Important Questions Constitution Why and How - Political Science Class

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Q1: Why certain rules are necessary for society?
Ans: Certain rules and understandings are necessary so that relationships among members of society remain orderly and predictable. They help maintain discipline, protect individual rights, resolve conflicts, and enable people to cooperate to achieve common goals.

Q2: Why is the Constitution needed?
Ans: The Constitution is the fundamental framework of rules and principles that defines the relationship between citizens and organs of government. It lays down how power is to be exercised, limits the rulers, provides stability and clarity in governance, and acts as the supreme law to protect rights and ensure accountability. A Constitution may be written or unwritten, but its role in organising the state remains the same.

Q3: What is Constituent Assembly?
Ans: A Constituent Assembly is a body of representatives entrusted with debating, deciding and drafting a country's Constitution. Such assemblies study issues, consult various groups and prepare the written document that lays down the basic law and structure of government.

Q4: What are the main functions of the Constitution?
Ans: The Constitution performs several essential functions:

• It defines the jurisdiction and powers of different organs of government.
• It specifies the composition and organisation of the government.
• It establishes the relationship between the state and its citizens, including rights and duties.
• It limits the powers of government to prevent abuse and ensure accountability.

Q5: Name main countries from where institutions and features are taken for the Indian Constitution.
Ans: The Indian Constitution drew on ideas and institutions from several countries and is often called a borrowed bag. Britain had the greatest influence. Other important sources were the United States, Canada, Ireland, Australia and South Africa. The drafters selected features that suited India's needs and combined them into a single document.

Q6: What is the Preamble of the Constitution?
Ans: The Preamble is the introductory part of the Constitution that states its basic values, aims and guiding philosophy. It indicates the form of government and the objectives the Constitution seeks to achieve, and it helps in interpreting its provisions.

Short Answer Type Questions

Q7. Discuss the importance of a written constitution.
Ans: A written constitution is important because it provides a clear, accessible statement of the rules for running the state. Key points are:

• It clearly defines the powers and duties of various branches of government.
• It reduces ambiguity in interpretation and makes the law predictable.
• It is usually the result of thorough debate and represents agreed principles of governance.
• It enjoys wider acceptance as the supreme legal document and helps protect citizens' rights.

For these reasons, a written constitution gives legitimacy and stability to the political system.

Q8. Write four important functions of the Constitution.
Ans: The Constitution performs several key functions:

• Basic Rules: It lays down the essential rules that enable people to live together in an organised society and empowers the government to make and enforce laws.
• Framework of Government: It describes the structure of government and the roles and responsibilities of the legislature, executive and judiciary.
• Limits on Government Power: It sets boundaries on what the government may do and protects fundamental rights of citizens against arbitrary action.
• Fulfilment of Aspirations: It seeks to realise the people's aspirations for justice, equality and welfare through democratic institutions and policies.

Q9. How Parliament is subordinate to that of the Constitution in India?
Ans: In India, Parliament is subordinate to the Constitution in several important ways:

• The Constitution defines the composition, powers and jurisdiction of Parliament.
• The Constitution is the supreme law; laws made by Parliament must conform to it.
• Parliament may legislate only on subjects allotted to it by the Constitution.
• Parliamentary laws are subject to judicial review by the courts, which can strike down laws violating the Constitution.
• Amendments to the Constitution follow procedures laid down in the Constitution itself (for example, Article 368); they are not made arbitrarily.

Thus Parliament functions within the limits set by the Constitution and can be checked by the judiciary when it exceeds those limits.

Q10. On which philosophy our Constitution is based?
Ans: The Preamble of the Indian Constitution expresses its basic philosophy, which rests chiefly on three principles:

• Socialism: It aims to reduce social and economic inequalities so that resources and opportunities are more fairly distributed.
• Secularism: It guarantees freedom of religion and requires the state to treat all religions equally.
• Democracy: It provides for government by the people through regular elections and representative institutions.

These principles together guide the policies and goals of the Constitution in promoting a just and inclusive society.

Q11. How the Constitution make the people one collective entity?
Ans: A Constitution creates a collective political identity by setting common rules and shared principles for governance. Important aspects are:

• It establishes a collective identity through agreed values and constitutional citizenship.
• While people may have different social, linguistic or religious identities, the Constitution defines their common political identity as citizens.
• It provides the framework within which individuals pursue their aims and exercise freedoms, while accepting limits set for the common good.
• Institutions like the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary derive authority from the Constitution and operate under its rules.
• The Judiciary interprets the Constitution to ensure equal application of its rules.
• Parliament may make laws, but only within the constitutional limits; it cannot override the Constitution.

By defining rights, duties and institutions, the Constitution binds diverse people into a single political community.

Q12. How we can ensure the success of a Constitution?
Ans: The success of a Constitution depends on several features and practices:

• Separation of Powers: Clear division between legislature, executive and judiciary prevents concentration of power. For example, the United States model uses checks and balances to limit any one organ.
• Fragmentation of Power: The Indian Constitution disperses authority across central and state governments and independent institutions (such as the Election Commission) to avoid dominance by a single body.
• Public Support: A Constitution succeeds when it reflects widely accepted values and is seen as legitimate by the people.
• Core Values and Flexibility: A good Constitution preserves essential principles while allowing for lawful change so it remains relevant over time.

When these features work together, the Constitution is more likely to secure freedom, equality and stability.

Q13. What features we have borrowed from the USA and Britain for our constitution.
Ans: The Indian Constitution incorporates ideas from several countries. Major features taken from the USA and Britain include:

From the USA:

• Written Constitution
• The Preamble
• Fundamental Rights
• Post of Vice-President
• Judicial Review

From Britain:

• Single Citizenship
• Civil Service (Bureaucracy)
• Parliamentary System of Government
• Rule of Law
• Integrated Judiciary
• Bicameral Legislature

Long Answer Type Questions

Q14. Giving a brief history of the demand of the Constituent Assembly, explain the theoretical and constitutional framework of the Indian Constitution.
Ans: The demand for a Constituent Assembly became prominent during the national movement. The Nehru Report of 1928 first called for a representative body to frame a constitution. During the Second World War the British government made various offers (the August Offer of 1940, the Cripps Mission of 1942 and the Wavell Plan of 1945) but these did not satisfy Indian leaders. The Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946 finally accepted the idea of a Constituent Assembly and provided for its formation. Mahatma Gandhi and other leaders insisted that true Swaraj would be realised only when people's representatives prepared the constitutional framework.

The Constituent Assembly was set up by indirect elections held within provincial legislatures under the provisions of the Government of India Act 1935. The Assembly worked to draft the Constitution for nearly three years. The Objective Resolution moved by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1946 expressed the basic aims and values that the Constitution should embody - liberty, equality and democracy. The draft Constitution was completed on 26 November 1949 and came into force on 26 January 1950, when India became a Republic and the office of the elected President replaced the earlier nominated Governor-General.

• The Assembly's members were chosen by provincial legislative assemblies; seats were allotted to provinces and princely states according to population.
• Efforts were made to include representatives of different communities, and provisions were made for the Scheduled Castes and other groups.
• The Constituent Assembly debated and combined various ideas to form a constitution suited to India's diverse needs.

Thus the Constituent Assembly provided both the theoretical foundations and the constitutional framework for independent India.

Q15. Write the composition of the Constituent Assembly of India.
Ans: The Constituent Assembly formed to draft the Indian Constitution initially comprised 389 members. Its composition was as follows:

• 292 members from British-ruled provinces
• 93 members from the Princely States
• 4 members representing certain minority interests

Members were chosen indirectly by the provincial legislative assemblies formed under the Government of India Act 1935. The Assembly was constituted under the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946. The drafting process took two years, eleven months and eighteen days, leading to the adoption of the Constitution on 26 November 1949.

Q16. How the powers are demarcated in Indian Constitution?
Ans: A clear demarcation of powers is essential for the working of any constitution. The Indian Constitution distributes powers in two main ways:

• By separating the functions of the executive, legislature and judiciary so that no single organ becomes dominant.
• By federal distribution between the Union and the States through specified subject-lists.

Powers are divided into three lists:

• Union List: 97 subjects on which the central government can legislate
• State List: 66 subjects primarily for state legislatures
• Concurrent List: 47 subjects where both centre and states may legislate

Matters not mentioned in these lists (residual subjects) are reserved for the Union government. This arrangement provides clarity and helps balance unity with regional autonomy.

Q17. How far you agree that the Indian Constituent Assembly was a representative body?
Ans: The Constituent Assembly was representative to a considerable extent, though it was not elected by universal adult franchise. Important points are:

• Direct adult franchise had not been introduced then, so members were chosen indirectly by provincial legislatures.
• The election method sought to include different regions and communities.
• Special efforts were made to ensure representation of various groups, for example, members from the Scheduled Castes.
• After Partition the Congress party held a dominant position in the Assembly (about eighty-two per cent of seats in the Indian provinces), but the Assembly nonetheless included a range of views.

Overall, while not directly elected by the entire adult population, the Constituent Assembly was designed to be broadly representative of India's political and social diversity.

Q18. What goals are set in the Indian Constitution?
Ans: The Indian Constitution sets several major goals to remedy historical injustices and to promote welfare. These goals are summarised in the Preamble and include:

• Justice - Social, economic and political justice to remove inequalities.
• Equality - Equal status and opportunities for all citizens.
• Liberty - Freedom of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship.
• Fraternity - A sense of brotherhood, ensuring national unity and dignity of the individual.
• Dignity of the Individual - Ensuring every person can live with self-respect and basic material well-being.

To achieve these goals, the Constitution provides for representative government, fundamental rights, directive principles of state policy, and special measures such as affirmative action. National integration and social justice remain central objectives.

Q19. How our constitution is an instrument of socio-economic change?
Ans: The Constitution has been an important instrument for socio-economic change in India by setting goals and providing institutions to achieve them. Key ways in which it has brought change are:

• It established democratic institutions that allow citizens to participate in governance and demand reforms.
• Provisions for education and welfare in the Directive Principles encouraged policies to raise literacy and public health.
• Legal guarantees such as fundamental rights and abolition of untouchability helped reduce social discrimination.
• Land reforms, affirmative action and welfare schemes promoted greater social and economic inclusion.
• Overall living standards improved over time with better access to health, housing and employment, though challenges remain.

Thus the Constitution provides both goals and instruments for progressive socio-economic change.

Q20. Write important features of the Indian Constitution.
Ans: Important features of the Indian Constitution are:

• Written Constitution - A single comprehensive document recording the basic law.
• Blend of Rigidity and Flexibility - Some provisions are easy to amend, while others require a special procedure.
• Preamble - States the aims and guiding principles of the Constitution.
• Liberal Constitution - Protects individual freedoms through fundamental rights.
• Parliamentary Government - Executive is responsible to the legislature.
• Federal System - Division of powers between centre and states with specified lists.
• Republican System - The head of state is an elected President.
• Fundamental Rights - Basic civil and political rights guaranteed to citizens.
• Fundamental Duties - Citizens' responsibilities towards the nation.
• Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) - Guidelines for social and economic governance.
• Secularism - Equal treatment of all religions by the state.
• Bicameral Legislature - Parliament consists of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
• Universal Adult Franchise - Every adult citizen has the right to vote.
• Multi-Party System - Encourages political competition and representation.
• Judicial Review - Courts can examine the constitutionality of laws.
• Mixed Economy - Coexistence of public and private sectors.
• Single Citizenship - One citizenship for the whole country.
• Supremacy of the Constitution - The Constitution is the highest law to which all other laws must conform.