AP Board Class 8 Social Science Chapter 14

Home , Durgabai Deshmukh

resolution at the Karachi session of the died of famine and epidemics. The country The Indian Constitution Indian National Congress dwelt on how 13 was dependent upon foreign nations even independent India’s Constitution should CHAPTER for its basic needs like foodgrains. It was look like. Both these documents were necessary therefore to set out the vision committed to universal adult franchise, For centuries different parts of our would you arrive at those five goals? of the future society and give a framework right to freedom and equality. country were under the rule of kings and Discuss in the class and work with for achieving it. queens. However, when our leaders fought the help of your teacher. Can you list some of the inequalities against the British colonial rule, they Find out from your grandparents or and discriminations prevalent in our wanted the future government of India to old neighbours who were there at the society at the time of Independence? be democratic and not monarchic. They Making of the Indian Constitution time of independence about how Here is a set of statements that is put wanted India to be ruled by the people The Indian Constitution was drafted things were at that time and what they in pairs, but some of it has wrong themselves with the help of elected under very difficult circumstances. The felt about the future of the country. information. Can you correct them? representatives. country had been controlled by Britain for There were sharp differences of a) A model constitution was drafted + Discuss why the leaders who fought about 200 years and its institutions had been opinion among the leaders of the national Motilal Nehru for freedom did not want India to be made to suit them. The country had just movement, about how we could make a b) Leaders agreed that illiterate people ruled by kings and queens. been partitioned due to communal better society after Independence. Yet most should not vote + universal adult When India gained its freedom from conflicts. A large part of the country was leaders agreed that independent India would franchise be governed according to the principles of colonial rule it was decided to put ruled by Princely states (like the c) Provincial legislature + Constitution democracy in which: together basic principles for Nizam of Hyderabad). Apart from adopted some colonial laws which we stood and principles and i. every one would be equal before social and cultural diversity, there d) Partition + large number of people procedures by which our country law and will have certain fundamental rights were huge differences between were killed and forced to migrate would be ruled. These were written guaranteed to them, rich and poor, upper and lower down in a book called the ii. the government would be built by e) Restriction on women voting + ‘Constitution of India’. castes, men and women. The leaders general elections based on the principles commitment to social reform in A Constitution is a set of rules were concerned about keeping the of ‘universal adult franchise’ or right of India about how the country should be country together and not allowing every adult citizen irrespective of gender, governed – how the laws that run it to break up further. This meant caste, religion, education, or wealth to vote it would be made or changed, how that all the diverse people should in elections. the government should be feel that they have an effective Early Drafts of Constitution formed, what would be the role role in the running of the country. Our of the citizens, what would be their rights, Even before independence in 1928, national movement was not merely a etc. Above all the Constitution sets before Motilal Nehru and eight other Indian struggle against the foreign rule. It also the country the goals for which the country National Congress leaders drafted a has to strive. sought to end inequalities, exploitation and Constitution for India. In 1931, the discriminations in our society. Literacy If you and your classmates were levels and education were very low. There asked to formulate five goals for the Fig 13.1: India celebrates Republic Day on 26 th January every year. This country – what would they be? How was acute poverty, and lakhs of people had is a photograph of NCC cadets marching as part of the celebrations.

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economic equality. All these factors influenced the making of our Constitution.

Thirdly, the British too had introduced some basic institutions of democratic rule in India. However, only Sarojini Naidu Durgabai Deshmukh N.G. Ranga T. Prakasam certain categories of people could vote in the the Constitution on 26 November 1949 but First, some basic principles were elections. British had it came into effect from 26 January 1950. decided and agreed upon: that India will be introduced very weak To mark this day we celebrate January 26 a Sovereign Republic; that it will have legislatures. Elections as Republic Day every year. within it several states with autonomous were held in 1937 to The members of the Constituent powers; that it will be democratic; that it Assembly were elected mainly by the will secure to all citizens justice, equality Fig 13.2: The President of the Constituent Provincial Legislatures members of the existing provincial and freedom; that the interests of Assembly, Dr. Rajendra Prasad and the and Ministries all over British India. These Chairman of the Drafting Committee, legislatures formed during the British rule. minorities, tribes and depressed classes were not fully democratic governments. But Dr. B. R. Ambedkar greeting each other. Some of the members were nominated by will be safeguarded; and that India will work the experience gained by Indians in the the kings ruling over some parts of the for world peace and welfare of all mankind. What were the sources of inspiration working of the legislative institutions country. Its members came from all the This is called the ‘Objectives Resolution’ and ideas for framing our Constitution? proved to be very useful for the country in regions of the country. The Assembly was and it was moved by Jawaharlal Nehru the setting up its own institutions and working First of all, they were inspired by the dominated by the members of the Indian first Prime Minister of India. These became in them. That is why the Indian Constitution struggle waged by the diverse kinds of National Congress party and there were very the guiding principles for drafting the adopted many institutional details and Indian people and their aspiration for a few members of other parties like Dr. B. Constitution. procedures from colonial laws. better world to live in. They knew that it R. Ambedkar. Even though most members Then a Drafting Committee chaired by was their sacred duty to help build an India The Constituent Assembly were from the same party, most of them Dr. B. R. Ambedkar prepared a draft in which all these diverse kinds of people The Constitution was drafted by an held very different views on most issues. Constitution for discussion. Several rounds may realise their aspirations. They were assembly of elected representatives called There were very few women, just about of thorough discussion took place on the also deeply influenced by the thoughts of the Constituent Assembly. Elections to the fifteen. Smt. Durgabai Deshmukh was one Draft Constitution, clause by clause. There Mahatma Gandhi and other national leaders. Constituent Assembly were held in July of them. were intense debates on all important Secondly, many of our leaders were 1946. Its first meeting was held in Why do you think the kings were provisions were examined from different inspired by the ideals of French Revolution, December 1946. With the partition of the allowed to nominate members to the points of view and finally decisions were the practice of parliamentary democracy in country in August 1947, the Constituent Constitutent Assembly? taken by majority vote. More than two thousand amendments to the Draft Britain and the Bill of Rights in the USA. Assembly was also divided into the Why do you think there were so few Constitution were considered. The The socialist revolution in Russia and China Constituent Assembly of India and that of women members? Do you think it members deliberated for 114 days spread had inspired many Indians to think of Pakistan. The Indian Constituent Assembly would have been better if there had over three years. Every word spoken in the shaping a system based on social and had 299 members. The Assembly adopted been more women members?

152 Political Systems and Governance The Indian Constitution Free distribution by A.P. Government 153 of the Constitution: Mahatma value. In our social and economic life, we shall, its basic principles and objectives. They Gandhi. He was not a member by reason of our social and economic structure, guide all the provisions of Indian of the Constituent Assembly. continue to deny the principle of one man one Constitution. value. How long shall we continue to live this Yet there were many members life of contradictions? How long shall we Let us read the preamble of our who followed his vision. continue to deny equality in our social and Constitution very carefully and understand Writing in the magazine Young economic life? If we continue to deny it for long, the meaning of each of its key words. Think India in 1931, he had spelt out we will do so only by putting our political of some example in the context of each what he wanted the Constitution democracy in peril. terms mentioned here. to do: - Dr. B. R. Ambedkar If you read it carefully there is one Finally let us turn to Jawaharlal Nehru basic sentence here: giving his famous speech to the Constituent “We the people of India, having Assembly at the stroke of midnight on August resolved to constitute India into a 15, 1947: Fig 13.3 : All Constituent Assembly members I shall strive for a Constitution which Republic and to secure to all its citizens signed an illustrated version of the will release India from all thraldom and That future is not one of ease or resting Justice, Liberty, Equality and constitution. Here you can see Jawaharlal patronage… I shall work for an India in which but of incessant striving so that we may fulfil Fraternity give ourselves this Nehru signing the Constitution. the poorest shall feel that it is their country the pledges we have so often taken and the Constitution.” one we shall take today. The service of India Constituent Assembly has been recorded in whose making they have an effective The people of India decided means the service of the millions who suffer. and preserved. These are called voice; an India in which there shall be no It means the ending of poverty and ignorance (‘resolved’) to achieve two ‘Constituent Assembly Debates.’ high class and low class of people; an India and disease and inequality of opportunity. The objectives. What were these? in which all communities shall live in perfect Which of the guiding principles in the ambition of the greatest man of our generation What did they do in order to achieve harmony. There can be no room in such an has been to wipe every tear from every eye. Objective Resolution, do you think these objectives? India for the curse of untouchability or the That may be beyond us, but as long as there is the most important? Give your curse of the intoxicating drinks and drugs. are tears and suffering, so long our work will WE THE PEOPLE OF INDIA: The reasons for it. Do other students have Women will enjoy the same rights as men… not be over. Constitution has been drawn up and enacted a different opinion about this? I shall be satisfied with nothing else. - Jawaharlal Nehru by the people through their representatives, - Mahatma Gandhi Read the above three quotations and not handed down to them by a king or The Dream and the Promise This dream of an India without inequality carefully. any outside powers. This is an assertion of was shared by Dr. Ambedkar, who played a Let us begin by understanding the Can you identify one idea that is the democratic nature of our Republic. key role in the making of the Constitution. overall philosophy of what our Constitution common to all these three? REPUBLIC: The head of the state is But he had a different understanding of how is all about. We can understand it by What are the differences in their an elected person and not a hereditary inequalities could be removed. In his position as in a kingdom. reading the views of some of our major concluding speech to the Constituent ways of expressing that common leaders on our Constitution. But it is Assembly he stated his anxiety very clearly: idea? SOVEREIGN: India will have equally important to read what the supreme right to take decisions on internal On the 26 th of January 1950 we are going Preamble of the Constitution Constitution says about its own philosophy. as well as external matters and make her to enter life of contradictions. In politics The values that inspired and guided the The preamble of the Constitution states it’s own laws. No external power can make laws we will have equality and in social and freedom struggle formed the foundation philosophy. for India. economic life we will have inequality. In for India’s democracy. These values are Some of you may have noticed a name politics we will be recognising the principle SOCIALIST: Wealth is generated embedded in the ‘Preamble’ of the Indian missing from the sketches of the makers of one man one vote and one vote one socially by all through their work and it Constitution, which is a short statement of

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1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 should be shared equally by all. The ‘opportunity’ that is all public offices shall country in accordance with the above ideals

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1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 country should strive to reduce and be open to all irrespective of caste or and values. 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123

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1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 end all kinds of inequalities. religion. If an office requires special It provides for a Parliamentary form of 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123

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1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 qualification, access to that qualification 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 SECULAR: The government government. The Parliament, consisting of

1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123having Solemnly resolved to 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 too will be made equal to all. 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 will not be run on the basis of any representatives of the people makes laws. 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123

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1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123constitute India into a religion. Citizens will have LIBERTY: There will be no The laws are implemented by a government 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123

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1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 complete freedom to follow any unreasonable restrictions on the citizens in formed from among the members of the 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123SOVEREIGN, SOCIALIST,

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1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 religion or no religion at all. what they think, the religion they wish to Parliament and answerable to the 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123

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1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123SECULAR, DEMOCRATIC 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 follow or not to follow how they wish to Parliament. The country is governed by the 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 Government will not favour any

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1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123REPUBLIC and to secure to religion. express their thoughts and the way they Cabinet headed by the Prime Minister and

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1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 wish to follow up their thoughts in action the entire government is headed by the 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 DEMOCRATIC: A form of 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123all its citizens:

1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 or come together to form associations or 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 government where people enjoy President. (You will read in greater detail 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123

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1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123JUSTICE, Social, economic 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 parties. about this in the next chapter). 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 equal political rights, elect their

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1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123and political; representatives to make laws and FRATERNITY: To build a sense of Why is it necessary for an elected 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123

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1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 run the government and hold the bonding and unity among all people. No 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 parliament to make laws? Why can’t

1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123LIBERTY of thought,

1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 one should treat a fellow citizen as inferior 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 representatives accountable. they be made by learned lawyers and

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1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123expression, belief, faith and 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 or as an alien stranger. judges? 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 JUSTICE: All citizens should 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123

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1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123worship; get what is their due; in determining Besides the Preamble, our Constitution Why do you think the Prime Minister 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123

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1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 has a section called “Directive Principles and his Cabinet should get their 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 what is due to them no 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123EQUALITY of status and of

1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 of State Policy.” This lays down some decisions and actions approved by the 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 discrimination will be made on 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123

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1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123opportunity; 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 account of their birth (into a specific tasks before the government of Parliament and answer the questions 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123

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1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 India. These are universalising literacy and raised by the members of 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123And to promote among particular caste, tribe, community

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1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 or sex) or beliefs (religion, education, protection of environment, Parliament? Will it be better if they 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123

1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123them all FRATERNITY

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1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 reducing income inequality etc. These are were answerable only to the 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 political opinions etc.) or wealth

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1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123assuring the dignity of the principles which should guide the President? 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 (rich or poor) or status. The 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123

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1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123individual and the unity and government however may take government though we cannot file cases in Secondly, our country has a federal 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123

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1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 courts if we feel that the governments are 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 special steps to protect those who system. The entire country is considered 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123integrity of the nation; 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 not following them. 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 have been historically wronged to be a union of smaller states. Government 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123

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1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123IN OUR CONSTITUENT (due to caste or gender or To ensure that these ideals become real functions are divided between the Central 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123

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1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123ASSEMBLY This communal discrimination). for all people, the Constitution has a Government which is answerable to the 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123

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1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 Chapter guaranteeing Fundamental Rights Parliament and the State Governments 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 EQUALITY: Our Constitution 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123twenty-sixth day of 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 to all citizens – you will study about them which are answerable to their own State 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 does not promise equality in all 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123

1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123November, 1949, do 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 in Class IX. Unlike the Directive principles, Assemblies. For example, the central 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 respects (like income or property)

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1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 citizens can take help from courts in case government makes laws regarding and 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT but it seeks to ensure that all people 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123

1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 controls the army, railways etc. while the 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 their fundamental rights are denied or

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1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123AND GIVE TO OURSELVES 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 will enjoy the same status –that 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 violated. state governments make laws regarding

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1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 is every one will be governed by 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123THIS CONSTITUTION. police, road transport, schools etc. 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 The System of Government

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1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 the same laws. Secondly, it 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 The Central Parliament has two houses, 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123 The Constitution also provides promises equality of institutional arrangements for ruling the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. While the Lok

156 Political Systems and Governance The Indian Constitution Free distribution by A.P. Government 157 Sabha is elected by all the people of India, Comptroller and Auditor General who Key words the members of Rajya Sabha are elected by supervises the expenditure of the 1. Monarchy 2. Representative 3. Discrimination the state assemblies. Thus the states have a governments and the Election Commission 4. Autonomous 5. Constitution 6. Sovereign role to play even in making laws in the which conducts free and fair elections. 7. Federal System 8. Provisional 9. Draft central government. These are expected to function independent 10. Republic 11. Secular 12. Fraternity Some countries have a different of the governments and report directly to 13. Amendment structure, in which there is only a the President. central government which makes Discuss why the courts and judges laws for the entire country and should be independent of the state and Improve your learning governs all the provinces or states. central government authorities. 1. ‘Damanpur’ is ruled by its king based on a set of rules written down by the priest and Do you think such a system is suited Why should the Election ministers. He also has divided his kingdom into 16 provinces to which he appoints for India? Discuss in the class. Commission be autonomous? his officers as governors. Can we say this is democratic country? Is it a constitutional Thirdly, our country has a three level Finally, the Constitution is a living and country? Give reasons for your answer. democracy. At the level of the country we changing document. Those who made the 2. Which of the following statement is correct? have the Parliament, at the level of the states Indian Constitution felt that it has to be in a. Constitution determines the relationship between people and government. we have the state assemblies and at the accordance with people’s aspirations and b. Democratic countries generally contain a Constitution. district we have the local government changes in society. They did not see it as a known as Panchayat Raj system. This is to sacred, static and unalterable law. So, they c. To make a Constitution to a diverse country like India is not an easy task. ensure that people have maximum made provisions to incorporate changes d. All are correct opportunity to participate in managing from time to time. These changes are called 3. Match the following leaders with their roles in the making of the Constitution: public affairs of the country. Constitutional Amendments. The a. Motilal Nehru i) President of the Constituent Assembly Fourthly, the Constitution also provides Constitution lays down procedures for b. B. R. Ambedkar ii) Member of the Constituent Assembly for some independent institutions to guard changing or amending the Constitution c. Rajendra Prasad iii) Chairman of the Drafting Committee the Constitution. These include the itself. Till 2011our Constitution has been d. Sarojini Naidu iv) Prepared a Constitution for India in 1928 Judiciary (or the law courts), the amended 97 times. 4. Read again the extracts from Nehru’s speech and answer the following: a. What pledge did he want the makers of the Indian Constitution to take? b. “The ambition of the greatest man of our generation has been to wipe every tear from every eye.” Who was he referring to? 5. 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. 6. Read the section ‘Dream and Promise’ again. Draw a table with statements that you Fig 13.4: The photo shows the following persons (from right to left): Jairamdas Daulatram, consider as dream in the first column and promise in second column. Minister for Food and Agriculture; Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, Health Minister; Dr John Mathai, 7. Which aspects of the dreams and promises can you identify in the words used in Finance Minister; Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Deputy Prime Minister and behind him Jagjivan preamble? Create a chart to show the relationships. Ram, Labour Minister.

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8. Identify correct statements from the following: a. The Constitution defines powers of the Legislative houses. b. The Constitution cannot be changed under any circumstances. c. Ideals that are in the preamble are reflected in the design of institutions. d. Laws for the entire country are designed centrally. Project: Compare the preambles to the Constitutions of the United States of America, India and South Africa. a. Make a list of ideals that are common to all these three. b. Note down at least one major difference among these. c. Which of the three makes a reference to the past? d. Which of these does not invoke God?

Preamble of Constitution of United States of America We the people of the United States in order to form a more perfect union establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity do or dain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Preamble of Constitution of South Africa We the people of South Africa, Recognize the injustices of our past; Honour those who suffered for justice and freedom in our land; Respect those who have worked to build and develop our country; and Believe that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity. We therefore, through our freely elected representatives, adopt this Constitution as the Supreme law of the republic so as to- Heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social Justice and fundamental human rights; Lay the foundations for a democratic and open society in which government is based on the will of the people and every citizen is equally protected by law; Improve the quality of life of all citizens and free the potential of each person; and Build a united and democratic South Africa able to take its rightful place as a sovereign state in the family of nations. May God protect our people. God bless South Africa.

160 Political Systems and Governance The Indian Constitution