Ch 01 : Introduction
Lecture 01: Introduction to Polity and Lexicon
Significance of Polity for the Examination:
● It helps you understand ongoing events.
● The average weightage in Prelims is 15%, while in Mains, it is 20-22%.
● It serves as the foundation for other subjects.
About Polity:
● It is technical in nature as law or legal issues are involved
● It is also factual in nature.
Sources:
● Class Notes
● PW Book
● Laxmikant
Pillars:
● P1
○ Lexicon & making of the Indian
constitution
○ Salient Features of the Indian
Constitution
○ Preamble of the Constitution
○ Basic Structure Doctrine
● P2
○ Fundamental Rights (Part II: Articles
12-35)
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○ Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV: Articles 36-51)
○ Fundamental Duties (Part IV-A: Article 51A)
● P3
○ Executive (Union and State)
● P4
○ Parliamentary and Federal System of Government
○ Union Parliament
○ State Legislature
○ Anti-Defection Law
○ Privileges
○ Office of Profit
● P5
○ Supreme Court / High Court / Lower Courts (Subordinate)
○ Judiciary
○ Tribunals
○ Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR)
● P
6
○ Union model (articles 1-3)
○ Legislative Relations
○ Administrative Relations
○ Financial Relations
○ Inter-State Relations
○ Union Territories (Delhi and Puducherry)
○ Special Provisions (Articles 371A-371J)
○ Emergency Provisions
○ Scheduled Areas
○ Panchayats (PESA Act)
○ Cooperatives
○ Federalism
● P7
○ Elections
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○ Representation of the People Act (RPA) 1950 & 1951
○ Current Issues
● P
8
○ Citizenship
○ Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019
○ Amendment Procedure (Article 368)
● P9
○ Historical background
○ Constitutional and Non-Constitutional Bodies
○ Schedules of the Constitution
○ Official Language
Difference between Polity and Politics:
● Polity: It is an organizational structure of the governmentof the state.
● Politics(Countable): The methods, practices, and activities associated with running a
government, organization, or movement.
The Constitution:
● What is a constitution?
● Why Do We Need a Constitution?
● What are its functions?
● What role does it perform for a society?
● How does a constitution relate to our daily existence?
What is the Constitution?
● The word "Constitution" is derived from the word "constitute." It is a set ofrights,rules,
and duties.
● TheIndianConstitutionisthesupremelawoftheland,servingasthehighestlegalauthority
in India
● It provides a codeofworkingforthefunctioningofthegovernmentandoutlinesitspowers,
responsibilities, and limitations.
● It acts as a comprehensive document ensuring rules, regulations, and principlesthatgovern
the country.
● It will ensureeffective and efficientworking ofthe society.
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Functions of the Constitution:
● The Constitution provides abasic set of rules to allow coordination within society.
● It ensures the fundamental principles through which the state is constituted or governed.
● It ensures limits on the powers of the government.
● Itenablesthegovernmenttoimplementtheaspirationsofsocietyandcreateconditionsfora
just society (Which ensures welfare for everyone). .
○ Itprovidescoordinationinsociety.Example:Person‘A’hastherighttoplaymusicinthe
same way person ‘B’ also have the right to peace. So here constitution provides
coordinationamongtheperson“A”and“B”beingthe‘neighbour’ofoneanotherpersonA
will play music in a way so that Person B could not get disturbed.
How the Constitution Evolved?
● Beforethe16thcentury,therewasnodemocracy;onlymonarchyexisted.Thepowerlaywith
the king, following the principle"Rex is Lex"(Theking is the law).
● However, over time, people began demandingtheirrightsandenteredintosocialcontractsto
protect fundamental principles such aslife, liberty,and freedom of speech.
● It evolved through the concept of the social contract which the agreement between the
communityororganizedsocietyandthegovernmenttoensurethebasicrightsanddutiesof
each citizen.
Features of Constitution:
● A living Document:
○ Indianconstitutionisalivingdocumentbecauseitcanbechangedaccordingtotheneeds
ofsociety.ThisconceptensuresthattheConstitutionremainsflexibleinitsapproach,this
concept ensures that needs of society are incorporated..
● Constitutionalism:
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○ The term constitutionalism denotes the philosophy underpinning a constitution, ensuring
the rule of law. This idea guarantees
■ Limited government (rule of law)
■ Separation of powers
■ Judicial independence
○ Constitutionalismensureslimitedgovernmentandthesupremacyoftheconstitution.It
evolvedfromtheancientGreeksystemandwaslaterimplementedintheU.S.Constitution
and the Indian
○ Thus, constitutionalism protects people from authoritarianism and despotism. When a
government functionsaccordingtoconstitutionalprinciples,itcannotarbitrarilytakeaway
people's rights or become despotic or authoritarian.
● Despotism:
○ This term denotes a rule or form of government that holds absolute power and is not
boundbyaconstitution.Underthissystem,thegovernmentviolatestherightsandlives
of its citizens.
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