Constitution: Why and How? Class 11 Notes

A constitution is a body of fundamental principles according to which a state is constituted or governed. It provides a set of basic rules that allow for minimal coordination amongst members of a society that are legally enforceable. A constitution must strike the right balance between certain values, norms and procedures and at the same time allow enough flexibility in its operations to adapt to changing needs and circumstances.

The Constitution of India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949 and came into effect on 26 January 1950. It was drafted by the Drafting Committee which was headed by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

Indian Constitution

Given below in the table is an overview of the Indian Constitution:

Jurisdiction

India

Ratified

26 November 1949

Date Effective on

26 January 1950

System

Federal Parliamentary Constitutional Republic

Branches

Executive, Legislature, Judiciary

Head of state

President

Chambers

Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha

Executive

Prime Minister of India– led cabinet responsible to the Lower house of the Parliament

Judiciary

Supreme Court, High Court and District Courts

Federalism

Federal

Electoral College

Yes, for Presidential and Vice-Presidential elections

Signatories

284 members of the Constituent Assembly

Supersedes

  • Government of India Act 1935
  • Indian Independence Act 1947

Constitution: Why and How? Class 11 Polity Notes

Constitution: Why and How? Class 11 Notes: Constitution: Why and How? Class 11 Notes will help students understand what a constitution is, how it was made, its importance and why we should know what is written in the constitution. A constitution is a body of fundamental principles according to which a state is constituted or governed. The Constitution of India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949 and came into effect on 26 January 1950. It was drafted by the Drafting Committee which was headed by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

In this article, we have talked about the Constitution, its functions, its authority, how the Indian Constitution was made and its borrowed features from other countries’ constitutions.

Constitution: Why and How? Class 11 Polity Notes

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Constitution: Why and How? Class 11 Notes

A constitution is a body of fundamental principles according to which a state is constituted or governed. It provides a set of basic rules that allow for minimal coordination amongst members of a society that are legally enforceable. A constitution must strike the right balance between certain values, norms and procedures and at the same time allow enough flexibility in its operations to adapt to changing needs and circumstances....

Why Do We Need Constitution?

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The Authority of the Constitution

A constitution typically consists of a set of articles specifying how a state is constituted and the norms it should follow. While most countries have a single document referred to as the Constitution, some, like the United Kingdom, have a series of documents and decisions collectively constituting their constitution. However, the effectiveness of a constitution depends on various factors....

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Conclusion

The Constitution is a moral commitment to establish a government that fulfils the many promises that the nationalist movement held before the people. The makers of the constitution presented to the nation a document that enshrined fundamental values and highest aspirations shared by the people. This is one of the main reasons why the Indian Constitution has survived till date....

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What is a Constitution?...