Features of Countries Inspired in Making of the Constitution Video Lecture | Indian Polity for UPSC CSE

Ans. The features of countries that inspired the making of the Constitution include: - Separation of powers: Inspired by countries like the United States and France, the Constitution incorporated the concept of dividing governmental powers among different branches to prevent the concentration of power in a single entity. - Fundamental rights: Influenced by countries like the United Kingdom and Canada, the Constitution guarantees certain fundamental rights and freedoms to its citizens, ensuring their protection and equality before the law. - Federalism: Borrowed from countries like Germany and Switzerland, the Constitution established a federal system of government, dividing powers between the central government and the states or provinces. - Judicial review: Inspired by the United States, the Constitution provides for the power of the judiciary to review the constitutionality of laws and government actions. - Representative democracy: Influenced by various democratic nations, the Constitution establishes a system of representative democracy, where citizens elect their representatives to make decisions on their behalf.

Ans. The concept of separation of powers influenced the making of the Constitution by ensuring a system of checks and balances. It was inspired by countries like the United States and France. The Constitution divided the powers of the government into three branches: the executive, legislative, and judicial. This division prevented the concentration of power in a single entity and provided a system of checks and balances. The executive branch, headed by the President, is responsible for implementing and enforcing laws. The legislative branch, consisting of the Parliament or Congress, is responsible for making laws. The judicial branch, headed by the Supreme Court, is responsible for interpreting laws and ensuring their constitutionality. This separation of powers ensures that no single branch becomes too powerful and that each branch can check and balance the actions of the others.

Ans. Countries like the United Kingdom and Canada influenced the inclusion of fundamental rights in the Constitution. The Constitution guarantees certain fundamental rights and freedoms to its citizens, ensuring their protection and equality before the law. These rights include the right to life, liberty, and security of person, freedom of speech, religion, and assembly, the right to a fair trial, and protection against discrimination. The inclusion of fundamental rights in the Constitution was influenced by the recognition of similar rights in countries like the United Kingdom's common law tradition and Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms. These countries served as models for ensuring the protection of individual rights and providing a framework for justice and equality.

Ans. The concept of federalism, borrowed from countries like Germany and Switzerland, played a significant role in shaping the making of the Constitution. Federalism is a system of government where powers are divided between a central government and regional or state governments. In the Constitution, federalism ensures that certain powers are assigned to the central government, while others are reserved for the states or provinces. This division of powers allows for a balance between a strong central authority and regional autonomy. It also provides a mechanism for addressing the diverse needs and interests of different regions within the country. Federalism in the Constitution allows for a decentralized system of governance and promotes cooperation and coordination between the central and state governments.

Ans. The concept of judicial review, inspired by the United States, was incorporated into the Constitution to ensure the judiciary's power to review the constitutionality of laws and government actions. The Constitution grants the judiciary the authority to interpret and apply the Constitution, making it the final arbiter of legal disputes. If a law or government action is deemed unconstitutional, the judiciary can declare it null and void. This power of judicial review acts as a check on the legislative and executive branches, ensuring that their actions are in accordance with the Constitution. The inclusion of judicial review in the Constitution was influenced by the need to safeguard individual rights, uphold the rule of law, and maintain the balance of power among the different branches of government.