Constitutional Design

                 Chapter - 2 


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 on open mind about whether the country should be democratic or not after independence.

Ans- The leaders of the freedom movement were of the opinion that after independence, India would be a democratic state.


b. Members of the Constituent Assembly of India held the same views on all provisions of the Constitution. 

Ans- The members of the Constituent Assembly of India shared the same views on the fundamental principles of the Constitution.


c. A country that has a constitution must be a democracy.

Ans- A country that is a democracy must have a constitution.


d. Constitution cannot be amended because it is the supreme law of a country.

Ans- A constitution can be amended with time and the needs of the citizens.


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

Ans- D. A conflict between the coloured minority and the black majority was the most underlying conflict in the making of the South-African constitution.


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

Ans- B. Name of the head of the state


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

Ans- 

Motilal Nehru                                 Prepared a Constitution for India in 1928

B.R. Ambedkar                         Chairman of the Drafting Committee

Rajendra Prasad                         President of the Constituent Assembly

Sarojini Naidu                                 Member of the Constituent Assembly


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?

Ans-  Jawaharlal Nehru in his speech, 'Tryst with Destiny' used the expression 'not entirely or to the full extent' for him, nation building was a challenging task which could not be achieved overnight. Therefore, he wanted state building to be a gradual process.


b. What pledge did he want the makers of the Indian Constitution to take?

Ans- Nehru wanted the makers of the Indian Constitution to take a pledge of service to India and her people and dedication to the still greater cause of humanity.


c. ''The ambition of the greatest man of our generation has been to wipe every tear from every eye''. Who was he referring to?

Ans- Nehru referred to Mahatma Gandhi, the father of our nation.


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.

Ans- 


Sovereign                     People have the supreme right to make decisions

Republic                             Head of the state is an elected person

Fraternity                     People should live like brothers and sisters

Secular                             The government will not favour any religion


7. How did your school celebrate the Constitution day on November 26th? Prepare a brief report.

Ans- Students should write their report on their own if they have celebrated Constitution Day on November 26th.


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.

Ans- 

During the freedom struggle against the British, democracy was chosen as the prime value of our nation. Yes, with the Indian Council Act, Indians started participating in the Council and hence, their experience paved the way for legal institutions in independent India.


b. Freedom Struggle challenged the colonial exploitation and denial of different freedoms to Indians. Free India could not be anything but democratic.

Ans-

The freedom struggle challenged colonial exploitation but it worked for democracy by making laws with consensus and not imposing anything on anyone.


e. We were 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.

Ans-

Our freedom struggle was fought with tools like 'Satyagraha' and 'Ahimsa' in a bloodless struggle. These struggles were undertaken to free India from the clutches of the British and to give the Indians the freedom they deserved.


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?

Ans-

The values expressed in the above-mentioned para do not reflect the values underlying our Constitution. Our constitution gives fundamental rights to each of its citizens regardless of gender, caste, sex, place of birth and religion. Women are given equal rights as men in our constitution through various Acts.


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.

Ans-

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.

Ans-

Constitution lays down how different organs of the government will be formed.


e. Rights of citizens and limits on the power of the government are laid down in the constitution.

Ans-

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

Ans-

A constitution is about institutions, not about values


Question Type By- janmoni Hazarika



Post ID: DABP001899