CLASS 9 Constitutional Design

constitution

is the supreme law of a country,

containing fundamental rules and governing

the politics and society in a country.

the Indian constitution

a rule book, made to maintain the decorum of the country

starting: History of the Constitution

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Nehru Report

1928; written by Motilal Nehru, a memorandum to appeal for

▪︎new dominion status

▪︎federal set-up of government

▪︎electoral politics

▪︎reservation of seats in parliament for minorites.

British Response to the Nehru Report

they did not pay much attention to it because they were too busy focused on the Simon Commission.

Purna Swaraj

31 December, 1929

At midnight, Jawarharlal Nehru hoisted the tirange on the banks of Ravi River, in Lahore.

He then declared Purna Swaraj.

India's First Independence Day

26th January 1930

first meeting of the Constituent Assembly

9 December 1946

1st Temporary Leader of the Constituent Assembly

Dr Sachchidanand Sinha

why was he the leader?

he was the leader because he was the senior most member of the Constituent Assembly.

1st Permanent Leader of the Constituent Assembly

Dr Rajendra Prasad

Second sitting of the Constituent Assembly

11th December 1946

objective of 2nd sitting

to make laws

the writing of the Constitution starts now.

drafting committee

leader: B.R. Ambedkar

legal advisor: B.N. Rao, helped Ambedkar in the drafting of the Indian Constitution

When was the Constitution finished?

26 November, 1949

how long did it take?

2 years, 11 months, 19 days

although the constitution was finished in November, why did it come into effect on 26th of January, in 1950?

It was to give respect to 26th January, India's f8rst Independence Day, since the INC (Indian National Congress) had declared Purna Swaraj, which was a change from the Dominion Status.

1. No. of Articles

2. No. of Schedules

3. No. of Parts

articles ➡ 315

schedules ➡ were 8, were 12

parts ➡ were 22, now 25

why did the Constituent Assembly's strength halve after Independence?

Because half of the Constituent Assembly went to Pakistan. India's independence gave birth to two new nations: India and Pakistan. as the divide in territory occurred, naturally the Constituent Assembly's members decreased.

Features of the Preamble!

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we, the people of india

inspired from US's Bill of Rights

means that these laws were enacted by the people, through their representatives, by themselves; not by any king or outside powers.

sovereign

a form of government where the State does not let external powers or parties control the internal affairs of the State

socialist

a form of government that declares that wealth is generated equally and is shared by the society equally.

secular

a form of government where the State does not promote any religion, people have the freedom to practise their own religion, and the government pays equal respect to all religious practices and beliefs.

democratic

a form of government where people have equal political rights, can elect their leaders and hold them accountable for their actions.

republic

a form of government where there is a regularly elected leader, where there is no monarchial or hierarchical rule.

justice

citizens cannot be discriminated on the basis of religion, caste and gender.

liberty

freedom to expression, thought and action; where there are no restrictions on a citizen's thoughts, how they want to express their thoughts or act out their thoughts.

equality

all citizens are equal before the law

fraternity

all of us should behave like family members, and no one should treat anyone as inferior or superior.