Class 11 Political Science Short Questions With Answers - Constitution: Why And How?

Q1: Who moved the ‘Objective Resolution’ in the Constituent Assembly?
Ans: Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru moved the ‘Objective Resolution’ in the Constituent Assembly.

Q2: What are the different forms of justice mentioned in the Preamble to the Constitution of India?
Ans: There are three forms of justice mentioned in the Preamble to the Constitution. 
These are:
(a) Social justice, 
(b) Economic justice, 
(c) Political justice.

Q3: What is the nature of state according to the Preamble?
Ans: The nature of the state according to the Preamble is Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic.

Q4: Discuss the objectives of our Constitution as embodied in the Preamble. 
Ans: Following are the objectives of our Constitution given in the Preamble: 
(a) Justice, social, political and economic
(b) Liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;
(c) Equality of Status and of opportunity and to promote among them all
(d) Fraternity assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the nation.

Q5: Write down the different forms of liberty mentioned in the Preamble of the Constitution.
Ans: The Preamble of the Constitution guarantees the following forms of liberty to the citizens of India:

(a) Liberty of thought – Freedom to think independently without any restriction.
(b) Liberty of expression – Freedom to express one’s views and opinions freely.
(c) Liberty of belief and faith – Freedom to hold and practice any belief or faith.
(d) Liberty of worship – Freedom to follow and practice any religion or mode of worship.

Q6: Explain the composition of the Constituent Assembly.
Ans: The Constituent Assembly consisted of 389 members: 296 from British Indian provinces and 93 from Indian princely states. Out of the 296 members from British Indian provinces, 4 were from the Chief Commissioners’ Provinces.
The first meeting of the Constituent Assembly was presided over by the senior-most and experienced member, Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha, and was attended by 210 members.

Q7: Write a short note on the Constituent Assembly of India.
Ans: 

• The Cabinet Mission, 1946 recommended the setting up of Constituent Assembly. The Constituent Assembly was to consist of 389 members: 296 from the British provinces and 93 from the Indian states. The elections to the Constituent Assembly were held in July, 1946. The results of the elections created a sense of frustration in the league. 
• The Constituent Assembly constituted of 299 members after the withdrawal of the Muslim League. The first session of the Constituent Assembly was held on December 9, 1946. The Constituent Assembly adopted the National Flag on 22nd July, 1947. On August 29, 1947 a Drafting Committee under the Chairmanship of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar was appointed.
• After doing much labour, the Draft Constitution was published in January, 1948. The members of the Constituent Assembly were given eight full months to consider the draft of the Constitution. At last, on November 26, 1949, the Constituent Assembly adopted the new Constitution of India. The new Constitution came into effect on  January 26, 1950.
  

Q8: Mention four sources of the Indian Constitution.
Ans: 
(a) Government of India Act, 1935 – Major administrative and structural features were adopted.
(b) Constitutions of other countries – Borrowed features from the USA, Britain, Ireland, France, etc.
(c) Constituent Assembly debates – Discussions and reports shaped the final draft.
(d) Judicial decisions and constitutional amendments – Helped interpret and evolve the Constitution.

Q9: Why is Indian Constitution bulky?
Ans: The Indian Constitution is bulky because:
(a) It serves a diverse population.
(b) It includes detailed provisions for Centre and states.
(c) It has a single Constitution for both Union and states.
(d) It incorporates features from many foreign constitutions.
(e) It provides special provisions for certain states and communities.

Q10: Why do we need a Constitution?

OR

Why does any nation need a constitution?

OR

What are the functions of constitutions?
Ans: All the democratic countries of the world have Constitutions. We need a Constitution due to the following reasons: 
(a) Constitution is needed to provide basic rules which assure coordination amongst members of a society. 
(b) Constitution is needed to provide fundamental principles and rules on the basis of which government should be run. 
(c) Constitution is needed to specify how the government will be constituted. 
(d) Constitution puts limitations on the three organs of the government so that no organ should become absolute and arbitrary.

Q11: “The Indian constitution is neither too flexible and nor too rigid” Justify.
Ans: Indian constitution is world's largest written constitution. And in general, changing a written constitution is very difficult. But, Indian Constitution is both rigid and flexible, because the procedure of amendment is neither easy nor difficult. The Constitution has provided a federal structure for India. A special majority of the Union Parliament, i.e., a majority of not less than two-thirds vote is required to amend the Constitution.

Q12: Explain the term Fraternity.
Ans: The dictionary meaning of the term Fraternity is brotherhood. Without fraternity, Liberty and equality are meaningless. It was the main slogan of the French Revolution. The preamble of the Indian Constitution lays special stress upon the promotion of fellow feeling among the people of India. Unless the people become a community of interests, cohesion into one nation is not possible.

Q13: Bring out the significance of the terms “sovereign, Democratic Republic” as mentioned in the Preamble?
Ans: India is a sovereign state. It means the state in India is the supreme authority over all men and all associations within the country and is absolutely free from any outside control.
India is democratic. It means that in India all governments are formed on the basis of popular support. India is republic. It means all offices of the state from the highest to the lowest are held on the basis of merit and no office of the state is held on the basis of hereditary right.

Q14: Discuss the importance of a written constitution.
Ans: The importance of a written constitution can be summarised as follows:

• A written constitution provides a clear and authoritative framework for governance.
• It establishes the rule of law, ensuring that all individuals and institutions are subject to the law.
• It protects the rights of citizens by clearly outlining their fundamental rights and freedoms.
• It defines the structure of government, including the separation of powers among different branches.
• A written constitution promotes stability and continuity in governance, helping to prevent arbitrary rule.
• It serves as a reference point for resolving disputes and guiding legal interpretations.
• By enshrining the aspirations of the people, it fosters a sense of national identity and unity.

Q15: Write important features of the Indian Constitution.
Ans: The main features of the Indian Constitution are as under:-

• Written Constitution
• Flexible and rigid Constitution
• The preamble of the Constitution
• Liberal Constitution.
• Parliamentary form of government
• Federal system of government
• Republican system
• Fundamental Rights
• fundamental Duties
• Directive Principles of State Policy
• Secularism
• Bicameral Legislature of the centre
• Adult Franchise
• Multi-Party System
• Power of Judicial Review to the Judiciary
• Mixed economy
• Single citizenship
• Supremacy of the Constitution

Q16: How are the powers demarcated in the Indian Constitution?
Ans: The important basis of the effectiveness of a constitution is a balanced arrangement of the distributions of power and allocation of areas of work (jurisdiction) among the institutions and organs of the government. The basic principle on which the constitution worked was that the government must be democratic and committed to the welfare of the people. The constitution-makers, for the purpose of evolving the right balance among the various institutions like the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary, adopted parliamentary form government and a federal-arrangement between the center and states. This will lead to the distributions of power between the legislature and executive on the one hand and between the central government and the state governments. For this purpose the powers were distributed on the basis of three lists as under :

• Union list 96 subjects
• State list 66 subjects
• Concurrent list 47 subjects. The residual powers rest with the center

Q17: How far do you agree that the Indian Constituent Assembly was a representative body?

Ans: Although the members of the Constituent Assembly were not directly elected by the people, there was a significant effort to make it a representative body. Key points include:

• The concept of adult franchise was not in place at the time, making direct elections impractical.
• Members were elected by the legislative assemblies of the states, ensuring some level of representation.
• Efforts were made to include various opinions and perspectives through a nomination process.
• Representation was provided to members of all religions, enhancing diversity.
• The Indian National Congress, which dominated the political landscape, held a significant majority in the Assembly, occupying around 82% of the seats after the Partition.
• The Congress party was diverse, accommodating many sections of society and opinions.

In conclusion, despite not being elected by universal suffrage, the Constituent Assembly can be considered a representative body due to its efforts to include various voices and perspectives.

Q18: How is Parliament subordinate to the Constitution of India?
Ans: In India, Parliament is certainly subordinate to the Constitution because Parliament is the product of the Constitution which has set the composition and jurisdiction of the Parliament. In India, we have the supremacy of the Constitution and not of Parliament. Parliament will discharge its duty in the areas assigned by the Constitution. Parliament can make laws on the issues which are given in the central list, and sometimes on the issues of the state list also. But its laws are open for judicial review. Therefore, we can say that in India, Parliament is subordinate to the Constitution, which can be altered only by the Constituent Assembly.

Q19: What goals are set in the Indian Constitution?
Ans: 

• Indian society inherited inequality, discrimination, illiteracy, and injustices as a legacy of British imperialism.
• After independence, the people of India had high hopes.
• Constitution makers were aware of these needs and aspirations of the people.
• New goals for the society were set to be realized through the governmental machinery.
• These objectives were incorporated in the Preamble of the Constitution.
• The framers of the Indian constitution thought that each individual in the society should have all that which is necessary for them to lead a life of minimum dignity and social self-respect and also minimum material well-being.
• Therefore to achieve egalitarianism is the first goal of the Constitution.
• To achieve these goals, related values like justice, equality, liberty, the dignity of the individual, fraternity among the people of the country are incorporated.
• National integrations are also the goal of the Constituent.

Q20: On which philosophy our Constitutions is based?
Ans:  The Indian Constitution is founded on three main philosophies:

• Socialism: This aims to ensure that everyone has access to their basic needs and works towards reducing social disparities. It embodies the principle of "from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs," promoting an egalitarian society.
• Secularism: This principle guarantees freedom of religion for all citizens, asserting that there should be no state religion. It emphasises that religion is a personal matter.
• Democracy: The Constitution promotes full participation of the people in governance and decision-making processes, ensuring that the voice of the populace is heard.

These philosophies collectively aim to create a just and equitable society.

Q21: How is our constitution an instrument of socio-economic change?
Ans:  The Indian Constitution plays a crucial role in driving socio-economic changewithin the country. Here are some key points illustrating its impact:

• The Constitution was designed to address the inequalities inherited from the British Raj.
• Its Preamble and chapters on Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles set clear objectives for social justice and economic welfare.
• Over time, there has been a significant transformation in the socio-economic landscape:
  i) Increased literacy rates.
  ii) Improvements in health, housing, and access to drinking water.
  iii) Enhanced quality of life for many citizens.
  iv) Reduction in social evils, such as untouchability.
• Per capita income has risen, and employment opportunities have expanded.
• The Constitution fosters a vibrant democracy, enabling citizens to participate actively in governance.

• Overall, the constitutional provisions have empowered the government to implement measures that promote equality and uplift the disadvantaged, reflecting the aspirations of Indian society.

Q22: How does the Constitution make the people one collective entity?
Ans: The Constitution expresses the fundamental identity of a people, creating a collective entity through a shared agreement on governance norms. Here are key points to understand this process:

• The Constitution establishes a basic set of norms that define how a society is governed and who is included in that governance.
• While individuals may have various identities based on race, caste, or language, the Constitution helps form a unified political identity.
• It provides a framework for pursuing individual aspirations, goals, and freedoms, thereby granting a social, political, and ethical identity.
• Institutions such as the Executive, Legislative, and Judiciary derive their authority from the Constitution.
• The Judiciary has the final say in interpreting the Constitution, ensuring that no one is above it.
• Parliament can make laws only within the limits set by the Constitution, and it cannot alter its basic structure without the approval of a Constituent Assembly.
• The supremacy of the Constitution means that all individuals and institutions must adhere to its principles.

• In summary, the Constitution not only defines governance but also fosters a sense of unity among diverse individuals, ensuring that their collective identity is respected and upheld.

Q23: What features have we borrowed from the USA and Britain for our constitution?

Ans: As said the Indian Constitution is a borrowed bag because our constitution is indebted to many countries from which we have a number of features. 
From USA, we have borrowed the following features: 

• Written Constitution
• The preamble of the Constitution
• Fundamental Rights
• The post of Vice-President
• Power of Judicial review for our Judiciary.

From Britain : 

• Single citizenship
• Bureaucracy
• The parliamentary system of Government
• Rule of law
• Integrated judiciary
• Bicameral legislative

Q24: How can we ensure the success of a Constitution?
Ans: To ensure the success of a constitution, several key mechanisms must be in place:

• Internal Mechanisms: There should be systems to prevent any group or government body from becoming too powerful. For instance:
  i) The American Constitution employs a separation of powers with checks and balances, ensuring no single branch dominates.
  ii) The Indian Constitution distributes power among various institutions, including the legislature, executive, judiciary, and independent bodies like the Election Commission.
• Public Support: The constitution must resonate with the people by balancing core values and norms while allowing flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances.
• Balanced Institutional Design:A well-crafted constitution fragments power to prevent subversion by small groups. This includes:
  • Ensuring no single institution holds a monopoly on power.
  • Creating a system where different institutions can check each other’s powers.
• Adaptability: A successful constitution balances authority with the ability to evolve, avoiding rigidity that could hinder progress.

Q25: Write some features of the Cabinet Mission Plan?
Ans:  The Cabinet Mission Plan laid the groundwork for the formation of the Indian Constitution through the Constituent Assembly. Here are its main features:

• Proportional Representation: Each province and princely state was allocated seats based on their population, approximately in the ratio of 1 seat for every 1,000,000 people.
• Member Distribution: The plan provided for 292 members from British provinces and a minimum of 93 from princely states.
• Community Representation: Seats in each province were divided among three main communities: Muslims, Sikhs, and the general community, in proportion to their populations.
• Election Method: Members of each community elected their representatives through a method of proportional representation using a single transferable vote.
• Consultation for Princely States: The selection method for representatives from princely states was to be determined through consultation.