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Class 11 Political Science Chapter 9 Constitution as a Living Document
Section-A Indian Constitution
Selected Questions & Answers
A. Very Short Answer Type Questions: (Marks for each – 1)
1. In which Article of the Constitution is the procedure for constitutional amendment mentioned?
Ans: In Article 368.
2. How many methods are there for amending the Constitution of India?
Ans: Three.
3. Can the boundary or name of a state be changed by amending the Constitution?
Ans: Yes.
Note: The boundary or name of a state can be changed by an Act of Parliament under Articles 2 and 3, and not necessarily through a constitutional amendment.
4. In which amendment of the Indian Constitution were the Fundamental Duties included?
Ans: In the 42nd Amendment.
5. Can the people directly participate in the constitutional amendment process in India?
Ans: No, they cannot.
6. Mention the flexible method of amending the Constitution of India.
Ans: Some Articles of the Constitution can be amended by a simple majority of votes in both Houses of Parliament.
7. In which Schedule of the Constitution is Assamese recognized as a language?
Ans: In the Eighth Schedule.
8. In which Part of the Constitution of India is the amendment procedure mentioned?
Ans: In Part XX.
9. By which amendment was Sikkim associated with India?
Ans: By the 35th Amendment.
10. In which case was the Basic Structure Doctrine first raised?
Ans: In the case of Kesavananda Bharati.
11. In which amendment were the words ‘Socialist’ and ‘Secular’ added to the Preamble of the Constitution of India?
Ans: In the 42nd Amendment.
12. By which constitutional amendment were the Panchayati Raj Institutions given constitutional status?
Ans: By the 73rd Amendment.
13. Mention one subject that can be amended through the ordinary legislative process.
Ans: Creation and reorganization of new states.
14. In which year was the Constitution of India first amended?
Ans: In 1951.
B. Short Questions and Answers: (Marks for each – 2)
1. Define Constitution.
Ans: Although different scholars have given different definitions of the Constitution, a satisfactory definition was given by James Bryce as follows: “Constitution is the aggregate of laws and customs under which the life of the state is conducted.”
2. Why is the Constitution called a “living document”?
Ans: The Constitution is dynamic; it is not static. Changes in time bring changes in the provisions of the Constitution. In order to adapt to changing circumstances, the Constitution of every country needs to be amended. Amendments give a dynamic character to the Constitution. Therefore, the Constitution is called a “living document.”
3. When was the Constitution Review Commission formed? Who was its Chairman? Did the Commission recommend changing the Constitution?
Ans: The Constitution Review Commission was formed in 2000. Its Chairman was former Chief Justice of India M. N. Venkatachaliah. The Commission did not recommend changing the Constitution. It expressed the view that the Constitution has a basic structure and there is no need to change this basic structure.
C. Medium Answer Type Questions: (Marks for each – 4
1. Write four criticisms or defects of the constitutional amendment procedure of India.
Ans: The constitutional amendment procedure of India can be criticized in the following ways:
(a) The amendment procedure of the Constitution of India is not uniform. Therefore, critics argue that difficulties may arise while amending certain provisions.
(b) In the process of constitutional amendment, the role of the State Legislatures is comparatively limited. As a result, there is a possibility that constitutional amendments may become one-sided.
(c) Since the power of constitutional amendment is mainly vested in the Central Parliament, it reflects a tendency towards centralization in the political system.
(d) It is also considered a defect that the Central Parliament has the power to amend the Fundamental Rights of the citizens.
D. Essay Type Questions & Answers: (Marks for each – 6)
1. Discuss the amendment procedure of the Constitution of India.
Ans: The amendment procedure of the Constitution of India is mentioned in Article 368 of the Constitution. There are mainly three methods of amending the Constitution. These methods are as follows:
(a) Flexible Method: According to this method, some provisions of the Constitution can be amended through the ordinary legislative process. With the support of a simple majority of members of both Houses of Parliament, matters such as the creation of new states, alteration of the boundaries of states, creation or abolition of the Legislative Council in a state, matters related to citizenship, the privileges of members of Parliament, and the salaries of judges can be amended.
(b) Mixed Method: Under this method, certain provisions of the Constitution can be amended only with the support of two-thirds of the members present and voting in each House of Parliament, along with a majority of the total membership of each House. Matters such as provisions related to Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles are amended by this method.
(c) Rigid Method: Under this method, some provisions of the Constitution can be amended only when the amendment bill is passed by a special majority in each House of Parliament and is also ratified by at least half of the State Legislatures. This method generally applies to federal provisions such as the election of the President, distribution of legislative powers between the Union and the States, and representation of states in Parliament.
A constitutional amendment bill can be introduced only in the Parliament of India; the State Legislatures do not have the power to initiate such a bill. After being passed by Parliament, the amendment bill requires the assent of the President to become law.
