Important Questions for Chapter 2 Constitutional Design Class 9 Political Science
Important Questions1
What is meant by segregation?
Answer
The act of separating or a setting apart people from others or from the main body or group, especially when applied to separate people by race.
VSAQ
2
What would have happened in South Africa if the black majority had decided to take revenge on the whites for all their oppression and exploitation?
Answer
Violence would have erupted in South Africa. Bloodshed would have taken place. A great loss of life and property would have taken place.
VSAQ
3
What do you mean by political equality?
Answer
Every citizen is entitled to all the constitutional rights and freedom without making distinction of any kind like gender, race, status, religion, etc.
VSAQ
4
Which type of tactics did the white racist Government of South Africa use to continue to rule?
Answer
Detaining, torturing and killing thousands of blacks.
VSAQ
5
On what basis, the system of apartheid divided people?
Answer
Skin colour.
VSAQ
6
What do you mean by apartheid?
Answer
The system of racial discrimination practiced against blacks in South Africa.
VSAQ
7
On what charge was Nelson Mandela tried by the white South African Government?
Answer
Treason.
VSAQ
8
Define Constitution.
Answer
The Constitution is the system of beliefs and laws by while a country, state or organization is governed.
VSAQ
9
Name the great leader of Indian freedom movement who was not the member of the Indian Constituent Assembly.
Answer
Mahatma Gandhi, the great leader of Indian freedom movement was not the member of the Indian Constituent Assembly.
VSAQ
10
When did the Constituent Assembly adopt the constitution of India?
Answer
The Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution of India on 26th November 1949.
VSAQ
11
Who drafted the Constitution for India in 1928?
Answer
Motilal Nehru and eight other Congress leaders drafted the Constitution of India in 1928.
VSAQ
12
What was the contribution of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel just after independence?
Answer
The contribution of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was the integration of the Indian princely states.
VSAQ
13
Who was the President of Constituent Assembly?
Answer
Dr. Rajendra Prasad.
VSAQ
14
What is a country called where citizens have complete freedom to follow any religion?
Answer
Secular country.
VSAQ
15
Mention any one feature of a foreign constitution which inspired the constitution makers of the Indian Constitution.
Answer
• Practice of parliamentary democracy in Britain.
• Bill of rights in the United States.
(Any One)
VSAQ
16
Name the assembly of the elected representatives which drafted the Indian Constitution.
Answer
Constituent Assembly.
VSAQ
17
Why is India called a republic?
Answer
India is called a republic because its head is an elected one.
VSAQ
18
Name any two members of the Constituent Assembly.
Answer
Dr. Rajendra Prasad and H. C. Mukherjee.
VSAQ
19
Who was the chairperson of the drafting committee of Indian Constitution?
Answer
Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar.
VSAQ
20
Mention any one feature which Mahatma Gandhi visualized in India of his dreams.
Answer
Mahatma Gandhi dreamt about elimination of inequality in India of his dreams.
VSAQ
21
What is meant by constitutional amendment?
Answer
Constitutional amendment means a change in the Constitution made by the supreme legislative body (Parliament) in a country.
VSAQ
22
What do we call an introductory statement which contains the philosophy and guiding values on which the entire Constitution has been built?
Answer
Preamble.
VSAQ
23
Name any two values present in the Preamble of the Indian Constitution
Answer
Justice and Liberty.
VSAQ
24
Define Preamble.
Answer
An introductory statement containing guiding values in a constitution.
VSAQ
25
Mention any one feature of secularism.
Answer
Citizens have complete freedom to follow any religion.
VSAQ
26
What do we call a person who is the head of the state and is an elected person and not have a hereditary position?
Answer
Constitutional Head.
VSAQ
27
In which year did Motilal Nehru and others draft a constitution for India?
Answer
1928.
VSAQ
28
From where the concept of Parliamentary form of government was adopted?
Answer
British Parliamentary system.
VSAQ
1
What is the importance of one person, one vote and one value?
Answer
It lays emphasis on political equality. It means that everyone in the country, irrespective of the caste, gender and income earned, is allowed to vote for his own representative, i.e., the choice and opportunity is available to all the citizens on an equal basis without any discrimination on the basis of gender, caste, colour, etc.
SAQ
2
Explain the efforts made to form a new constitution after attaining democracy in South Africa.
Answer
• They thought of building a new South Africa.
• They sat together to draw up a new constitution.
• They came out with the finest constitution through discussions.
SAQ
3
“The South African Constitution inspires democrats all over the world”. Justify the statement.
Answer
Justification of statement:• It gave the citizens the most extensive rights available in any country.
• All the communities sat down in an atmosphere of reconciliation and became a part of the solution.
• The constitution was based on equality of sex, democracy and social justice.
SAQ
4
Explain the term apartheid. What were its implications?
Answer
Apartheid was the system of racial discrimination unique to South Africa. Implications:
• White Europeans imposed this system on South Africa.
• White rulers treated nonwhites as inferiors
• Non- whites did not have the right to vote. They were forbidden to live in white areas. They were allowed to work there only with a permit.
• Trains, buses, hospitals, schools, cinemas, public places and public toilets were all separate for the whites and blacks.
SAQ
5
Describe the steps taken to form the Constituent Assembly of India.
Answer
• Elections to the Constituent Assembly were held in December 1946.
• Members of the Assembly were from different sections of the society.
• The Indian Constituent Assembly had 299 members.
SAQ
6
Examine three basic guidelines the Constituent Assembly agreed upon before the drafting of Indian Constitution.
Answer
The Constitution of India is a framework that defines fundamental political principles, structures, procedures, powers and duties of government institutions.
• The aim of drafting the Constitution was to set out fundamental rights, directive principles and duties of citizens.
• The Constitution of India guarantees right to freedom and equality, justice, fraternity and liberty.
• It is aimed to protect the rights of minorities.
• It also aimed to offer unbiased political security and to proclaim India as a Sovereign Democratic Republic with the distribution of powers between centre and the states.
• It also aims at the inclusion of universal adult franchise.
SAQ
7
Explain the meaning of the terms Secular, Sovereign and Republic as the keywords to the Constitution of India.
Answer
• Secular: Citizens have freedom to follow any religion. There is no official religion.
• Sovereign: People have supreme right to make
decisions on internal as well as external matters.
• Republic: The head of the state is an elected person.
SAQ
8
Highlight any three ideals enshrined in the Indian Constitution.
Answer
Ideals enshrined in the Indian Constitution are as follows:
• Justice: Citizen cannot be discriminated on the basis of gender, caste and religion.
• Liberty: Citizens are free to express their thoughts.
• Equality: Everybody is equal before the law, irrespective of gender, caste and religion.
SAQ
9
‘‘The Constitution of India reflects the views of various social groups and political parties.’’ Explain it by giving suitable arguments.
Answer
Arguments:
• The Constituent Assembly was dominated by Indian National Congress, but the Congress itself included a variety of political groups and opinions.
• The Assembly had many members who did not agree with Congress point of view.
• It also represented members from different languages, groups, castes, classes, religion, etc.
SAQ
10
Why does the Indian Constitution need to be amended quite regularly?
Answer
Indian Constitution needs to be amended because:
• The Indian Constitution is very long and detailed document. It is in accordance with people’s aspirational changes in society. There is provision to incorporate changes from time to time. It puts limit to what the government can’t and can do by providing some rights to the citizens that cannot be violated.
• It is long and needs to be amended regularly to keep it updated.
• These were not considered sacred, static and unalterable laws.
SAQ
11
What values are associated with universal adult franchise? Explain.
Answer
Values associated with universal adult franchise or universal suffrage are:
• It gives political equality. Every citizen of the country, regardless whether he is rich or poor, young or old, black or white, male or female, has an equal voice in democracy.
• Once equality is ensured to the people, there would be peace which is very essential for progress.
• The right to vote strengthens people’s confidence.
SAQ
12
What values are associated with universal adult franchise? Explain.
Answer
Values associated with universal adult franchise or universal suffrage are:
• It gives political equality. Every citizen of the country, regardless whether he is rich or poor, young or old, black or white, male or female, has an equal voice in democracy.
• Once equality is ensured to the people, there would be peace which is very essential for progress.
• The right to vote strengthens people’s confidence.
SAQ
13
What is a preamble? State any two points of its significance.
Answer
The Preamble of Constitution encompasses the fundamental values and philosophy on which our constitution is based. The importance and utility of the
Preamble have been pointed out in several decisions of the supreme Court. ‘The Preamble to a written constitution states all those objectives which our constitution seeks to establish. It also promotes and aids the legal interpretation of the Indian Constitution with ambiguity in the language’. It mainly serves the following purposes:
• It provides socioeconomic justice for all.
• It provides equality of opportunity.
• It is based on the principle of accommodation of opinion.
• Fraternity assuring the dignity of individual.
• It is based on a sense of social welfare for all.
SAQ
14
Describe the composition of the Constituent Assembly. How much time did it take to frame the Indian Constitution?
Answer
Composition of the Constituent Assembly:
• It consisted of people of all religions and communities. Eminent persons like Maulana Azad, K.M. Munshi were the members of the Assembly.
• It also represented the people of all castes and creeds. Frank Anthony and H.P. Modi represented the Christian and the Persian communities respectively.
• Women members like Sarojini Naidu, Renuka Rai and Vijayalakshmi Pandit also played an important role in the Constituent Assembly. The Constituent Assembly took over three years to frame the Constitution of India.
SAQ
15
What provision has been made to incorporate changes in the Constitution and why?
Answer
Reasons:
• It has to be in accordance with people’s aspirations.
• It needs to absorb the emerging issues like IT.
• It needs to adjust cultural and social changes in society.
SAQ
16
How values of freedom struggle were embedded in the Preamble of the Indian Constitution? Explain.
Answer
Values of freedom struggle were embedded in the Preamble of the Indian Constitution as:
• The Constitution is mainly about embodying these values into institutional arrangements.
• Values that inspired and guided the freedom struggle and were in turn nurtured by it, formed the foundation of Indian democracy.
• The Preamble, basically, is a short statement of its basic values.
SAQ
17
The Preamble of Indian Constitution provides philosophy and values of constitution. Explain any three values that you derive from it.
Answer
The Preamble of Constitution encompasses the fundamental values and philosophy on which our constitution is based. The importance and utility of the Preamble have been pointed out in several decisions of the supreme Court. ‘The Preamble to a written constitution states all those objectives which our constitution seeks to establish. It also promotes and aids the legal interpretation of the Indian Constitution with ambiguity in the language’. It mainly serves the following purposes:
• It provides socioeconomic justice for all.
• It provides equality of opportunity.
• It is based on the principle of accommodation of opinion.
• Fraternity assuring the dignity of individual.
• It is based on a sense of social welfare for all.
SAQ
18
What factors helped the Indian leaders to develop the Indian Constitution. Explain any three.
Answer
• Ideals of the French Revolution.
• Parliamentary democracy in Britain.
• Bill of Rights in the U.S.
SAQ
19
In which way was the system of ‘apartheid’ oppressive?
Answer
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, hospitals, schools and colleges, swimming pools, public toilets etc. were al separate for the whites and blacks.
• They could not even visit the churches where the whites worshipped. Blacks could not form associations or protest against the terrible treatment.
SAQ
20
What is meant by the term ‘Constitution’?
Answer
The constitution of a country is a set of written rules that are accepted by all people living in that country. It is the supreme law that determines the relationship among the people living in a territory (called citizens) and also the relationship between the people and government. It specifies how the government will be constituted and who will have the power to take different decisions.
SAQ
21
State the steps involved in the framing of Indian constitution.
Answer
The drafting of the document called the constitution was done by an assembly of elected representatives called the Constituent assembly 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 26 November 1949 and it came into force on 26 January 1950.
SAQ
1
Explain the necessity of a Constitution in the newly born democracy in South Africa.
Answer
The necessities of a constitution in the newly born democracy in South Africa are:
• The oppressor and the oppressed were planning to live together as equals.
• It was not going to be easy to trust each other.
• Black majority was keen to ensure that the democratic principle of majority rule was not compromised.
• The Blacks wanted social and economic rights.
• White minority was keen to protect its privileges and property.
LAQ
2
What is meant by the apartheid? How did the people of South Africa struggle against it?
Answer
Apartheid was the system of racial discrimination unique to South Africa. Efforts made by the people of South Africa against apartheid:
• Launched protest, marches and strikes.
• The African National Congress led the struggle.
• Many sensitive whites also joined the struggle with the African National Congress.
• Many workers’ unions and the Communist Party joined the movement.
LAQ
3
Who led the struggle against apartheid? State any four practices followed in the system of apartheid in South Africa.
Answer
Nelson Mandela led the struggle against apartheid. Practices followed in the system of apartheid in South Africa:
• Blacks were forbidden from living in white areas.
• All public places were separate for the whites and blacks.
• They could not visit the Churches of whites.
• They could not form associations or protest against the terrible treatment.
LAQ
4
Explain with five facts of the transition of apartheid to democracy and multi- racial government that took place in South Africa.
Answer
Transition that took place in South Africa:
• After the emergence of the new democratic South Africa, the black leaders appealed to the fellow blacks to forgive the whites for the atrocities they had committed while in power.
• They built 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 constitutions, the world has ever had.
• This constitution gave to its citizens the most extensive rights available in any country. Together, they decided that in the search for a solution to the problems, nobody should be excluded, no one should be treated as a demon.
LAQ
5
Explain any five characteristics of South African Constitution.
Answer
Characteristics of South African Constitution:
• Emergence of the new democratic South Africa under black leaders.
• Based on equality of all races, men and women.
• Extensive rights were given to all the citizens.
• Everybody becomes the part of the solution.
• Determination of the people to work together.
LAQ
6
Highlight any five difficult circumstances under which the Indian Constitution was drawn up.
Answer
• Making a constitution for a huge and diverse country like India was not an easy task.
• The people of India at that time were emerging from the status of subjects to citizens.
• The country was born through a partition on the basis of religious differences.
• The British had left the princely states to decide their future on their own.
• At that time, future of the country did not look very secure.
• Makers of the constitution had anxieties about the present as well as the future.
• The vast size of the country and diversity was a matter of concern.
LAQ
7
Explain the importance of institutional design of the Constitution of India.
Answer
The Indian Constitution is a detailed document. It needs to be amended to keep it updated. It has provisions to incorporate changes from time-to time. These changes are called ‘constitutional amendments.’
• It lays down the procedure for choosing a representative to govern the country.
• It defines ‘who will have how much power to take a particular decisions’.
• It also limits the powers of the government by providing some rights to the citizens which cannot be violated.
LAQ
8
Describe any five salient features of the Constitution of India.
Answer
Salient features:
• Sovereign—People are masters and have supreme right to take decisions.
• Socialist—Wealth to be shared equally.
• Secular—It is based on the freedom of religion. All religions should be treated equally.
• Democratic—People have political equality.
• Republic—Head of the state is a common man elected by the people.
LAQ
9
The Indian Constitution is both rigid and flexible. Explain.
Answer
The Indian Constitution is both rigid and flexible in the following manner:
• The procedure of amendment is neither as easy as in England nor as difficult as in the United States
• The federal provision of the constitution cannot be amended easily, example, the division of powers between the centre and the states.
• In such cases, a constitutional amendment must be passed by the two-third members of the Parliament and ratified by one-half of the states before sending the bill to the President.
• In such cases, only two-thirds majority of member present and voting is needed. Consent of the states is not needed.
• All the constitutional amendments can be initiated only in the Union Parliament and not in any State Legislature.
LAQ
10
“The familiarity with political institutions of the colonial rule helped to develop an agreement over the institutional design.” Justify the statement.
Answer
• The British rule had given voting rights.
• The British had introduced legislation.
• Elections were held in 1937.
• Experience gained by Indians towards democracy.
• The Indian Constitution adopted many details from these activities.
LAQ
11
Assess the Constitution made by the Constitution Assembly of India.
Answer
• It worked in a systematic, open and consensual manner.
• Basic principles were decided and Drafting Committee prepared a draft of the constitution.
• Discussions of several rounds occurred, clause by clause.
• They worked for 114 days, spread over three years.
• Every document was recorded and preserved to form twelve bulky volumes of the Constituent Assembly debates.
LAQ
12
Why do we need a constitution in a democracy? Explain any three reasons.
Answer
Constitution: A constitution is the system of beliefs and laws by which a country, state or organization is governed. Role/Need for constitution:
• Generates a degree of trust and coordination.
• Specifies how the government will be constituted and who will have the power to take which decisions.
• Lays down limits on the powers of the government and tells the rights of citizens.
• Expresses the aspiration of the people.
LAQ
13
What is a constitution? Why do we accept the constitution made by the Constituent Assembly more than fifty years ago? Explain.
Answer
The constitution of a country is a set of written rules that are accepted by all people living together in a country. We should accept the constitution because:
• The drafting of the constitution was done by an assembly of elected representatives and elections to the assembly were also held.
• Several groups have questioned some provisions of the constitution, but no large social group or political party has even questioned the legitimacy of the constitution.
• The Constituent Assembly represented the people of India. There was no universal adult franchise at that time. So, the Constituent Assembly could not have been chosen directly by all the people of India. This ensured a fair geographical share.
• The Constituent Assembly worked in a systematic, open and consensual manner.
LAQ
14
What does the constitution effectively do that makes a country a democratic one?
Answer
A constitution does many things to make a country a democratic one :
• It generates a degree of trust and coordination that is necessary for different kind of people to live together.
• It specifies how the government will be constituted and who will have the power of taking which decisions.
• 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.
LAQ
1
Here are some false statements. Identify the mistake in each case and rewrite these correctly, based on what you have read in this chapter.
(a) Leaders of the freedom movement had an open mind about whether the country should be democratic or not after independence.
(b) Members of the Constituent Assembly of India held the same views on all provisions of the constitution.
(c) A country that has a constitution must be a democracy.
(d) Constitution cannot be amended because it is the supreme law of a country.
Answer
(a) Leaders of the freedom movement had consensus that the country should be a democratic nation after independence.
(b) Members of Constituent Assembly of India held the same views on the basic principles of the constitution.
(c) A country that is democracy must have a constitution.
(d) Constitution can be amended to keep
HOTS
1
“Values that inspired and guided the freedom struggle and in turn were nurtured by it, formed the foundation of India’s democracy.” Examine any three values that you learn from the freedom struggle.
Answer
The freedom struggle teaches us:
• Co-operation and coexistence.
• Empowering people to earn legally and become self- reliant.
VBQ
2
In spite of diversity, India as a whole is regarded as a closely knitted society. Discuss this statement by throwing light on the constitutional design of India.
Answer
In spite of diversity, India as a whole is regarded as a closely knitted society as our constitution design aims at the promotion of national integration:
• India being a secular state, there is no state or preferred religion as such and all religions enjoy the same constitutional protection without any favour or discrimination.
• Fundamental right is an essential part of our constitutional design. These rights are given to every Indian citizen.
• Every community is given the right to preserve their culture and religion.
VBQ