Passage Based Questions: Constitution: Why and How? | Political Science Class 11 - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

Passage - 1

Direction: Read the following Passage and Answer the Questions.

Constitutions limit the power of government in many ways. "The most common way of limiting the power of government is to specify certain fundamental rights that all of us possess as citizens and which no government can ever be allowed to violate. The exact content and interpretation of these rights varies from constitution to constitution. But most constitutions will protect a basic cluster of rights. Citizens will be protected from being arrested arbitrarily and for no reason. This is one basic limitation upon the power of government. Citizens will normally have the right to some basic liberties: to freedom of speech, freedom of conscience. freedom of association, freedom to conduct a trade or business etc. In practice, these rights can be limited during times of national emergency and the constitution specifies the circumstances under which these rights may be withdrawn.

Q1: What is the most common way constitutions limit the power of government?
Ans: 

• The most common way constitutions limit the power of government is by specifying fundamental rights that citizens possess.
• These rights are protected and cannot be violated by the government.

Q2: What are some examples of basic liberties typically protected by most constitutions?
Ans: 

• Most constitutions protect basic liberties such as freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, freedom of association, and the freedom to conduct a trade or business.
• These liberties are considered fundamental and are guaranteed to citizens.

Q3: Under what circumstances can the limitations on basic rights be temporarily lifted according to most constitutions?
Ans: 

• Basic rights can be limited during times of national emergency.
• Constitutions typically specify the conditions and circumstances under which these rights may be temporarily withdrawn or restricted by the government.

Passage - 2

Direction: Read the following Passage and Answer the Questions.

In many countries constitutions remain e unct because they are crafted by military leaders or leaders who are not popular and do not have the ability to carry the people with them. "The most successful constitutions, like India, South Africa and the United States, are constitutions which were created in the aftermath of popular national movements. Although India's Constitution was formally created by a Constituent Assembly between December 1946 and November 1949. it drew upon a long history of the nationalist movement that had a remarkable ability to take along different sections of Indian society together. The Constitution drew enormous legitimacy from the fact that it was drawn up by people who enjoyed immense public credibility, who had the capacity to negotiate and command the respect of a wide cross-section of society. and who were able to convince the people that the constitution was not an instrument for the aggrandisement of their personal power. The final document reflected the broad national consensus at the time.

Q1: What distinguishes successful constitutions like India's, South Africa's, and the United States' from less successful ones?
Ans:

• Successful constitutions are typically crafted in the aftermath of popular national movements.
• They are created by leaders who enjoy immense public credibility and can command respect from various segments of society.
• These constitutions convince the people that they are not tools for personal power but reflect a broad national consensus.

Q2: When was India's Constitution formally created, and what was its historical foundation?
Ans:

• India's Constitution was formally created between December 1946 and November 1949.
• It drew upon the historical foundation of the nationalist movement in India, which had a remarkable ability to unite different sections of society.

Q3: Why did India's Constitution enjoy significant legitimacy, and what did the final document reflect?
Ans:

• India's Constitution gained legitimacy because it was drafted by individuals with immense public credibility and the ability to negotiate and command respect.
• The final document reflected a broad national consensus at the time, assuring the people that it was not designed for personal power accumulation.

Passage - 3

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Another important aspect of intelligent institutional design is: that a constitution must strike the right balance between certain values, norms and procedures as authoritative. and at the same time allow enough flexibility in its operations to adapt to changing needs and circumstances. Too rigid a constitution is likely to break under the weight of change: a constitution that is, on the other hand. too flexible, will give no security, predictability or identity to a people. Successful constitutions strike the right balance between preserving core values and adapting them to new circumstances. You will notice the wisdom of the makers of the Indian Constitution in the chapter on the Constitution as a living document. The Indian Constitution is described as 'a living' document. By striking a balance between the possibility to change the provisions and the limits on such changes, the Constitution has ensured that it will survive as a document respected by This arrangement also ensures that no section or group can, on its own, subvert the Constitution.

Q1: What is the key challenge in designing a constitution, according to the passage, and why is striking the right balance important?
Ans:

• The key challenge in designing a constitution is striking the right balance between authoritative values, norms, and procedures, and flexibility to adapt to changing needs.
• Striking this balance is crucial because a constitution that is too rigid can break under the weight of change, while one that is too flexible offers no security, predictability, or identity to a nation.

Q2: How does the Indian Constitution demonstrate wisdom in addressing the balance between rigidity and flexibility?
Ans:

• The Indian Constitution is described as a "living document" because it strikes a balance between the possibility of changing provisions and the limits on such changes.
• This arrangement ensures that the Constitution remains respected and adaptable while preventing any section or group from unilaterally subverting it.

Q3: What is the significance of preserving core values while adapting them to new circumstances in successful constitutions?
Ans:

• Successful constitutions preserve core values while adapting them to new circumstances to ensure their continued relevance and effectiveness.
• This approach allows the constitution to provide both stability and the capacity to evolve, maintaining its identity and respect among the people.

Passage - 4

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As a consequence of the Partition under the plan of 3 June 1947 those members who were elected from territories which fell under Pakistan ceased to be members of the Constituent Assembly. The number of members in the Assembly was reduced to 299. "Ihe Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949. 284 members were actually present on 24 January 1950 and appended their signature to the Constitution as finally passed. The Constitution came into force on 26 January 1950. The Constitution was thus framed against the backdrop of the horrendous violence that the Partition unleashed on the subcontinent. But it is a tribute to the fortitude of the framers that they were not only able to draft a constitution under immense pressure. but also learnt the right lessons from the unimaginable violence that accompanied the Partition. The Constitution was committed to a new conception of citimnship, where not only would minorities be secure, but religious identity would have no bearing on citizenship rights.

Q1: What was the impact of the Partition on the composition of the Constituent Assembly, and how did it affect the number of members?
Ans:

• The Partition of India in 1947 resulted in a significant change in the composition of the Constituent Assembly.
• Members elected from territories that became part of Pakistan ceased to be members of the Constituent Assembly.
• As a result, the number of members in the Constituent Assembly was reduced to 299.

Q2: When was the Indian Constitution adopted, and how many members were present when it was signed?
Ans:

• The Indian Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949.
• On 24 January 1950, 284 members of the Constituent Assembly were present and appended their signatures to the final document.

Q3: How did the violence of the Partition influence the framing of the Indian Constitution, and what novel concept of citizenship did the Constitution embrace?
Ans:

• The violence of the Partition served as a backdrop for the framing of the Indian Constitution, but the framers showed resilience and determination despite the challenging circumstances.
• The Constitution was committed to a new concept of citizenship, where minorities would be assured of security, and religious identity would not impact citizenship rights.

Passage - 5

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The Constitution drew its authority from the fact that members of the Constituent Assembly engaged in what one might call public reason. The members of the Assembly placed a great emphasis on discussion and reasoned argument. They did not simply advance their own interests, but gave principled reasons to other members for their positions. The very act of giving reasons to others makes you move away from simply a narrow consideration of your own interest because you have to give reasons to others to make them go along with your view point. The voluminous debates in the Constituent Assembly, where each clause of the Constitution was subjected to scrutiny and debate, is a tribute to public reason at its best. These debates deserved to be memorialised as one of the most significant chapters in the history of constitution making, equal in importance to the French and American revolutions.

Q1: What was the basis of the Constitution's authority, according to the passage?
Ans:

• The Constitution derived its authority from the practice of "public reason."
• Members of the Constituent Assembly emphasized discussion and reasoned argument when crafting the Constitution.
• They provided principled reasons for their positions, moving away from solely pursuing their self-interests.

Q2: How did engaging in public reason affect the decision-making process in the Constituent Assembly?
Ans:

• Engaging in public reason required members to give reasons to persuade others to support their viewpoints.
• This approach encouraged a broader consideration beyond narrow self-interests.

Q3: In what way does the passage compare the debates in the Constituent Assembly to other historical events?
Ans:

• The passage compares the debates in the Constituent Assembly to the significance of the French and American revolutions.
• It suggests that these debates deserve recognition as one of the most important chapters in the history of constitution-making.

Passage - 6

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Usually, Jawaharlal Nehru. Rajendra Prasad, Sardar Patel or B.R. Ambedkar chaired these Committees. "These were not men who agreed With each other on many things. Ambedkar had been a bitter critic of the Congress and Gandhi, accusing them of not doing enough for the upliftment of Scheduled Castes. Patel and Nehru disagreed on many issues. Nevertheless, they all worked together. Each Committee usually drafted particular provisions of the Constitution which were then subjected to debate by the entire Assembly. Usually, an attempt was made to reach a consensus with the belief that provisions agreed to by all, would not be detrimental to any particular interests. Some particular interests. Some provisions were subject to the vote. But in each Instance, every single argument, query or concern was responded to with great care and in writing. The Assembly met for one hundred and sLxty six days. spread over two years and eleven months. Its sessions were open to the press and the public alike.

Q1: Who were some of the key individuals who chaired the Committees responsible for drafting provisions of the Constitution of India?
Ans:

• Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajendra Prasad, Sardar Patel, and B.R. Ambedkar were among the prominent leaders who chaired these Committees.

Q2: Despite their disagreements on various issues, how did these leaders collaborate during the drafting of the Indian Constitution?
Ans:

• They worked together effectively, with each Committee drafting specific provisions of the Constitution.
• An attempt was made to reach a consensus on most provisions to ensure they didn't harm any particular interests.
• Some provisions were put to a vote, but every argument, query, or concern was addressed carefully and in writing.

Q3: What were some notable characteristics of the process of drafting the Indian Constitution in terms of its duration and transparency?
Ans:

• The Constituent Assembly met for a total of 166 days, spread over nearly three years.
• The sessions of the Assembly were open to both the press and the public, ensuring transparency and accountability in the drafting process.

Passage - 7

Direction: Read the following Passage and Answer the Questions.

While evolving the most balanced governmental arrangements, the makers of our Constitution did not hesitate to learn from experiments and experiences of other countries. Thus. the framers of the Constitution were not averse [o borrowing from other constitutional traditions. Indeed, it is a testament to their wide learning that they could lay their hands upon any intellectual argument, or historical example that was necessary for fulfilling the task at hand. So they borrowed a number of provisions from different countries. But borrowing these ideas was not slavish imitation. Far from it. Each provision of the Constitution had to be defended on grounds that it was suited to Indian problems and aspirations. India was extremely lucky to have an Assembly that instead of being parochial in its outlook could take the best available everywhere in the world and make it their own.

Q1: Why did the framers of India's Constitution look to other countries for inspiration when crafting their governmental arrangements?
Ans:

• The framers of India's Constitution sought inspiration from other countries to create a balanced governmental system.
• They were open to learning from the experiments and experiences of other nations.

Q2: How did the framers of India's Constitution approach the process of borrowing ideas from other constitutional traditions?
Ans:

• They did not blindly imitate other countries but critically assessed each provision's suitability for Indian problems and aspirations.
• Borrowed ideas were adapted to fit India's unique context rather than being slavishly copied.

Q3: What distinguished India's Constituent Assembly in its approach to borrowing ideas from other countries?
Ans:

• India's Constituent Assembly was not parochial in its outlook; it had a global perspective.
• It had the ability to select and integrate the best available ideas from around the world into the Indian Constitution, making them their own.