Constitution: Why and How? — Political Science STD 11 Humanities — Question

Give two examples each to support the following conclusions about the Indian Constitution:
The Constitution has distributed power in such a way as to make it difficult to subvert it.

Read this discussion and say which of these statements applies most to India.
Alok: Prime Minister is like a king, he decides everything in our country.
Shekhar: Prime Minister is only 'first among equals', he does not have any special powers. All ministers and the PM have similar powers.
Bobby: Prime Minister has to consider the expectations of the party members and other supporters of the government. But after all, the Prime Minister has a greater say in policy making and in choosing the ministers.

Which of the following according to you involve decentralisation? Why are other options not sufficient for decentralisation?

1. To hold election of the Gram Panchayat.
2. Decision by the villagers themselves about what policies and programmes are useful for the village.
3. Power to call meeting of Gram Sabha.
4. A Gram Panchayat receiving the report from the Block Development Officer about the progress of a project started by the State government.

Why is it necessary for a constitution to place limitations on the rulers? Can there be a constitution that gives no power at all to the citizens?

The following is a statement about Ecuador. What similarities or differences do you find between this example and the judicial system in India?
“It would be helpful if a body of common law, or judicial precedent, existed that could clarify a journalist’s rights. Unfortunately, Ecuador’s courts don’t work that way. Judges are not forced to respect the rulings of higher courts in previous cases. Unlike the US, an appellate judge in Ecuador (or elsewhere in South America, for that matter) need not provide a written decision explaining the legal basis of a ruling. A judge may rule one way today and the opposite way, in a similar case, tomorrow, without explaining why.”

Match the following concepts with appropriate instances:

a.	Affirmative action	i.	Every adult citizen has a right to vote.
b.	Equality of opportunity	ii.	Banks offer higher rate of interest to senior citizen.
c.	Equal Rights	iii.	Every child should get free education.

Several reports show that caste groups previously associated with scavenging are forced to continue in this job. Those in positions of authority refuse to give them any other job. Their children are discouraged from pursuing education. Which of their Fundamental Rights are being violated in this instance?

A petition by a human rights group drew attention of the court to the condition of starvation and hunger in the country. Over five crore tonnes of food grains was stored in the godowns of the Food Corporation of India. Research shows that a large number of ration cardholders do not know about the quantity of food grains they can purchase from fair price shops. It requested the court to order the government to improve its public distribution system.

1. Which different rights does this case involve? How are these rights interlinked?
2. Should these rights form part of the right to life?

A government report on farmers’ problems says that small and marginal farmers cannot get good prices from the market. It recommends that the government should intervene to ensure a better price but only for small and marginal farmers. Is this recommendation consistent with the principle of equality?

Give two examples each to support the following conclusions about the Indian Constitution:
The Constitution is the locus of people's hopes and aspirations.