Constitutional Design

NOTES

Q1.State any five ways by which the blacks were discriminated in South Africa.

Ans. The apartheid system was particularly oppressive for the blacks. They were forbidden from living in white areas.

They could work in white areas only if they had a permit. Trains, buses, taxis, hotels, hospital, schools and colleges, libraries, cinema halls, theaters, beaches, swimming pool, public toilets were all separate for the whites and blacks. This was called segregation.

They could not even visit the churches where whites worshiped. Blacks could not form association or protest against the terrible treatment.

Q 2. “The South African Constitution inspires democrats all over the world”. Comment.

Ans. The South African constitution inspires democrats all over the world. A state denounced by the entire world till recently as the most undemocratic one is now seen as a model of democracy.

What made this change possible was the determination of the South African people to work together, to transform bitter experience into the binding glue of a rainbow nation.

They agreed that everybody should become part of the solution, whatever they might have done or represented in the past. The preamble to the South African constitution sums up the spirit.

Q3. Explain the efforts made to form a new Constitution after attaining democracy in South Africa.

Ans. After the emergence of the new democratic South Africa, black leaders appealed to fellow whites for the atrocities they had committed while in power.

They said let us build a new South Africa based on equality of all races and men and women, on democratic values, social justice and human rights.

The party that ruled through oppression and brutal killings and the party that led the freedom struggle sat together to draw up a common constitution.

After two years of discussion and debate they came out with one of the finest constitution the world has ever had. This constitution gave to its citizens the most extensive rights available in any country.

Q 4. What is constitution? Explain the role of constitution in a country?

Ans. The constitution of a country is a set of written rules that are accepted by all people living together in a country.

Constitution is the supreme law that determines the relationship among people living in a territory and also the relationship between the people and government.

It generates a degree of truest and coordination that is necessary for different kind of people to live together.

It specifies how the government will be constituted who will have power to take which decision. It lays down limits on the powers of the government and tells us what the rights of the citizens are.

It expresses the aspirations of the people about creating a good society.

Q 5. Highlight any five difficult circumstances under which the Indian Constitution was drawn up.

Ans. India’s Constitution was also drawn up under very difficult circumstances. The making of the constitution for the huge and diverse country like India was not an easy affair.

At the time the people of India were emerging from the status of subject to that of citizens.

The country was born through a partition on the basis of religious differences.

This was a traumatic experience for the people of India and Pakistan. At least ten lakhs people were killed on both sides of the border in partition related violence.

British had left it to the rulers of the princely states to decide whether they wanted to merge with India or with Pakistan or remain independent.

Q 6. “Democracy is the only peaceful solution to the problems on a socially diverse country like India”. Comment.

Ans. In a diverse country like India, democracy keeps our country together. In our country, people belong to different regions, languages, religious and castes.

Equal dignity and respect is given to every citizen without any discrimination. They have different performances. The preferences of one group can clash with those of other groups which can be resolved here in a better way.

In a democracy no one is a permanent winner and no one is a permanent loser. Different groups can live with one another peacefully. In any society, people have differences of opinion and interests. These differences are particular sharp in a country like ours where there is a wide social diversity.

Q7. Explain the terms Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic and Republic.

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.

Socialist: Wealth is generated socially and should be shared equally by society. Government should regulate the ownership of land and industry to reduce socio-economic inequalities.

Secular: Citizens have complete freedom to follow any religion. But there is no official religion. Government treats all religious beliefs and practices with equal respect.

Democratic: A form of government where people enjoy equal rights, elect their rulers and hold them accountable. The government is run according to some basic rules. Republic: The head of the state is an elected person and not a hereditary position.

Q 8. Explain the terms Justice, liberty, equality and fraternity, written the preamble of India.

Ans. Justice: Citizens cannot be discriminated on the ground 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 wish to express their thoughts and the way they wish to follow up their thought in action.

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 should behave as if we are members of the same family. No one should treat a fellow citizen as inferior.

Q 9. Write any five features of Indian constitution.

Ans. Indian constitution begins with a short statement of its basic values. This is called Preamble.

It is very long and detailed document.

It has to be in accordance with people’s aspiration and changes in society.

Indian constitution lays down a procedure for choosing persons to govern the country.

It is very rigid. It puts limits to what the government can do by providing some rights to the citizens that cannot be violated.

Q10. Why is the Preamble very important?

Ans. It declares India to be a sovereign, Socialist, Secular Democratic Republic. It envisages Justice-Social, Economic and political for all the citizens of the Republic.

It ensures all types of freedom necessary for the individuals that are freedom of thought and expression.

It strives for equality of status and opportunity to all individuals and safeguards their dignity irrespective of their religious belief or section.

It promotes a sense of brotherhood among the citizens.

Q11. .How was Constituent Assembly formed?

Ans. The drafting of the document called the constitution was done by an assembly elected representatives called Constituent Assembly.

Elections to Constituent Assembly were held in July 1946. Its first meeting was held in December 1946. The Constituent Assembly was also divided into the Constituent Assembly of India and Pakistan after the Partition.

The Constituent Assembly that wrote the Indian Constitution constituted as many as 299 members.

It adopted the Constitution on 26 November, 1949, but it came into effect on 26 January, 1950.

Q12. How was the institutional design formed for the Indian Constitution?

(i) A constitution is mainly about embodying the values into institutional arrangements.

(ii) It is a very long and detailed document. Therefore, it needs to be amended quite regularly to keep it updated.

(iii) So the makers of the Indian constitution made provisions to incorporate changes from time to time. These changes are called constitutional amendment.

(iv) The Constitution describes the institutional arrangements in a legal language.

(v) Like any constitution, the Indian Constitution lays down a procedure for choosing persons to govern the country. It defines who will have how much power to take which decisions.

(vi) It also puts limits to what the government can do by providing some rights to the citizen that cannot be violated.

STARS OF PIS AHMEDABAD STD - IX

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Thursday, July 2, 2020

Constitutional Design ( Notes, Worksheets , Mind Map and Videos)

Constitutional Design

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