Indian Polity Introduction

Introduction

The Constitution of a country is a document that comprises a set of written Rules accepted by everyone living together in that country.

The constitution of a country is the supreme law of the land and it determines the relationship among people living in that country and also regulates the government and its policies towards its citizens.

 

Role of Constitution:

A  constitution  serves a lot of purpose its major roles are as follows:

• It describes rules and regulations that generate a degree of trust and coordination among the people of different strata of society who live together.
• It lays down the procedure as to how the government will be constituted and the manner in which decisions are taken.
• It defines the powers, duties and limits of the respective government.
• It also tells the right of the citizens and defines the rule of law and a procedure to protect them.
• All the democratic countries have their own constitutions. But having a full-fledged constitution in a country is not a guarantee for it to be truly democratic.
• The Americans gave themselves a constitution after the war of Independence against the great Britain in 1787.
• Similarly, the French people approved a democratic constitution after the revolution, i.e. first in 1791 and recently in 1958. Since then it has become a practice in all democracies to have a written constitution.
• A compilation of basic rules is called constitution and these rules are comprehensive that define
• The powers of the elected government to do things
• The limitations for not to do certain things
• Fundamental rights of the citizen
• How the ruler are to be chosen in future.

Major Committees and its head of the Constituent Assembly

Name of the committee	Head
Union Power Committee	Jawaharlal Nehru
Union Constitution Committee	Jawaharlal Nehru
States Committee (for negotiating)	Jawaharlal Nehru
Rules of Procedure Committee	Rajendra Prasad
Steering Committee	Rajendra Prasad
Provincial Constitution Committee	Sardar Patel
Advisory Committee onFundamental Rights, Minorities, tribal and Excluded Areas	Sardar Patel
Drafting Committee	B R Ambedkar

 

Preamble:

Preamble means 'a short introduction', here it highlights the most important principles in the constitution of India.

Preamble to the Constitution:

"WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a [SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC] and to secure to all its citizens JUSTICE, social, economic and political.
 
LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation; IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this twenty sixth day of November, 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION."

Key Facts to remember:

1.    First Country to have Preamble in its constitution - America
2.    Our preamble is based on the objective resolution.
       a.    Moved by Jawaharlal Nehru on Dec 13, 1946
       b.    Adopted by the constitution assembly on Jan 22, 1947
3.    N A Palhivala called it as 'identity card of the constitution'
4.    K M Munshi called it as 'horoscope of our sovereign democratic republic'
5.  Number of times amended - One time - by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976 (also known as mini Constitution) which added the following words
      a.    Socialist
      b.    Secular
      c.    and integrity
6.    Date of adoption of the constitution - November 26, 1949
7.    Ideals borrowed from
      a.    Russian Revolution (1917)- JUSTICE, social, economic and political
      b.    French Revolution (1789-1799) - LIBERTY, EQUALITY, FRATERNITY