Class 11 Political Science: Constitution as a Living Document — Chapter Question Set

(a) The President cannot send back an amendment bill for reconsideration of Parliament. — This is the textbook-supported choice for the question.

(b) President of India — This is the textbook-supported choice for the question.

(b) It was made without the support of special majority. — This is the textbook-supported choice for the question.

(c) Constitution has given higher importance to certain rules and principles and also allowed for amendment by special majority. — This is the textbook-supported choice for the question.

(b) Legislature can amend all parts of the Constitution except the basic structure. — This is the textbook-supported choice for the question.

d) 69 years — The textbook states: 196 Indian Constitution at Work Chapter Nine CONSTITUTION AS A LIVING DOCUMENT INTRODUCTION In this chapter, you will see how the Constitution has worked in the last 69 years and how India has managed to be governed by the same Constitution.

c) Chapter — The textbook states: 197 Chapter 9: Constitution as a Living Document ARE C ONSTITUTIONS S TATIC?

b) not uncommon for nations to rewrite their con — The textbook states: It is not uncommon for nations to rewrite their constitutions in response to changed circumstances or change of ideas within the society or even due to political upheavals.

a) 74 years — The textbook states: The Soviet Union had four constitutions in its life of 74 years (1918, 1924, 1936 and 1977).

d) 1991 — The textbook states: In 1991, the rule of the Communist Party of Soviet Union came to an end and soon the Soviet federation disintegrated.

c) 1993 — The textbook states: After this political upheaval, the newly formed Russian federation adopted a new constitution in 1993.

b) 1949 — The textbook states: The Constitution of India was adopted on 26 November 1949.

a) 1950 — The textbook states: Its implementation formally started from 26 January 1950.

d) 69 years — The textbook states: More than 69 years after that, the same constitution continues to function as the framework within which the government of our country operates.

c) Constitution — The textbook states: Is it that our Constitution is so good that it needs no change?

b) Constitution — The textbook states: Was it that our Constitution makers were so farsighted and wise that they had foreseen all the changes that would take place in the future?

a) Constitution — The textbook states: It is true that we have inherited a very robust Constitution.

d) Constitution — The textbook states: The basic framework of the Constitution is very much suited to our country.

c) Constitution — The textbook states: It is also true that the Constitution makers were very farsighted and provided for many solutions for future situations.

b) provide for all eventualities — The textbook states: But no constitution can provide for all eventualities.

a) it needs no change — The textbook states: No document can be such that it needs no change.

d) the last two centuries — The textbook states: France had numerous constitutions in the last two centuries.

c) 1793 — The textbook states: After the revolution and during the Napoleonic period, France underwent continuous experimentation about a constitution: The postrevolution constitution of 1793 is called the period of the first French republic.

b) 1848 — The textbook states: Then commenced the second French republic in 1848.

a) 1875 — The textbook states: The third French republic was formed with a new constitution in 1875.

d) 1946 — The textbook states: In 1946, with a new constitution, the fourth French republic came into being.

c) 1958 — The textbook states: Finally, in 1958, the fifth French republic came into being with yet another constitution.

b) very closely linked to political developments — The textbook states: It seems to me that constitutional changes are very closely linked to political developments.

a) Indian Constitution — The textbook states: 198 Indian Constitution at Work Then how does the same Constitution continue to serve the country?

d) Constitution — The textbook states: One of the answers to such questions is that our Constitution accepts the necessity of modifications according to changing needs of the society.

c) Constitution — The textbook states: Secondly, in the actual working of the Constitution, there has been enough flexibility of interpretations.

b) Constitution — The textbook states: Both political practice and judicial rulings have shown maturity and flexibility in implementing the Constitution.

a) Constitution — The textbook states: These factors have made our Constitution a living document rather than a closed and static rulebook.

d) facing at the time of making of the constitut — The textbook states: In any society, those responsible for drafting the constitution at a particular time would face one common challenge: the provisions of the constitution would naturally reflect efforts to tackle the problems that the society is facing at the time of making of the constitution.

c) the future as well — The textbook states: At the same time, the constitution must be a document that provides the framework of the government for the future as well.

b) arise in the future — The textbook states: Therefore, the constitution has to be able to respond to the challenges that may arise in the future.

a) contemporary and something that has a more du — The textbook states: In this sense, the constitution will always have something that is contemporary and something that has a more durable importance.

d) not a frozen and unalterable document — The textbook states: At the same time, a constitution is not a frozen and unalterable document.

c) a document made by human beings and may need — The textbook states: It is a document made by human beings and may need revisions, changes and reexamination.

b) true that the constitution reflects the dream — The textbook states: It is true that the constitution reflects the dreams and aspirations of the concerned society.

a) a framework for the democratic governance of — The textbook states: It must also be kept in mind that the constitution is a framework for the democratic governance of the society.

d) an instrument that societies create for thems — The textbook states: In this sense, it is an instrument that societies create for themselves.

c) it so sacred that nobody ever can change it? — The textbook states: This dual role of the constitution always leads to difficult questions about the status of the constitution: is it so sacred that nobody ever can change it?

b) it so ordinary an instrument that it can be m — The textbook states: Alternatively, is it so ordinary an instrument that it can be modified just like any other ordinary law?

a) Indian Constitution — The textbook states: The makers of the Indian Constitution were aware of this problem and sought to strike a balance.

d) 200 years — The textbook states: They placed the Constitution above ordinary law and expected that I know that the Constitution of the US came into existence more than 200 years ago and so far it has been amended only 27 times!

c) Chapter — The textbook states: 199 Chapter 9: Constitution as a Living Document the future generations will respect this document.

b) document may require modifications — The textbook states: At the same time, they recognised that in the future, this document may require modifications.

a) Constitution — The textbook states: Even at the time of writing the Constitution, they were aware that on many matters there were differences of opinion.

d) provisions would be required — The textbook states: Whenever society would veer toward any particular opinion, a change in the constitutional provisions would be required.

At the same time, the constitution must be a document that provides the framework of the government for the future as well. Thus, the Indian Constitution is a combination of both the approaches mentioned above: that the constitution is a sacred document and that it is an instrument that may require changes from time to time. ± The Constitution is the expression of the will of the people, so there must be a provision to change the Constitution after every ten or fifteen years.

One method is that amendment can be made by special majority of the two houses of the Parliament. So, the incidence of amendments is not dependent merely on the nature of majority of the ruling party alone. In the period 1970-1975, the Parliament repeatedly made amendments to overcome the adverse interpretations by the judiciary.

Besides the special majority in the Parliament no outside agency— —like a constitution commission or a separate body—is required for amending the Constitution. Ratification by States For some articles of the Constitution, special majority is not sufficient. Subject of amendment Special Ratification majority by States Citizenship clause Right to freedom of religion Changes in the Union List Changes in State boundaries Provision regarding Election Commission 206 Indian Constitution at Work years between 1974 and 1976.

It is said that there have been far too many amendments to the Constitution of India. Differing Interpretations A number of amendments are a product of different interpretations of the Constitution given by the judiciary and the government of the day. In the period 1970-1975, the Parliament repeatedly made amendments to overcome the adverse interpretations by the judiciary.

In the chapter on the Judiciary, you have already studied the issues of difference between the Judiciary and the Parliament: one was the relationship between fundamental rights and directive principles, the other was the scope of right to private property and the third was the scope of Parliament’s power to amend the Constitution. In terms of constitutional-legal issues, the most serious question that came up Check your progress State whether the following statements are correct or not: ± After the Basic Structure ruling, Parliament does not have power to amend the Constitution. The Judiciary insisted that all this has to take place within the framework provided by the Constitution and pro-people measures should not bypass legal procedures, because, once you bypass laws even with good intentions, that can give an excuse to the power holders to use their power arbitrarily.

196 Indian Constitution at Work Chapter Nine CONSTITUTION AS A LIVING DOCUMENT INTRODUCTION In this chapter, you will see how the Constitution has worked in the last 69 years and how India has managed to be governed by the same Constitution.

197 Chapter 9: Constitution as a Living Document ARE C ONSTITUTIONS S TATIC?

It is not uncommon for nations to rewrite their constitutions in response to changed circumstances or change of ideas within the society or even due to political upheavals.

The Soviet Union had four constitutions in its life of 74 years (1918, 1924, 1936 and 1977).

In 1991, the rule of the Communist Party of Soviet Union came to an end and soon the Soviet federation disintegrated.

After this political upheaval, the newly formed Russian federation adopted a new constitution in 1993.

The Constitution of India was adopted on 26 November 1949.

Its implementation formally started from 26 January 1950.

More than 69 years after that, the same constitution continues to function as the framework within which the government of our country operates.

Is it that our Constitution is so good that it needs no change?

Was it that our Constitution makers were so farsighted and wise that they had foreseen all the changes that would take place in the future?

It is true that we have inherited a very robust Constitution.

The basic framework of the Constitution is very much suited to our country.

It is also true that the Constitution makers were very farsighted and provided for many solutions for future situations.

But no constitution can provide for all eventualities.

No document can be such that it needs no change.

France had numerous constitutions in the last two centuries.

After the revolution and during the Napoleonic period, France underwent continuous experimentation about a constitution: The postrevolution constitution of 1793 is called the period of the first French republic.

Then commenced the second French republic in 1848.

The third French republic was formed with a new constitution in 1875.

196 Indian Constitution at Work Chapter Nine CONSTITUTION AS A LIVING DOCUMENT INTRODUCTION In this chapter, you will see how the Constitution has worked in the last 69 years and how India has managed to be governed by the same Constitution. 196 Indian Constitution at Work Chapter Nine CONSTITUTION AS A LIVING DOCUMENT INTRODUCTION In this chapter, you will see how the Constitution has worked in the last 69 years and how India has managed to be governed by the same Constitution. 197 Chapter 9: Constitution as a Living Document ARE C ONSTITUTIONS S TATIC? It is not uncommon for nations to rewrite their constitutions in response to changed circumstances or change of ideas within the society or even due to political upheavals.

197 Chapter 9: Constitution as a Living Document ARE C ONSTITUTIONS S TATIC? 196 Indian Constitution at Work Chapter Nine CONSTITUTION AS A LIVING DOCUMENT INTRODUCTION In this chapter, you will see how the Constitution has worked in the last 69 years and how India has managed to be governed by the same Constitution. 197 Chapter 9: Constitution as a Living Document ARE C ONSTITUTIONS S TATIC? It is not uncommon for nations to rewrite their constitutions in response to changed circumstances or change of ideas within the society or even due to political upheavals. The Soviet Union had four constitutions in its life of 74 years (1918, 1924, 1936 and 1977).

It is not uncommon for nations to rewrite their constitutions in response to changed circumstances or change of ideas within the society or even due to political upheavals. 197 Chapter 9: Constitution as a Living Document ARE C ONSTITUTIONS S TATIC? It is not uncommon for nations to rewrite their constitutions in response to changed circumstances or change of ideas within the society or even due to political upheavals. The Soviet Union had four constitutions in its life of 74 years (1918, 1924, 1936 and 1977). In 1991, the rule of the Communist Party of Soviet Union came to an end and soon the Soviet federation disintegrated.

The Soviet Union had four constitutions in its life of 74 years (1918, 1924, 1936 and 1977). It is not uncommon for nations to rewrite their constitutions in response to changed circumstances or change of ideas within the society or even due to political upheavals. The Soviet Union had four constitutions in its life of 74 years (1918, 1924, 1936 and 1977). In 1991, the rule of the Communist Party of Soviet Union came to an end and soon the Soviet federation disintegrated. After this political upheaval, the newly formed Russian federation adopted a new constitution in 1993.

In 1991, the rule of the Communist Party of Soviet Union came to an end and soon the Soviet federation disintegrated. The Soviet Union had four constitutions in its life of 74 years (1918, 1924, 1936 and 1977). In 1991, the rule of the Communist Party of Soviet Union came to an end and soon the Soviet federation disintegrated. After this political upheaval, the newly formed Russian federation adopted a new constitution in 1993. The Constitution of India was adopted on 26 November 1949.

After this political upheaval, the newly formed Russian federation adopted a new constitution in 1993. In 1991, the rule of the Communist Party of Soviet Union came to an end and soon the Soviet federation disintegrated. After this political upheaval, the newly formed Russian federation adopted a new constitution in 1993. The Constitution of India was adopted on 26 November 1949. Its implementation formally started from 26 January 1950.

The Constitution of India was adopted on 26 November 1949. After this political upheaval, the newly formed Russian federation adopted a new constitution in 1993. The Constitution of India was adopted on 26 November 1949. Its implementation formally started from 26 January 1950. More than 69 years after that, the same constitution continues to function as the framework within which the government of our country operates.