CONSTITUTIONAL DESIGN

Q1.What is Constitution? What is its importance?

Ans. The Constitution of a country is a set of written rules that are accepted by all the people living together in a
country. The constitution is a supreme law that determine the relationship among the people living in a territory
(called citizens) ,and also the relationship between the people and the government.
Importance:
1. It generates a degree of trust and coordination that is necessary for different kinds of people to live together.
2. It specifies how the government will be constituted, who will have the power to take which decisions.
3. It lays down the limits on the powers of the government and tells us what the rights of the citizens are.
4. It expresses the aspirations of the people about creating a good society.
5. The constitution safeguards the fundamental rights of the citizens.
Q2. Write a few lines about Constituent Assembly that framed the Constitution for India?
 Elections to the constituent assembly were held in July 1946.
 Its first meeting was held in December 1946.
 It had 299 members.
 The assembly adopted the constitution on 26th November 1949.
 It came in to effect on January 26th 1950.
 To mark this day we celebrate January 26th as Republic Day ,every year
Q3. Explain the sources of inspiration for the makers of the Indian Constitution .
Ans. The makers of Indian Constitution were inspired by the ideals of the French Revolution, Parliamentary form
of government from Britain, Bills of Rights of United States, and equalitarian society of Russia etc
Q4. Why should the Indians accept the Constitution drafted by the Assembly more than seventy years ago?
Ans. The Constitution of India was drafted after each provision were debated and discussed by the members of
Constituent Assembly. It took about 3 years to complete the framing of the constitution. The Assembly consisted of
members belonging to all the sections of the Indian society. So far no major party demanded the drafting of new
constitution.
Q5. What were the features on which the foundation of Indian democracy stands?
Ans. The values that inspired and guided the freedom struggle and were in turn nurtured by it, formed the
foundation for India’s democracy. These values are embedded in the constitution. They guide all the articles of the
Indian Constitution.
Q6. Write about the Preamble of the Indian Constitution.
Ans. A Preamble is an introduction to the constitution. The Preamble of the Indian Constitution reads like a poem
on democracy . It contains a philosophy on which the entire constitution has been built . It provides a standard to
examine and evaluate any law and actions of Government , to find out whether it is good or bad . It is the soul of
the Indian Constitution.
Q7.Why should the Indian Constitution be subjected to amendments?
Ans. The constitution of India is the lengthiest document of the world. To keep it updated it needs to be amended.
The makers of the Indian Constitution were of the opinion that it has to be in accordance with the people’s
aspiration and changes in society. They felt that the constitution is not a sacred, static and unalterable law. So they
made a provision to incorporate changes from time to time. These changes are called constitutional amendments.

8. When was the Constituent Assembly of India formed?

Ans. 1946.
9. When did the Constituent Assembly starts working?
Ans. December ,1946.
10. When was Constituent adopted?
Ans. 26th November ,1949.
11. When was Constitution enforced?
Ans. 26th January ,1950.

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12. How long did the Constituent Assembly work?
Ans. It worked for about 3 years .It met on 114 days.
13. Who was the President of Constituent Assembly?
Ans. Dr. Rajendra Prasad.
14. Who was the Chairman of drafting Committee?
Ans. B.R . Ambedkar.
15. Name any two women members of the Constituent Assembly?
Ans. Sarojini Naidu and Vijayalakshmi Pandit .
16. How many members were in the Constituent Assembly?
Ans. 299 members.
.
17. Where is the philosophy of the Indian Constitution? What is the philosophy?
Ans. Preamble contains the philosophy or guiding values of the constitution. It aims to make India a Sovereign
Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic and to secure the citizens ‘ justice , liberty, equality and fraternity.
18. What is Preamble? What does it state?
Ans. A Preamble is the introduction of the constitution. It states the aims and objectives and basic values of the
constitution.
19. What are the salient features of the Indian constitution?
Ans. 1. The Indian constitution is a written and lengthy constitution.
2. It has a preamble which states the aims and objectives of the constitution.
3. The constitution establishes India as a democratic republic .
4 It has a parliamentary system of government , where executive is responsible to the legislatures.
5. It has independent judiciary.
6. It gives fundamental rights to the citizens and establishes a welfare state.
20. How was the policy of apartheid practiced by the white rulers in South Africa?
Ans. The non – whites were treated as inferior humans. The black and the coloured citizens were forbidden from
living in white areas. Trains, buses, taxis, hotels, hospitals, schools and colleges, libraries cinema halls, theatres,
beaches, swimming pools, public toilets, were all separate for the White and Blacks. They could not even visit the
churches where the whites worshipped. Blacks could not form associations or protest against the injustice.
21.Describe how the Non –White citizens of South Africa fought against the White rulers?
Ans. Since 1950, the Black , colored and Indians fought against the apartheid system of the White rulers. They
launched protest marches and strikes. There was a mounting pressure from the United Nations and many other
countries to end apartheid . The African National Congress was the umbrella organization that led the struggle
against the policies if segregation. As protest and struggles against apartheids had increased the white rulers
realized that they could no longer keep the black under their rule . They repealed their discriminatory laws and the
people of South Africa drafted a new constitution for the country.
22.What role did Nelson Mandela play to end apartheid in South Africa?
Ans. Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964 for daring to oppose the apartheid regime in his
country. He spent 28 years in South Africa’s most dreaded prison , Robben Island . He was elected as the First
Black President of the new born Republic of South Africa formed on 26th April 1994.
23. What were the wishes of Nelson Mandela for his countrymen?
Ans. Nelson Mandela cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons would live together
in harmony and with equal opportunities. His wish was that his countrymen would never give up on the belief in
goodness , that they cherish that faith in human beings is the corner stone of democracy.
24. What did the Black leaders appeal to the fellow blacks?
Ans. The Black leaders appealed to fellow blacks to forgive the whites for the atrocities they had committed while
in power. Together they wanted to build a new South Africa based on equality of all races and men and women ,
on democratic values, social justice and human rights.
25. Who sat together to draft common constitution for South Africa?
Ans. The party that ruled through oppression and brutal killings and party had led the freedom struggle sat together
to draw a common constitution for South Africa.

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Explain the following terms:

Ans. Sovereign: People have supreme right to make decisions on internal as well as external matters. No external
power can dictate the government of India.
Socialists: Wealth is generated socially and should be shared equally. Government should regulate the owner ship
of land to reduce socio economic inequalities.
Secular: Citizens have complete freedom to follow any religion. But there is no official religion. Government treats
all religious practices and beliefs with equal respect.
Democratic : It is the form of government where the people elect their representatives.
Republic: In a country the Head of the State is elected person and not a hereditary position
Justice: Citizens cannot be discriminated on the grounds of caste, religion and gender. Social inequalities have to
be reduced. Government should work for the welfare of all, especially of the disadvantaged group.
Liberty: there are no unreasonable restrictions on the citizens in what they think, how they wish to express their
thoughts.
Equality: All are equal before the law. The traditional social inequalities have to be ended. The government should
ensure equal opportunity for all.
Fraternity: All of us should behave as if we are members of the same family. No one should treat a fellow citizen
as inferior.