Category: Class 9th

Working of Institutions

A Government Order

An order announces a major policy decision taken by the government for immediate implementation.

The Decision Makers

1. President is the head of the state and is the highest formal authority in the country.
2. Prime Minister is the head of the government and actually exercises governmental powers. He takes most of the decisions in theCabinet meetings.
3. Parliament consists of two Houses, LokSabha and RajyaSabha. The parliament makes important laws to be followed by everyone.

A long chain of events before the passing of Government Order for OBC reservation.

1. The Government of India hadappointed the Second BackwardClasses Commission in 1979. It washeaded by B.P. Mandal. Hence it waspopularly called the MandalCommission.
2. The Commission gaveits Report in 1980 and made manyrecommendations. One of these wasthat 27 per cent of government jobsbe reserved for the socially andeconomically backward classes.
3. For several years, many parliamentarians and parties kept demanding the implementation of the commission’s recommendations.
4. Then came the LokSabha electionof 1989. In its election manifesto, theJanata Dal promised that if voted topower, it would implement theMandal Commission report.
5. Janata Dal did form the government after this election. Its leader V. P.Singh became the Prime Minister and he implemented it.

Involvement of several political institutions in implementing OBC reservation (Mondal Commission recommendations):

1. The President of India in hisaddress to the Parliamentannounced the intention of thegovernment to implement therecommendations of the MandalCommission.
2. On 6 August 1990, the union cabinet took a formal decision to implement the recommendations.
3. Next day Prime Minister V.P. Singh informed the Parliament about this decision through a statement both the Houses of Parliament.
4. The decision of the Cabinet wassent to the Department of Personneland Training. The senior officers ofthe Department drafted an order inline with the Cabinet decision andtook the minister’s approval.
5.  Anofficer signed the order on behalf ofthe Union Government. This washow OBC reservation bill wasborn on August 13, 1990. Many approached the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court judgesin 1992 declared that this order of the Government of India was valid.

What are political Institutions? Need for Political Institutions in India

Several arrangements to provide social security, education, health and basic needs are made inall modern democracies. Sucharrangements are called institutions.A democracy works well whenthese institutions perform functionsassigned to them.

1. The Parliament makes important laws foe the entire nation.
2. The Prime Minister and the cabinet are institutions that take all important policy decisions.
3. The Civil Servants, working together, are responsible for taking steps to implement the ministers’decisions.
4. Supreme Court is an institution where a dispute between citizens and the government is finally settled.

Also Check: Civics Class 9th Social Studies Study Materials, Notes, NCERT Solutions

What is Parliament? Why do we need a Parliament?

An assembly ofelected representatives which exercisessupreme political authority onbehalf of the people. In India, such a national assembly of electedrepresentatives is called Parliament.

1. Parliament is the final authority formaking laws in any country.Parliamentsall over the world can make newlaws, change existing laws, orabolish existing laws and makenew ones in their place.
2. Parliaments all over the would exercise some control over those who run the government. In some countries like India this control direct and full.
3. Parliaments control all the moneythat governments have. In mostcountries, the public moneycan be spent only when theParliament sanctions it.
4. Parliament is the highest forum of discussion and debate on public issues and national policy in any country. Parliament can seek information about any matter.

Two Houses of Parliament

1. In our country, the Parliamentconsists of two Houses. The twoHouses are known as the Council ofStates (RajyaSabha) and the Houseof the People (LokSabha).
2. The total number of elected members of LokSabha is 543+2 Anglo Indian nominated members.The total number of members of RajyaSabha is 238+12 nominated members.
3. Members of LokSabha are elected by the people. Members of RajyaSabha are elected by the MLAs and MPs.
4. The length of the term of LokSabha members is 5 years.The length of the term of RajyaSabha members is 6 years
5. LokSabha can be dissolved but Raya Sabha is permanent and only the members retire.

How does LokSabha exercise supreme power than RajyaSabha?

1. Any ordinary law needs to bepassed by both the Houses. But ifthere is a difference between thetwo Houses, the final decision istaken in a joint session in whichthe view ofthe LokSabha is likely to prevail.
2. LokSabha exercises more powersin money matters. Once the LokSabha passes the budget of thegovernment or any other moneyrelated law, the RajyaSabhacannot reject but can only delay it by 14 days.
3. Most importantly, the LokSabha controls the Council of Ministers. Only a person who enjoys the support of the majority of the members in the LokSabha is appointed the Prime Minister.
4.  If the majority of the LokSabha members say they have ‘no confidence’ in the Council of Ministers, all ministers including the Prime Minister, have to quit. theRajyaSabha does not have this power.

Executive

At different levels of anygovernment we find functionarieswho take day-to-day decisions and implement those decisions onbehalf of the people. All thosefunctionaries are collectively knownas the executive.

Political and Permanent Executive

1. Politician who is elected by the people for a specific period is called thepolitical executive. Political leaderswho take the big decisions fall in thiscategory.
2. Officers who are appointed on a long-term basis based on their qualification and experience. They are called the permanent executive or civil servants. They remain in office even when the ruling party changes.

Why does the political executive have more power than the non-political executive? OR

Why is the minister more powerful than the civil servant?

1. In a democracy the will of the people is supreme. The minister is elected by the people and thus empowered to exercise the will of the people on their behalf.
2. The Minister is finally answerable to the people for all the consequences of her decision. Thatis why the minister takes all the final decisions.
3.  The minister decides the overall framework and objectives in which decisions on policy should be made.
4. The minister is notexpected to be an expert in thematters of her ministry. The ministertakes the advice of experts on alltechnical matters.
5. The experts can tell the route, but the minister with a larger view decide the destination.

Council of Ministers and Types of ministers:

Council of Ministers is the official name for the body that includes all the Ministers. It usually has 60 to80 Ministers of different ranks.

1. Cabinet Ministers are usually top-level leaders of the ruling party or parties who are in charge of themajor ministries. Usually theCabinet Ministers meet to takedecisions in the name of theCouncil of Ministers.
2. Ministers of State with independentcharge are usually in-chargeof smaller Ministries. Theyparticipate in the Cabinet meetingsonly when specially invited.
3. Ministers of State or Deputy ministers are attached to and required to assist cabinet ministers in their work.

Prime Minister and Powers of the Prime Minister

Prime Minister is the most importantpolitical institutionin the country.ThePresident appoints the leader of themajority party or the coalition ofparties that commands a majorityin the LokSabha, as Prime Minister.

1. As head of the government, the prime minister has wide-ranging powers.
2. He chairs Cabinet meetings. He coordinates the work of differentDepartments. His decisions are finalin case disagreements arise betweenDepartments.
3.  He exercises general supervision of different ministries.All ministers work under his leadership.
4. The Prime Minister distributes and redistributes work to the ministers. He also has the power to dismiss ministers.
5. When the Prime Minister quits the entire ministry quits.The Cabinet is the most powerful institution in India and within the Cabinet the Prime Minister who is the most powerful.

Prime Ministerial form of government.

Thepowers of the Prime Minister in allparliamentary democracies of theworld have increased so many inrecent decades that parliamentarydemocracies are seen asPrime Ministerial form ofgovernment.

The President and Powers of the President:

The President isthe head of the State. The Presidentof India is like the Queen of Britainwhose functions are to a large extentceremonial. The President is elected by all the Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of State Legislative Assemblies (MLAs).

1. The President supervises the overall functioning of all the political institutions in the country so that they operate in harmony to achieve the objectives of the state.
2. All governmental activities takeplace in the name of the President.All laws and major policy decisionsof the government are issued in hername.
3. All major appointments aremade in the name of the President.These include the appointment ofthe Chief Justice of India, theJudges of the Supreme Court andthe High Courts, theGovernors, the ElectionCommissioners, ambassadors to other countries, etc.
4. All international treaties and agreements are made in the name of the President.
5. ThePresident is the supreme commander of the defense forces of India.President exercises all these powers only on the advice of the Council of ministers.

What is Judiciary?

All thecourts at different levels in a countryput together are called the judiciary.The Indian judiciary consists of aSupreme Court for the entire nation,High Courts in the states, DistrictCourts and the courts at local level.

Types of cases or disputes handled by the courts:

1. Cases Between citizens of the country.
2. Cases between citizens and government.
3. Cases between two or more state governments; and
4. Cases between governments at the union and state level.

Powers of the Supreme Court and High Court

1. Supreme Court is the highest court of appeal incivil and criminal cases. It can hearappeals against the decisions of theHigh Courts.
2. The Supreme Court and the HighCourts have the power to interpretthe Constitution of the country. Theycan declare invalid any law of thelegislature if they find sucha law or action is against theConstitution.
3. The Supreme Court candetermine the Constitutional validityof any legislation or action of theexecutive in the country, when it ischallenged before them. This isknown as the judicial review.
4. The powers and the independence of the Indian judiciary allow it to act as the guardian of the Fundamental Rights. We shall see in the next chapter that the citizens have a right to approach the courts to seek remedy in case of any violation of their rights
5. Courts have given severaljudgments and directives to protectpublic interest and human rights.Anyone can approach the courts ifpublic interest is hurt by the actionsof government. This is called publicinterest litigation.

Independence of the judiciary

1. Independence of the judiciarymeans that it is not under thecontrol of the legislature or theexecutive. The judges do not act onthe direction of the government oraccording to the wishes of the partyin power.
2. The judges of the SupremeCourt and the High Courts areappointed by the President on theadvice of the Prime Minister and inconsultation with the Chief Justiceof the Supreme Court. Once aperson is appointed as judge of theSupreme Court or the High Court itis nearly impossible to remove himor her from that position.
3. A judge can be removed only by an impeachment motion passed separately by two-third members of the two Houses of parliament.

A. Why Elections?

• Elections are a democratic way of selecting representatives.

• They ensure that the representatives rule as per the wishes of the people.

• Elections help voters to choose representatives who will make laws for them, form the

government and take major decisions.

• The voters can choose the party whose policies will guide the government and law

making.

• Thus election is a mechanism by which people can choose their representatives at regular intervals and change them if they wish to.

B. What Makes an Election Democratic?

• Everyone should be able to choose, i.e. everyone should have one vote and every vote should have equal value. Universal Adult Franchise.

• There should be parties and candidates to choose from, freedom to contest and a wide choice for people.

• Elections must be held at regular intervals.

• Candidate preferred by the people should be elected.

• Elections should be held in a fair and free atmosphere to be democratic.

C. Political Competition: Demerits

• Creates a sense of disunity and ‘party politics’.

• Parties level allegations against each other of using dirty tricks to win elections.

• Long-term policies cannot be formulated.

• Good people do not enter politics.

Merits: Elections are good because they force the ruling party to perform. The government is aware that it will be voted out of power if it does not perform as the people expected.

• It forces parties and leaders to perform, so competition is good.

D. Our Election System

• First a voters list is compiled.

• Then the election date is announced.

• The country is divided into constituencies for purpose of elections.

• The voters have to elect one representative for the Lok Sabha from each constituency (Lok Sabha has 543 constituencies), called Member of Parliament. The constituencies are formed on basis of population.

• Similarly, each state is divided into constituencies and a specific number of members called Members of the Legislative Assembly are elected.

• The dates of General Elections are announced.

• Each party declares its Manifesto and prepares a list of nominations.

Electoral Politics Notes Class 9th Civics

Electoral Politics Notes

What is an Election?

A mechanism by which people choose their representatives at regular intervals and change the representatives if they wish to do so. This mechanism is called an election.

Why do we need elections?

1. Elections take place regularly in all democracies. A rule of the people is not possible in any large country and it is not possible for everyone to have the time and knowledge to take decisions on all matters.Therefore in most democracies, people rule through their representatives.
2. Therefore, elections are considered essential in our times for any representative democracy.In an election the voters make many choices:

• They can choose representatives who will make laws for them.
• They can choose leaders who will form the government and take major decisions.
• They can choose the party whose policies will guide the government and law making.

What makes an election democratic?(a simple list of the minimum conditions of a democratic election)

1. First, everyone should be able to choose. This means that everyone should have one vote and every vote should have equal value.
2. Second, there should be something to choose from. Parties and candidates should be free to contest elections and should offer some real choice to the voters.
3. Third, the choice should be offered at regular intervals. Elections must be held regularly after every few years.
4. Fourth, the candidate preferred by the people should get elected.
5. Fifth, elections should be conducted in a free and fair manner where people can choose as they really wish.

Is it good to have political competition? (Merits and Demerits of electoral or political competition)

Demerits:

1.  It creates a sense of disunity and‘factionalism’ in every locality.
2. Different political parties and leaders often level allegations against one another.
3. Parties and candidates often use dirty tricks to win elections.
4. Some good people who may wish to serve the country do not enter this competition. They do not like the idea of being dragged into the unhealthy competition.

Merits

1. Our Constitution makers wereaware of these problems. Yet theyopted for free competition inelections as the way to select ourfuture leaders. They did so becausethis system works better in the longrun.
2. In a way it tries to improve the knowledge and characterof political leaders. The other andmore realistic way is to set up asystem where political leaders arerewarded for serving the people andpunished for not doing so.
3. So if a political party is motivated only by a desire to be in power, even then it will be forced to serve the people.
4. Political competition may cause divisions and some ugliness, but it finally helps to force political parties and leaders to serve the people.

How elections are held in India

General Election.

Elections are held in all constituencies at the same time, either on the same day or within a few days. This is called a general election.

By-election

Sometimes election is held only for one constituency or two to fill the vacancy caused by death or resignation of a member. This is called a by-election.

Electoral constituencies

The country is divided into different areas based on population for the purpose of elections.These areas are called electoral constituencies. For LokSabha elections, the country

is divided into 543 constituencies.

Reserved Constituencies and need for Reserved Constituencies

Some constituencies are reserved for people who belong to the Scheduled Castes and

Scheduled Tribes.In a reserved constituency only someone who belongs to the Scheduled

Castes or Scheduled Tribes can stand for election.

Our Constitution entitles every citizento to elect its representative and to beelected as a representative. TheConstitution makersworried that in an open electoralcompetition, weaker sectionsmay not stand a good chance to getelected.

Voters’ list

The list of those who are eligible to vote is prepared much before the election and given to everyone. This list is officially called Electoral Roll and is commonly known as the Voters’List.

In our country, all the citizens aged18 years and above can vote in an election. Every citizen has the right to vote, regardless of his or her caste, religion or gender.

Some criminals and persons with an unsound mind can be denied the right to vote, but only in rare situations.

In the last few years, a new system of Election Photo Identity Card[EPIC] has been introduced. The government has tried to give this card to every person on the voter’s list.

Nomination of candidates

Anyone who can be a voter can also become a candidate in elections. The only difference is that in order to be the candidate the minimum age is 25years, while it is only 18 years for being a voter.

Every person who wishes to contest an election has to fill a nomination form’ and give some money as ‘security deposit’.

Legal declaration introduced by the Supreme Court for filing Nomination papers.

1. Every candidate has to make a legaldeclaration, giving full details of Serious criminal cases pendingagainst the candidate;
2. Every candidate has to make a legal declaration, giving full details of Details of the assets and liabilitiesof the candidate and his or herfamily; and
3. Every candidate has to make a legal declaration, giving full details of Education qualifications of thecandidate.

Why is there no educational qualification for candidates to conduct elections?

1. Educational qualifications are not relevant to all kinds of jobs. The relevant qualification for being an MLA or an MP is the ability to understand people’s concerns, problems and to represent their interests.
2. Even if education was relevant, it should beleave to the people to decide how much importance they give to educational qualifications.
3. In our country putting an educationalqualification would go against the spirit ofdemocracy for yet another reason. It wouldmean depriving a majority of the country’scitizens the right to contest elections(with poor literacy rate)

Election Campaign

In our country such campaignstake place for a two-week periodbetween the announcement of thefinal list of candidates and the dateof polling. During this period thecandidates contact their voters,political leaders address electionmeetings and political partiesmobilize their supporters.

some of thesuccessful slogans given by differentpolitical parties in various elections.

1. The Congress party led by Indira Gandhi gave the slogan ofGaribiHatao(Remove poverty) in the Lok Sabha elections of 1971.
2. Save Democracy was the slogan given by Janata Party in the next Lok Sabha election held in 1977.The party promised to undo the excesses committed during an emergency and restore civil liberties.
3. The Left Front used the slogan of land to the Tiller in the WestBengal Assembly elections held in1977.
4. Protect the Self-Respect of the Telugus’ was the slogan used by. T. Rama Rao, the leader of the Telugu Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections in1983.

Rules for election campaign for fair and equal chance to compete

OR

Model Code of Conduct for election campaigns

1. According to our election law, no party or candidate can bribe or threaten voters.
2. According to our election law, no party or candidate can appeal to them in the name of caste or religion.
3. According to our election law, noparty or candidate canuse government resources forelection campaign; and
4. According to our election law, noparty or candidate can spend more than Rs. 25 lakh in aconstituency for a LokSabha electionor Rs. 10 lakh in a constituency inan Assembly election.
5.  According to this no party or candidate can use any place of worship for election propaganda.
6. According to our election law, no party or candidate use government vehicles, aircraft, and officials for elections; and
7. Once elections are announced, Ministers shall not lay foundation stones of any projects, take any big policy decisions or make any promises of providing public facilities.

Polling and counting of votes

The final stage of an election is the day when the voters cast or ‘poll’their vote. That day is usually called the election day. Every person whose name is on the voters’ list can go toa nearby ‘polling booth’, and cast vote.

Nowadays electronic voting machines (EVM) are used to record votes. The machine shows the names of the candidates and the party symbols.

A few days later, on afixed date, all the EVMs from aconstituency are opened and thevotes secured by each candidate arecounted. Thecandidate who secures the highestnumber of votes from a constituencyis declared elected

 WHAT MAKES ELECTIONS IN INDIADEMOCRATIC?

Election Commission

An independent and powerful commission appointed by the President of India to conduct free and fair election is called Election Commission. The commission has three members and once they are appointed, they are not answerable to the President or the government.

Powers and functions of the Election Commission of India.

1. EC takes decisions on every aspect of conduct and control of elections from the announcement of elections to the declaration of results.
2. It implements the Code of Conduct and punishes any candidate or party that violates it.
3. During the election period, the ECcan order the government to followsome guidelines, to prevent use andmisuse of governmental power toenhance its chances to winelections, or to transfer somegovernment officials.
4. When on election duty, government officers work under the control of the EC and not the government.

Popular participation of people in Election

1. People’s participation in the election is usually measured by voter turnout figures. Turnout indicates the percent of eligible voters who actually cast their vote. InIndia the turnout has eitherremained stable or actually goneup.
2. In India, the poor, illiterate and underprivileged people vote in larger proportion as compared to the rich and privileged sections.
3. Common people in India attach a lot of importance to elections. They feel that through elections they can bring pressure on political parties to adopt policies and programmes favorable to them.
4. The interest of voters in election-related activities has been increasing over the years. During the 2004 elections, more than one-third voters took part in campaign-related activities. Morethan half of the people are being close to one or the other political party.

Acceptance of electionoutcome by the candidates and parties

1. The ruling parties routinely loseelections in India both at thenational and state level. In fact inevery two out of the three electionsheld in the last fifteen years, theruling party lost.
2. In India, about half of the sitting MPs or MLAs lose elections.
3. Candidates who are known to have spent a lot of money on ‘buyingvotes’ and those with known criminal connections often lose elections.
4. Barring very few disputed elections, the electoral outcomes are usually accepted as ‘people’verdict’ by the defeated party.

Challenges to free and fair elections in India

1. Candidates and parties with a lot of money may not be sure of their victory but they do enjoy a big and unfair advantage over smaller parties and independents.
2. In some parts of the country, candidates with criminal connection have been able to push others out of the electoral race and to secure a ticket’ from major parties.
3. Some families tend to dominate political parties; tickets are distributed to relatives from these families.
4. Very often elections offer little choice to ordinary citizens, for both the major parties are quite similar to each other both policies and practice.
5. Smaller parties and independent candidates suffer a huge disadvantage compared to bigger parties.

Short Notes

Booth capturing:

Supporters or hired musclemen of party or a candidate gain physical control of a polling booth and cast false votes by threatening everyone or by preventing genuine voters from reaching the polling booth.

Code of Conduct:

A set of norms and guidelines to be followed by political parties and contesting candidates during election time.

Incumbent:

The current holder of a political office. Usually, the choice for the voters in elections is between the incumbent party or candidate and those who oppose them.

Level playing field:

A condition in which all parties and candidates contesting in an election have equal opportunities to appeal for votes and to carry out election campaign.

Rigging:

Fraud and malpractice indulged by a party or candidate to increase votes. It includes stuffing ballot boxes by a few persons using the votes of others; recording multiple votes by the same person, and bribing or coercing polling officers to favor a candidate.

Chapter 3 What is Constitutional Design

Social Science Civics [Class IX]

Content’s

• Concept’s of What is Constitutional Design Class 9th Social Science Civics
• Notes of What is Constitutional Design Class 9th Social Science Civics
• NCERT Textbook Questions Solution’s of What is Constitutional Design Class 9th Social Science Civics
• Extra Questions of What is Constitutional Design Class 9th Social Science Civics

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Q.1. In which way was the system of ‘apartheid’ oppressive? [Important]

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, hospitals, schools and colleges, swimming pools, public toilets etc. were all 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.

Q.2. What was the appeal made by the black leaders to the fellow blacks after the emergence of the new democratic South Africa?

Ans. After the emergence of the new democratic South Africa, black leaders appealed to fellow blacks to forgive the whites for the atrocities they had committed while in power. They urged the people to build a new South Africa based on equality of all races, and of men and women, on democratic values, social justice and human rights.

Q.3. What is meant by the term ‘Constitution’? [Important]

Ans. 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.

Q.4. Describe the advantages that Indians had when they participated in the legislatures which were set up as a result of the elections of 1937.

Ans. Although the legislatures set up in India as a result of elections of 1937 were not fully democratic, the experience gained by Indians in the working of the legislative institutions proved to be very useful for the country in setting up its own institutions and working in them.

Q.5. Give a description of the composition of the Constituent Assembly. [Important] Ans. The Constituent Assembly was elected mainly by the members of the existing Provincial Legislatures. This ensured a fair geographical share of members from all the regions of the country. Congress, which was the dominant party in the Assembly, itself included a variety of political groups and opinions. It represented members from different languages, castes, religions, classes and occupations.

Q.6. What did Ambedkar mean by ‘Contradiction’ in his concluding speech to the Constituent Assembly?

Ans. In his concluding speech to the Constituent Assembly Dr. Ambedkar said that India was entering a life of ‘contradictions’ on 26th Jan 1950. By this he meant that in politics Indians would have equality but in social and economic life, there would be inequality. In politics India would be recognising the principle of one man one vote, with one value, but in social and economic life, the principle of one man one value would be denied.

Q.7. Why was a constitution necessary for a country like South Africa? [CBSE 2010] Ans. The oppressor and the oppressed, i.e. the whites and the blacks were planning to live together, as equals. It was not going to be easy for them to trust each other. They wanted to safeguard their interests. The only way to build and maintain trust was to write down some rules. This set of basic rules was the constitution needed for South Africa.

Q.8. What do you understand by secularism? Why is India called a secular country?

[CBSE 2010]

Ans. India is a country of many religions and it respects all religions. No religion is given the status of state religion and equal respect is given to all beliefs, faiths and practices. Citizens have complete freedom to follow any religion.

Q.9. What are Constitutional Amendments? State its significance in a democratic country like India. [2010 (T-1)]

Ans. Constitutional Amendments are changes in the constitution made by the Supreme Legislative body in a country. The constitution of India is a very long and detailed document. Therefore it needs to be amended quite regularly to keep it updated.

Q.10. What were the difficulties faced during the making of Indian constitution? [2010 (T-1)] Ans. It was drawn up under very difficult circumstances. Making a constitution for a huge country like India was not an easy affair. The country was born through partition. The problem of princely states was left undecided by the Britrish. There were anxieties about the present and future of the country.

Q.11. State the steps involved in the framing of Indian consitution. [2010 (T-1)] Ans. The drafting of the document called the constitution was done by an assembly of elected representatives called the Constituent assembly Elections to the Constitutuent 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.

Q.12. The Preamble of our constitution is a short statement of values. Which country has inspired India to incorporate the Preamble? Why does it start with ‘‘We The People of India?’’ [2010 (T-1)]

Ans. Taking inspiration from American model, most countries including India have chosen to begin their constitutions with a importance to the people of India by saying that it is the people who have drawn up and enacted the constitution. It has not been handed down to them by a king or any outside power.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q.1. Regarding the constitution-making, what was the compromise reached at between the blacks and whites?

Ans. The constitution of South Africa was drawn together by the party of whites which had rules through oppression and the party that led the freedom struggle. The constitution gave to its citizens the most extensive rights available in any country. After long negotiations both parties agreed to a compromise. The whites agreed to the principle of majority rule and that of one person one vote. They also agreed to accept some basic rights for the poor and the workers.

The blacks agreed that the majority rule would not be absolute. They agreed that the majority would not take away the property of the white minority.

Q.2. What does the constitution effectively do that makes a country a democratic one?

Ans. A constitution does many things to make a country a democratic one : (i) It generates a degree of trust and coordination that is necessary for different kind of people to live together.

(ii) It specifies how the government will be constituted and who will have the power of taking which decisions.

(iii) It lays down limits on the powers of the government and tells us what the rights of the citizens are.

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

Q.3. Why did the makers of the Indian constitution have anxieties about the present and the future of the country?

Ans. The makers of the Indian constitution had anxieties because making of the constitution for a huge and diverse country like India was not an easy affair. The country was born through partition on the basis of religious differences. At least ten lakh people were killed on both sides of the border in partition related violence. Another problem was that the British had left it to the rulers of the princely states to decide whether they wanted to merge with India or with Pakistan or to remain independent.

Q.4. Describe how the Constituent Assembly worked to prepare the constitution for India.

Ans. The Constituent Assembly worked in a systematic, open and consensual manner. First some basic principles were decided and agreed upon. Then a Drafting Committee chaired by Dr. B.R.

Ambedkar prepared a draft constitution for discussion. Several rounds of thorough discussion took place, clause by clause. More than 2000 amendments were made. The members deliberated for 114 days spread over 3 years. Every document presented and every word spoken in the Constituent Assembly was recorded and preserved. These are called ‘Constituent Assembly Debates’.

Q.5. In his speech ‘Tryst with Destiny’, Nehru said, ‘Freedom and power bring responsibility.’

Explain what he meant by this.

Ans. By saying that ‘Freedom and power bring responsibility’, Nehru meant that it is the responsibility of Indians to not relax with ease after having got the freedom, but to constantly strive to fulfil the pledges taken. He said that the service of India meant the service of the millions who suffered, it meant the embing of poverty and ignorance and disease and inequality of opportunity.

Q.6. What is the preamble of the constitution? What is the significance of ‘We the people of India’ and ‘secular’ in the preamble? [CBSE 2010]

Ans. It is an introductary part of the constitution. It is called the key of the Constitution. “We the people of India” means the constitution has been drawn up and enacted by the people through their representatives. Secular means that citizens have complete freedom to follow any religion. But there as no official religion.

Q.7. Describe any three fealures of the Indian constitution. [CBSE 2010] Ans. (i) It establishes a Sovereign, Democratic, Republic in India (ii) It establishes a secular state in India (iii) It provides Fundamental Rights and Fundamental Duties.

(i) The Constitution begins with a short statement called the preamble. Sovereign means people have supreme right to make decisions on internal as well as external matter. No external power can dictate the government of India. Democratic means a form of government where people enjoy equal political rights, elect their rulers and hold them accountable. Republic means the head of the state is an elected person and it is not a hereditary position.

(ii) Secular means citizens have complete freedom to follow any religion – Government treats all religions beliefs and practices with equal respect.

(iii) The Indian constitution provides justice – social, economic and political.

Liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship.

Equality of status and opportunity.

Fraternity assuring dignity of the individual and unity and integrity of the nation.

Q.8. What is constitution? Why do we need a constitution? [CBSE 2010] Ans. It is a set of written rules that are accepted by all the people of a country. It is needed as it is the supreme law that determines the relationship among citizens of a country. It defines how the government will be formed and also limits the powers of the government and defines the rights of the citizens.

Q.9. The Indian constitution is both rigid and flexible. Explain. [CBSE 2010] Ans. The Indian Constitution is neither wholly flexible nor wholly rigid. It is partly rigid and partly flexible. It is not so flexible as the British constitution is, nor so rigid as the American constitution is.

Some of the articles of the constitution can be amended by a simple majority of the parliament, e.g. changing the names of states, altering boundries of states, matters relating to citizenship etc. Some of the articles of the constitution can be amended with 2/

3 majority of the members

of parliament, e.g. the election of the president of India. If any change in it is intended then it has to be passed first by a majority of the total members in each house of parliament.

Q.10. Mention the landmark years in the making of the Indian constitution. [2010 (T-1)] Ans. As far back as 1928, Motilal Nehru and eight other Congress leaders drafted a constitution for India. In 1931 at the Karachi Session of Indian National Congress leaders pondered what India’s constitution should be like. Elections held in 1937 to provincial Legislatures and Ministeri all over British India. It was beneficial for Indians to gain experience. That is why Indian Constitution adopted many insitutional details from colonial laws like the Government of India Act 1935.

Q.11. What is the aim of a socialist state? How can that be achieved? [2010 (T-1)]

Ans. We all us generated socially and should be shared equally by society. Government should regulate the ownership of land and industry to reduce socioeconomic equalities. Social inequalities have to be reduced, Government should work for the welfare of all.

Q.12. What was the African Policy of Apartheid? How could that come to an end? [2010 (T-1)]

Ans. Apartheid was the name of a system of racial discrimention unique to South Africa. The White Europeans imposed this system on South Africa. The native people of Africa are black. They had 3/4 of the population. The whites treated all non-whites as inferiors. The non-whites did not have voting rights. The blacks were forbidden from living in the white area. Trains, buses, hospitals, schools, hotels, taxis, cinemas etc were all separate for the whites and blacks. The blacks, coloured and Indians fought for their rights-arranged marches protests and strikes. The racist government for tortured them. On 26 April 1994. Apartheid came to an end with the birth of the Republic of South Africa.

Q.13. Define the following terms mentioned in the Preamble to the constitution of India.

(a) Sovereign (b) Socialist (c) Secular (d) Republic [2010 (T-1)]

Ans. Sovereign means people have supreme right to make decisions on internal and external matters. No external power can dictate to the Government of India.

Socialist means that wealth is generated socially it should be shared equally by society.

Secular means that citizens have complete freedom to follow any religion but there is no official religion.

Republic means the head of the State is an elected person and not a hereditary position.

Q.14. What is the Preamble? Explain any three guiding principles explained in the Preamble.

[2010 (T-1)]

Ans. Preamble is a short statement of the basic values of the constitution. Taking inspiration from American model, most countries have adopted constitutions with a preamble. The preamble of the Indian constitution reads like a poem on democracy. It contains the philosoply on which the entire constitution has been built ; 1. Democratic–It will have a democratic government where people will enjoy equal rights ; 2. Equality– All citizens will be equal before the law; and 3. Fraternity– All world would behave as if they are members of the same family.

Q.15. Why do we need a constitution? Give any four points. [2010 (T-1)] Ans. Every country has diverse groups of people. People have differences. Hence the need to have a set of rules. To maintain a trust it as best to write down these rules. Thus the constitution of a country is a set of written rules that are acceptd by all. A constitution.

1. generates trust and coordination.

2. specifies how government will be constituted.

3. lays down limits on the powers of the government.

4. expresses the aspirations of the people.

NCERT Solutions for Class 9th Social Science: Chapter 3 Constitutional Design

Class 9 Social Science Chapter 3 Constitutional Design NCERT Solution is given below.

Question 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 a consensus that the country should be a democratic nation after independence.
(b) Members of the Constituent Assembly of India held the same views on the basic principles of the constitution.
(c) A country that is a democracy must have a constitution.
(d) A constitution can be amended.

Question 2:
Which of these was the most salient underlying conflict in the making of a democratic constitution in South Africa?
(a) Between South Africa and its neighbours
(b) Between men and women
(c) Between the white majority and the black minority
(d) Between the coloured minority and the black majority

Answer:
The most salient underlying conflict in the making of a democratic constitution in South Africa was between the white minority and the black majority.

Question 3:
Which of these is a provision that a democratic constitution does not have?
(a) Powers of the head of the state
(b) Name of the head of the state
(c) Powers of the legislature
(d) Name of the country

Answer:
(b) Name of the head of the state

Question 4:
Match the following leaders with their roles in the making of the Constitution:

Answer:

Question 5:
Read again the extracts from Nehru’s speech “Tryst with Destiny” and answer the following:
(a) Why did Nehru use the expression “not wholly or in full measure” in the first sentence?
(b) What pledge did he want the makers of the Indian Constitution to take?
(c) “The ambition of the greatest man of our generation has been to wipe every tear from every eye”. Who was he referring to?

Answer:
(a) Nehru used the term ‘not wholly or in full measure’ because according to him the task they had undertaken was not complete.

(b) The pledge that he wanted the makers of the Indian Constitution to take was to dedicate their lives to the service of India, the Indian people and the humanity at large.
(c) Mahatma Gandhi

Question 6:
Here are some of the guiding values of the Constitution and their meaning. Rewrite them by matching them correctly.

Answer:

Constitutional Design class 9 notes
Q 1. why was Nelson Mandela sentenced to live imprisonment?

Ans   Nelson Mandela sentenced to live imprisonment because he opposes the apartheid regime in his country.

Q.2 what is apartheid?

Ans Apartheid is social discrimination between white and black people.

• The system of apartheid divided the people and called then on the basis of their skin color.

Q.3 The apartheid system was particularly oppressive for the blacks-justify.

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

• They could work in white areas only if they had a permit.
• Trains, buses, taxis etc. were all separate for the white and blacks.
• They could not even visit the churches  where the white worshipped
• Blacks could not form associations or protest against the terrible treatment.

Q.4 What is the constitution and why is it important?

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

• Constitution id the supreme law that determines the relationship among people living in the territory and also the relationship between the people and government. A constitution does many things.
• It generates a degree of test and coordinates that is necessary for different kind of people to line together.
• It specifies how the government will be the establishment, who will have the power to take which decisions.
• It expresses the aspirations of the people about creating a good society.

Q.5 Describe the main features of the preamble of Indian constitution.

Ans. The preamble of the constitution read like a poem an democracy.

• It contains the philosophy on which the entire constitution has been built.
• It provides a standard to examine and evaluate any and action of government do find out whether it is good or bad.
• It is the soul of the Indian constitution.

Q.6 Why should we accept the constitution made by constitution Assembly more than fifty years ago.?

Ans. The constitution does not affect the views of its members alone it expresses a broad consensus of its time.

• Our the last half a century, several groups have questioned some provision of the constitution. But for me large social group a political party has ever questioned the legitimacy of the constitution its
• The constitutive Assembly represented the people of India finally, the name in which the constitutive Assembly asked give sanctity to the constitution.
• Nelson Mandela fought against apartheid in South Africa. He became 1^st president of the repulic of South Africa and awarded the nobel prize for peace in 1993.
• Nelson Mandela was imprisoned in 1964 for 28 Years
• Nelson Mandela was imprisoned in Robben Island , most dreaded prison of South Africa.
• The new national flag of the Republic of South Africa was unfuled for the first time on April 26, 1994
• The main object of constitution is to generate trust among the people.
• India has adopted the parliamentary system of government from Great Britain.
• Bill of lights was paused in parliamentary of USA.
• Election to constituent Assembly of india were held in July 1946.
• The first meeting of the constituent Assembly was held in December 1946
• Constituent assembly of India had 299 members.
• The constituent assembly adopted the draft constitution on Nov 26, 1949 & came into effect on Jan 26,

Q7 The South African constitution inspires democrats all our the world. Explain?

• South Africa constitution game to its citizen 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 demon.
• They agreed that everybody should become past of the solution, whatever they have alone on represented in the past.
• Thus, the South Africa constitution inspires democrat all ever the would.
• A state denounced by the entire would tile recently as the most undemocratic one is now seen as a mode of a democracy.

Democratic Constitution in South Africa

•  Nelson Mandela, the South African leader of African National Congress, fought a long battle against Apartheid.
  
• Imprisoned for 28 years (1964–1992) emerged as the First President of the Republic of South Africa.
  
• People struggled against the horrible discrimination practiced against them by the white
  minority rulers.
  
• Apartheid finally defeated in 1994 and a new constitution made in 1996.
  
• Remarkable constitution, forgot past sufferings, sought co-operation of all the races which make S. Africa based on equality, democratic values and social justice.

Do We Need a Constitution?

• Yes. A constitution has written laws accepted by people living together in a country.
  
• It generates trust and co-ordination.
  
• It specifies how a government should be constituted.
  
• It lays down limits on the powers of the government.
  
• It expresses the aspirations of the people about creating a good society.

Making of the Indian Constitution

• The process began during the national struggle for freedom.
  
• First draft 1928, then 1931. Motilal Nehru and 8 leaders demanded in the draft: universal adult franchise, social justice, right to freedom and liberty.
  
• Participation in Provincial Legislatures helped Indians in framing their constitution.
  
• Leaders inspired by French Revolution, British parliamentary system and the Bill of Rights of the US.
  
• They also learnt what the British were denying Indian citizens. 

The Constituent Assembly

• Elections to the Constituent Assembly held in July 1946.
  
•  Dr. B.R. Ambedkar appointed the chairman of the drafting committee.
  
• Constitution adopted on 26 November 1949, and enacted on 26 January 1950, when India became a republic.
  
• The Constitution reflects the best minds of the country. Its members represented mini-India.
  Every law was debated clause by clause and a consensus arrived at.
  
• It is the longest written constitution.