Salient Features of the Indian Constitution and The Preamble

Vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes covering the salient features of the Indian Constitution including its history, structure, and the preamble's philosophy.

Written Constitution

A document deliberately framed at a given time and adopted on a fixed date, such as the Indian Constitution framed between $9th\,Dec.,\,1946$ and $26th\,Nov.,\,1949$.

Constituent Assembly

The body that framed the Indian Constitution starting on $9th\,Dec.,\,1946$ at $11\,am$ until its adoption on $26th\,Nov.,\,1949$, and its enforcement on $26th\,Jan.\,1950$.

Statutory laws/provisions

Laws passed by the legislature used to fill voids or parts of the Indian Constitution that were left unwritten.

Cabinet resolutions/executive orders

Executive actions that serve to fill unwritten voids within the Indian Constitution alongside statutory laws.

Original Constitution (Structure)

The size of the Indian Constitution at its inception, which included $395$ Articles and $8$ Schedules.

$2015$ Constitutional Status

The state of the constitution in $2015$ when it contained $461$ Articles ($26$ Parts) and $12$ Schedules.

Present Constitutional Structure

The current composition of the Indian Constitution which consists of $448$ articles, $12$ schedules, and $25$ parts.

Living Constitution

A characteristic of the Indian Constitution denoting it is alive and changing through amendments like the $42nd$ Amendment Act. $1976$ and the $73rd$ Amendment Act, $1993$.

Preamble

An introductory statement that embodies the fundamental values, philosophy, aims, objectives, or aspirations of the constitution.

Two Purposes of the Preamble

1) To indicate the source of the constitution's authority; 2) To state the objects the constitution seeks to establish and promote.

Secular

A term incorporated by the $42nd$ Amendment $1976$ meaning the state deals with individuals as citizens irrespective of religion and does not promote or interfere with religion.