Chapter 4 Electoral Politics
Social Science Civics [Class IX]
Content’s
Content’s
Page No: 74
Excercises
1. Which of the following statements about the reasons for conducting elections are false?
(a) Elections enable people to judge the performance of the government.
(b) People select the representative of their choice in an election.
(c) Elections enable people to evaluate the performance of the judiciary.
(d) People can indicate which policies they prefer.
► (c) Elections enable people to evaluate the performance of the judiciary.
2. Which of these is not a good reason to say that Indian elections aredemocratic?
(a) India has the largest number of voters in the world.
(b) India’s Election Commission is very powerful.
(c) In India, everyone above the age of 18 has a right to vote.
(d) In India, the losing parties accept the electoral verdict.
► (a) India has the largest number of voters in the world.
3. Match the following:
| (a) It is necessary to keep the voters’ list up to date because | (i) there is a fair representation of all sections of our society |
| (b) Some constituencies are reserved for SCs and STs so that | (ii) everyone has equal opportunity to elect their representatives |
| (c) Everyone has one and only one vote so that | (iii) all candidates must have a fair chance of competing in elections |
| (d) Party in power is not allowed to use government vehicles because | (iv) some people may have moved away from the area where they voted last |
Answer
| (a) It is necessary to keep the voters’ list up to date because | (iv) some people may have moved away from the area where they voted last |
| (b) Some constituencies are reserved for SCs and STs so that | (i) there is a fair representation of all sections of our society |
| (c) Everyone has one and only one vote so that | (ii) everyone has equal opportunity to elect their representatives |
| (d) Party in power is not allowed to use government vehicles because | (iii) all candidates must have a fair chance of competing in elections |
Page No: 75
4. List all the different election related activities mentioned in the chapter and arrange them in a time sequence, beginning with the first activity and ending with the last. Some of these activities are given below: releasing election manifestos; counting of votes; making of voters’ list; election campaign; declaration of election results; casting of votes; ordering of re-poll; announcing election schedule; filing nomination.
Answer
Making of voters’ list → Announcing election schedule → Releasing election manifesto → Election campaign → Filing nomination → Casting of votes → Ordering of re-poll → Counting of votes → Declaration of election results.
5. Surekha is an officer in-charge of ensuring free and fair elections in an assembly constituency in a state. Describe what should she focus on for each of the following stages of election:
(a) Election campaign
(b) Polling day
(c) Counting day
Answer
(a) She will have to focus on various duties such as ensure that candidates cannot bribe or threaten voters, expenditure limit is not crossed by a candidate, candidates not appeal to vote in the name of religion or caste, they not use worship place for campaign or use any government resources.
(b) She will have to crosscheck the voters’ list and check ID proof of the voters, booth capturing not tak place. Ensure that Free and fair election should be conducted.
(c) She have to look on counting is carried out, represntatives of all parties present at counting area in order to avoid malpractices,
6. The table below gives the proportion of different communities among the candidates who won elections to the US Congress. Compare these to the proportion of these communities in the population of the US.Based on this, would you suggest a system of reservations in the US Congress? If yes, why and for which communities? If no, why not?
|
Proportion of the community (in per cent) in the
|
||
|
House of Representatives
|
Population of US
|
|
|
Blacks
|
8
|
13
|
|
Hispanics
|
5
|
13
|
|
Whites
|
86
|
70
|
Answer
Blacks and Hispanics should be given reservation in the US Congress as per their percentage in the US population.
7. Can we draw the following conclusions from the information given in this chapter? Give two facts to support your position for each of these.
(a) Election Commission of India does not have enough powers to conduct free and fair elections in the country.
(b) There is a high level of popular participation in the elections in our country.
(c) It is very easy for the party in power to win an election.
(d) Many reforms are needed to make our elections completely free and fair.
Answer
(a) The Election Commission of India is powerful enough to conduct free and fair elections:
→ It implements the code of conduct and punishes any candidate or party that violates it.
→ In Elections, Government officials work under the EC and not the government.
(b) There is a high level of popular participation in the elections:
→ Voter turnout has increased over the past years.
→ Election-related activities in the last few years have seen a larger participation by the people.
(c) It is not very easy for the party in power to win an election:
→ The ruling parties routinely lose elections.
→ Candidates who are known to spend a lot of money often lose elections.
(d) Certain Reforms are necessary to make our elections completely free and fair:
→ To ensure that indepents and small parties not suffer in elections.
→ To ensure candidates with criminal records not participate.
8. Chinappa was convicted for torturing his wife for dowry. Satbir was held guilty of practicing untouchability. The court did not allow either of them to contest elections. Does this decision go against the principles of democratic elections?
Answer
This decision does not go against the principles of democratic elections. Any person who is convicted for a crime has not right to remain a part of the society and hence has no right to contest the election.
(a) In this case, representatives of each candidate should be present to make sure that the votes are counted in a fair way.
(b) The election commission should set up an enquiry into the case and debar the candidate or party involved in distributing such pamphlets.
(c) There should be a single election commission which should be free from political influence and should be responsible for conducting elections throughout the country.
Page No: 76
10. Here are some reports of malpractices in Indian elections. Identify what the problem in each case is. What should be done to correct the situation?
(a) Following the announcement of elections, the minister promised to provide financial aid to reopen the closed sugar mill.
(b) Opposition parties alleged that their statements and campaign was not given due attention in Doordarshan and All India Radio.
(c) An inquiry by the Election Commission showed that electoral rolls of a state contain name of 20 lakh fake voters.
(d) The hoodlums of a political party were moving with guns, physically preventing supporters of other political parties to meet the voters and attacking meetings of other parties.
Answer
(a) After announcement of election, it is not legal to announce policy decisions according to Code of Conduct. The minister should be immediately taken to task by the Election Commission.
(b) The election commission must enusre that all politcal party are given equal oppurtunity to appear on Doordarshan and All India Radio. EC take action against misuse of this media.
(c) The presence of the fake voters means that the elections were rigged by the authorities who prepared the electoral rolls. The election commission should supervise preparation of fresh electoral rolls.
(d) By using hoodlums, the political party is terrorising its rivals. The election commission should order the arrest of the hoodlums and bar the party from the elections.
11. Ramesh was not in class when this chapter was being taught. He came the next day and repeated what he had heard from his father. Can you tell Ramesh what is wrong with these statements?
(a) Women always vote the way men tell them to. So what is the point of giving them the right to vote?
(b) Party politics creates tension in society. Elections should be decided by consensus not by competition.
(c) Only graduates should be allowed to stand as candidates for elections.
Answer
(a) The statement is wrong because the policy of secret ballot ensures that an individual can vote for whoever he/she wants. Women are fully capable of taking decisions on their own and selecting the candidate they like.
(b) Competition works as both deterrent and motivator for the political candidates. A fear of losing the election and a motivation for winning the elections works in favour of people.
(c) Educational qualification is not required to understand the people’s needs, and to represent their interests. Therefore, it is not necessary for politicians to be graduates.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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’.
Why is there no educational qualification for candidates to conduct elections?
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.
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
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.
Challenges to free and fair elections in India
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.
Content’s
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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.
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.
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:
| (a) Motilal Nehru | (i) President of the Constituent Assembly |
| (b) B.R. Ambedkar | (ii) Member of the Constituent Assembly |
| (c) Rajendra Prasad | (iii) Chairman of the Drafting Committee |
| (d) Sarojini Naidu | (iv) Prepared a Constitution for India in 1928 |
Answer:
| (a) Motilal Nehru | (iv) Prepared a Constitution for India in 1928 |
| (b) B.R. Ambedkar | (iii) Chairman of the Drafting Committee |
| (c) Rajendra Prasad | (i) President of the Constituent Assembly |
| (d) Sarojini Naidu | (ii) Member of the Constituent Assembly |
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.
| (a) Sovereign | (i) Government will not favour any religion. |
| (b) Republic | (ii) People have the supreme right to make decisions. |
| (c) Fraternity | (iii) Head of the state is an elected person. |
| (d) Secular | (iv) People should live like brothers and sisters. |
Answer:
| (a) Sovereign | (ii) People have the supreme right to make decisions. |
| (b) Republic | (iii) Head of the state is an elected person. |
| (c) Fraternity | (iv) People should live like brothers and sisters. |
| (d) Secular | (i) Government will not favour any religion. |
Question 7:
A friend from Nepal has written you a letter describing the political situation there. Many political parties are opposing the rule of the king. Some of them say that the existing constitution given by the monarch can be amended to allow more powers to elected representatives. Others are demanding a new Constituent Assembly to write a republican constitution. Reply to your friend giving your opinions on the subject.
Answer:
Attempt on your own
Question 8:
Here are different opinions about what made India a democracy. How much importance would you give to each of these factors?
(a) Democracy in India is a gift of the British rulers. We received training to work with representative legislative institutions under the British rule.
(b) Freedom struggle challenged the colonial exploitation and denial of different freedoms to Indians. Free India could not be anything but democratic.
(c) We are lucky to have leaders who had democratic convictions. The denial of democracy in several other newly independent countries shows the important role of these leaders.
Answer:
Attempt on your own
Question 9:
Read the following extract from a conduct book for ‘married women’, published in 1912. ‘God has made the female species delicate and fragile both physically and emotionally, pitiably incapable of self-defence. They are destined thus by God to remain in male protection − of father, husband and son − all their lives. Women should, therefore, not despair, but feel obliged that they can dedicate themselves to the service of men’. Do you think the values expressed in this para reflected the values underlying our constitution? Or does this go against the constitutional values?
Answer:
The given paragraph reflects the patriarchal values. It promotes the idea of inequality of genders. This is contrary to the spirit of equality promoted by the constitution.
Question 10:
Read the following statements about a constitution. Give reasons why each of these is true or not true.
(a) The authority of the rules of the constitution is the same as that of any other law.
(b) Constitution lays down how different organs of the government will be formed.
(c) Rights of citizens and limits on the power of the government are laid down in the constitution.
(d) A constitution is about institutions, not about values.
Answer:
(a) True
The constitution is the supreme law of a country. It is the foundation of a democratic entity. The rules laid down in the constitution are the bases on which all the other laws are framed. Hence, it follows that the constitutional rules have the same authority, perhaps even greater, as any other law of the country.
(b) True
The constitution lays down the framework for government formation. It defines in detail the composition and functions of the different organs of government, namely the executive, the judiciary and the legislature.
(c) True
The constitution lays down the fundamental rights of every citizen of the country. These rights are enforceable in a court of law. By defining the structure and functions of the different organs of government and by making them independent in their own spheres, yet keeping each organ under check by the other organs, the constitution ensures that there are proper limits to the powers exercised by the government.
(d) Not true
A constitution lays down the composition and functions of the different institutions of government, thereby providing the framework and laws for the working of these institutions. However, in providing such laws and frameworks, it is strongly guided by democratic principles and values. Hence, a constitution is as much about values as it is about the institutions based on these values.
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.
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.
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.
Q.5 Describe the main features of the preamble of Indian constitution.
Ans. The preamble of the constitution read like a poem an democracy.
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.
Q7 The South African constitution inspires democrats all our the world. Explain?
Democratic Constitution in South Africa
Do We Need a Constitution?
Making of the Indian Constitution
The Constituent Assembly
Content’s
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