahila Sabha.   

Q32. There are no unreasonable restrictions on the citizens in India, in what way they think, how they wish to express their thoughts. This means they enjoy _______ .

Answer: Liberty

Q33. All of us should behave as if we are members of the same family. No one should treat a fellow citizen as inferior. This defines a word given in Preamble of our Constitution which is _______ .
Answer: Fraternity  

Q34. What does the phrase ‘Service of India’ mean?
Answer: . The service of India means the service of the millions who suffer. It means the ending of poverty and ignorance and disease and inequality of opportunity. 

Q35.  What are the four main ideals enshrined in the Preamble of the Indian Constitution?
Answer:
The ideals written in the Preamble of the Constitution are as under :

• Justice: Every citizen of India will have social, economic and political justice.
• Liberty: Every citizen will have the liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship.
• Equality: Every citizen will be provided with the equality of status and opportunity.
• Fraternity: All the citizens of India have been assured about the dignity of individual and the unity and integrity of the nation.

Q36. What was the 'Drafting Committee'?

Answer: 

• The Drafting Committee, chaired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, was formed to prepare a draft of the Constitution for discussion.
• Several rounds of thorough discussion took place on the Draft of the Constitution, clause by clause, ensuring comprehensive deliberation.
• The committee members dedicated 114 days over three years to meticulously craft the foundational document.
• After the drafting process, the Constitution was opened to the public for their feedback and opinions, reflecting a commitment to democratic participation and transparency.

Q37.  How did the Blacks of South Africa fight against the practice of apartheid? What is meant by apartheid? How did the people of South Africa struggle against it? Or Describe any three efforts made by the people of South Africa to struggle against the apartheid system.

Answer: Apartheid was the name of a system of racial discrimination unique to South Africa, which was imposed by the white Europeans on the blacks. 

• Since 1950, the blacks, coloureds and Indians fought against the apartheid system. They launched protest marches and strikes. 
• The African National Congress led the struggle against this policy of segregation. 
• Many workers' unions and the Communist Party joined this movement. 
• Even many sensitive Whites joined the ANC and played a leading role in this movement. 

Q38. What is meant by 'sovereign, socialist and secular' as the key words of our Constitution?

Answer:  The Constitution of India declares India as a sovereign, socialist, secular and democratic republic.

• Sovereign: The sovereign nature of India signifies that people of India have supreme right to make decisions on internal as well as external matters.
• Socialist: The socialist nature of India suggests that wealth is generated socially and should be shared equally by society.
• Secular: The word 'secular' signifies that the state has no official religion of its own. Every citizen has complete freedom to follow any religion.  

Q39. The South African Constitution inspires democrats all over the world'. Justify the statement.

Answer:  

• After extensive discussion and debate lasting two years, the Constitution of South Africa was created, offering its citizens the most comprehensive rights found in any nation.
• In drafting the Constitution, all individuals were considered equal, regardless of their past actions. This inclusive approach aimed to unite all communities, turning past grievances into a unifying force for a diverse nation.
• The diverse groups within the nation came together to collectively address the country's challenges, emphasizing social equality and justice as the foundational principles of the Constitution.
• The Constitution of South Africa serves as a source of inspiration for proponents of democracy worldwide, showcasing the power of unity.

Q40. Who led the struggle against apartheid? State any four practices following in the system of apartheid in South Africa.

Answer:

Apartheid was the name of a system or policy of racial discrimination unique to South Africa.  African National Congress (ANC) led the struggle against apartheid. Many sensitive whites also joined the ANC to oppose apartheid and played a leading role in the struggle movement. 

Practices that were followed in the system of apartheid are discussed below: 

• The white Europeans imposed this system on non-white people of South Africa. 
• The blacks were forbidden from living in white areas. They could work in these areas only if they had a permit. 
• There were separate schools, colleges, hotels, hospitals, trains, buses, cinema halls, theatres, shopping areas and public toilets, swimming pools and beaches, etc for the whites and blacks. 
• The blacks could not even visit the churches where the whites worshipped.
• The non-whites were denied the voting rights and even the basic human right.  

Q41. What is a Constitution? Why do we need a Constitution? Give any five reasons. 

Or 

Why do we need a Constitution in a democracy? Explain any three reasons. 

Or 

What is a Constitution? Why do we need a Constitution? Give any four reasons.

Answer:  The Constitution of a country is a set of written rules that are accepted by all people living together in a country. Constitution is the supreme law that determines the relationship among people living in a territory (called citizens) and also the relationship between the people and government. We need a Constitution because

• It generates a degree of trust and coordination that is necessary for different   kind of people to live together.
• It specifies how the government will be constituted, who will have power to take which decisions.  
• It lays down limits on the powers of the   government and tells us what the rights of the citizens are.
• It expresses the aspirations of the people about creating a good society.
• Indian Constitution safe guards the interests of minority, OBC, poor and weaker section of our society. It gives universal adult  franchise to all and establishes equality for all.  

Q42. "The manner in which the Constituent Assembly worked gives sanctity to the constitution of India. "Justify the statement with three arguments.

Answer:  

The manner in which the Constituent Assembly worked gives sanctity to the Constitution. This statement can be justified by following points: 

• It worked in a systematic, open and consensual manner.
• First some basic principles were decided and agreed upon and a draft of Constitution was prepared.
• Serveral rounds of thorough discussion took place, clause by clause.
• More than two thousands amendments were considered.
• Every document presented and every word spoken in the Constituent Assembly was recorded and preserved. These 'Constituent Assembly Debates, were printed in 12 volumes.  

Q43. How has the Indian Constitution embodied the basic values into institutional arrangements? Explain.

Answer:  

Indian Constitution is embodying the basic values into institutional arrangements by following ways:

• The Constitution of India is a detailed document. It needs to be amended quite regularly to keep it updated. It has to be changed in accordance with people's aspirations and changes in society. These changes are called Constitutional Amendments.
• The Constitution lays down a procedure for choosing persons to govern the country. 
• It defines who will have how much power to take which decisions.
• It limits the powers of the government by providing some rights to the citizen that cannot be violated.  

Q44. Explain the major factors that contributed to the making of Indian Constitution. 

Or 

List the factors that contributed to the making of Indian Constitution. 

Answer:  The making of a Constitution for a huge and diverse country like India was not an easy task. The various factors that contributed in the making of our Constitution were 

• Many of our leaders were inspired by the ideals of French Revolution
• They were also influenced by the practice of parliamentary democracy in Britain and the Bill of Rights in the US.
• Socialist Revolution in Russia inspired them to think of a system based on social and economic equality. 
• At each step they questioned whether the things suited our country or not.

Q45. What would have happened in South Africa if the black majority had decided to take revenge on the whites for all their oppression and exploitation?

Answer: 

• Had the black community not forgiven the whites for their oppression and exploitation, seeking revenge could have resulted in widespread bloodshed.
• This retaliation might have led to a division of the country, preventing the emergence of the united and peaceful South Africa we see today.
• Fortunately, the black community followed the policy of non-violence in their freedom struggle.  

Q46. Read again the extracts from Nehru's speech "Tryst with Destiny" and answer the following Why did Nehru use the expression "not wholly or in full measure" in the first sentence? What pledge did he want the makers of the Indian Constitution to take? "The ambition of the greatest man of our generation has been to wipe every tear from every eye". Who was he referring to?

Answer: 

• Pt Jawaharlal Nehru used the expression 'not wholly or in full measure' because the pledge that they had taken was yet to be fulfilled, it was yet to be completed, although not all at once but substantially and gradually.
• Pt Jawaharlal Nehru wanted the makers of the Constitution to take a pledge of dedication to the service of the nation and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity.
• Pt Jawaharlal Nehru was referring to Mahatma Gandhi.  

Q47. Here are some of the guiding values of the Constitution and their meanings. Rewrite them by matching them correctly.

Answer: (a)-(ii),  (b)-(iii), (c)-(iv),   (d)-(i),  

Q48. Here are different opinions about what made India a democracy. How much importance would you give to each of these factors? Democracy in India is a gift of the British rulers. We received training to work with representative legislative institutions under the British rule. Freedom struggle challenged the colonial exploitation and denial of different freedoms to Indians. Free India could not be anything but democratic. We were lucky to have leaders who had democratic convictions. The denial of democracy in several other newly independent countries shows the important role of these leaders.

Answer:

• Although, the British rule was not democratic our leaders learnt about how to work with representative Legislative institutions during the last few years of the rule, as the British allowed elections in a limited way and creation of some Legislative Assemblies. 
• Freedom struggle  against  colonial  exploitation contributed a lot to making India a democracy. 
• This is the most important factor in making India a democracy. The absence of these type of leaders made many newly independent countries undemocratic.