H S 1st Year Part A Chap 1 English

 

Chapter 1: Constitution: Why and How?

1. Which of the following is NOT a function of the Constitution?

(a) The Constitution protects the rights of citizens.

(b) The Constitution ensures that good people come to power.

(c) The Constitution clearly explains the powers of the different organs of government.

(d) The Constitution expresses certain values.

Answer: (b) The Constitution ensures that good people come to power.

2. What is a Constitution?

Answer: A Constitution is a set of rules and laws that defines the powers of the government, the rights of the people, and the relationship between the rulers and the people.

3. Write any one feature of a Constitution.

Answer: The idea of a Constitution is mainly a legal concept.

4. In a parliamentary government, the executive is legally responsible to ________.

Answer: The Legislature.

5. Write any one main objective of the Indian Constitution.

Answer: To provide equal status and equal opportunities to all.

6. From which Latin word is the word "Constitution" derived?

Answer: It is derived from the Latin word ‘Constituere’.

7. "The Constitution is the basic law of the country." Is this statement correct or incorrect?

Answer: Correct.

8. Write one advantage of a written Constitution.

Answer: A written Constitution has the support of the people.

9. Write one disadvantage of an unwritten Constitution.

Answer: An unwritten Constitution is more flexible.

10. Is the Constitution of Great Britain flexible?

Answer: Yes.

11. Who prepared the draft of the Preamble of the Indian Constitution?

Answer: The Drafting Committee.

12. The Indian Constitution was adopted on ________ 1949.

Answer: 26 November 1949.

13. The Indian Constitution came into force on ________ 1950.

Answer: 26 January 1950.

14. Who was the President of the Constituent Assembly?

Answer: Dr. Rajendra Prasad.

15. Who was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution?

Answer: Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.

16. Mention any one principle mentioned in the Preamble.

Answer: Sovereignty.

17. Write one federal feature of the Indian Constitution.

Answer: Written Constitution.

18. Write one unitary or non-federal feature of the Indian Constitution.

Answer: Single citizenship.

19. How many members were there in the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly?

Answer: 7 members.

20. "The Constitution is the centre of the hopes and aspirations of the people of a country." Explain.

Answer: The Constitution of a country reflects the hopes and aspirations of its people. The Constitution of a democratic country gives importance to the welfare of the people. The Constitution includes different provisions to ensure that people belonging to all sections of society get freedom, equality and justice.

21. Write briefly about the main sources of the Indian Constitution.

Answer: The sources of Indian Constitution are:

1. Government of India Acts: The British Parliament passed several Acts to govern India during British rule. The Acts of 1909, 1919 and 1935 are especially important. Among these, the Government of India Act, 1935 can be considered an important basis of the Indian Constitution.

2. British system of government: The Indian Constitution provides a parliamentary system of government at the Centre and in the States. The Indian parliamentary system can be considered an important contribution of the British Constitution.

3. Judicial Review: The Indian Constitution gives independence to the judiciary. Therefore, judicial review can also be considered one of the sources of the Indian Constitution.

4. Laws and Ordinances: Some laws passed by the Indian Parliament from time to time can also be considered sources of the Constitution.

5. Constitutional Amendments: The Indian Constitution came into force in 1950 and has been amended many times. The 42nd and 43rd Amendments are especially mentioned in this context. Therefore, these amendments are also considered sources of the Indian Constitution.

6. Views of constitutional experts: The views and opinions given by constitutional experts were also considered while preparing the Constitution of India.

22. Discuss the main features of the Indian Constitution.

Answer: The main features of Indian Constitution are as follows:

1. Preamble: The Preamble is not a part of the original Constitution. It explains the main objectives of the Constitution.

2. A very long Constitution: The Constitution of India is a very long Constitution. It contains 443 Articles, 25 Chapters and 12 Schedules.

3. Written Constitution: The Constitution of India is a written Constitution. Although our Constitution is written, some traditional practices followed in England are also followed in India.

4. Supremacy of the Constitution: The supremacy of the Constitution is an important feature of the Indian Constitution. The Constitution is the source of all national powers and citizens' rights.

5. Democratic Constitution: Another important feature of our Constitution is that it is a democratic Constitution.

6. Single citizenship: The Constitution of India provides for single citizenship for all Indian citizens.

23. Write two federal features of the Indian Constitution.

Answer: Two federal features are:

1. Division of powers: Division of powers is an important feature of a federal government. The Indian Constitution divides powers between the Central and State Governments through three lists:

• Union List
• Concurrent List
• State List

2. Rigid Constitution: Another reason for considering the Indian Constitution federal is that it is a written and rigid Constitution.

24. Write any two unitary or non-federal features of the Indian Constitution.

Answer: Two unitary features are:

1. Single citizenship: A federation may have a system of dual citizenship. But the Indian Constitution does not provide dual citizenship. It provides single citizenship.

2. Unequal status of the States: In a federation, the constituent States may enjoy a certain status. But in the Indian federal system, all the States do not enjoy exactly the same status.

25. Mention any two main points of Jawaharlal Nehru's Objectives Resolution.

Answer: Two main points of Nehru’s Objectives Resolution are:

1. To establish India as an independent and sovereign republic and to prepare a Constitution for the future system of government.

2. The sovereign and independent people of India, its constituent States and the organs of government would receive their power and authority from the people.