Constitution: Why and How

Presentation on the summary of chapter I constitution: why and How.

1. CONSTITUTION: WHY AND HOW CLASS XI LESSON I DIVYA BHARDWAJ A P S BIRPUR

2. Meaning of Constitution: A constitution is a body of fundamental principles according to which a state is constituted or governed . The constitution is a compact document that comprises of a number of articles about the state.

3. Constituent Assembly The constitution of India was framed by a constituent assembly which was established in 1946 under the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946

4. Functions of a Constitution i) To provide a set of basic rules that allow for minimal degree of coordination and assurance amongst members of a society. ii) To specify who has the power to make decisions in the society. iii) To set limitations on the government. iv) To enable the government to fulfill the aspirations of a society and create conditions for a society. v) To express the fundamental identity of the people.

5. Why do we need a constitution? i) Constitution defines and limits the powers of the government. ii) Constitution defines the powers and functions of the various organs of the government . iii) Constitution defines the rights of the citizen and their relationship with government.

6. Main features of the Constitution i) It is a blend of rigidity and flexibility. ii) It is federal in form but unitary in spirit. It has federal as well as unitary features . Iii) The Constitution of India is supreme which is respected and accepted by all the institutions and citizens of India

7. Sources of Indian Constitution The main source of the Indian Constitution are the Govt. of India Act 1935, the British Constitution, the American Constitution, the Constitution of Canada, the Constitution of Ireland, the French Constitution etc.

8. The main federal features of the Indian Constitution i ) It is a flexible and written. ii) There is a distribution of powers between Centre and State. iii) There is supremacy of the judiciary. iv) Bi- cameral legislature.

9. Committees of the Constituent Assembly and Chairs The Constituent Assembly had major committees on different subjects. Committee on the Rules of Procedure: Rajendra Prasad Drafting Committee: B.R. Ambedkar Steering Committee: Rajendra Prasad Finance and Staff Committee: Rajendra Prasad Credential Committee: Alladi Krishnaswami Aiyyar House Committee: B. Pattabhi Sitaramayya Order of Business Committee: K. M. Munshi Ad Hoc Committee on National Flag: Rajendra Prasad

10. Committees of the Constituent Assembly and Chairs Committee on Functions of Constituent Assembly: G.V. Mavlankar States Committee: Jawaharlal Nehru Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights, Minorities and Tribal and Excluded Areas: Vallabhbhai Patel Minorities Sub-Committee: H. C. Mookherjee Fundamental Rights Sub-Committee: J. B. Kriplani North-East Frontier Tribal Areas and Assam Excluded & Partially Excluded Areas Sub-Committee: Gopinath Bardoloi Excluded and Partially Excluded Areas (Other than Those in Assam) Sub-Committee: A. V. Thakkar Union Powers Committee: Jawaharlal Nehru Union Constitution Committee: Jawaharlal Nehru

11. Nature of Political Philosophy of the Constitution Political Philosophy of the Indian Constitution is that it is liberal, democratic, egalitarian, secular and federal, open to community values, sensitive to the need of religious and linguistic minorities as well as historically disadvantaged groups and committed to building a common national identity.

12. Objectives of Indian Constitution The Preamble outlines the objectives of the Indian Constitution.. These objectives are: i) Justice ii ) Liberty iii) Equality iv ) Unity v) Fraternity vi ) Integrity of nation.

13. Need to adopt political philosophy It is very important to study the philosophy of the constitution. There is a connection between laws and moral values. We need to adopt a political philosophical approach to the constitution due to following reasons: i) We need to understand the conceptual structure of the constitution. ii) We must have a better grasp of the set of ideals embedded in the constitution. iii) A philosophical treatment of a value is incomplete if a detailed justification for it is not provided.

14. Important Achievement The sharing in vision or the philosophy of the constitution is a valuable outcome of the working of the constitution. In 1950, making of this constitution was a great achievement. Today keeping alive the philosophical vision of that constitution may be our important achievement.