C H - 3 C O N S T IT U T IO N A L D E S IG N

Nelson Mandela
N e ls on M a n d e la w a s trie d for tre as o n by th e w h ite S ou th A fric an g ove rn m e n t. H e a n d s e ve n oth e r le a de rs w e re
s e n te n c e d to life im p ris o n m e n t in 19 6 4 for da rin g to o p p o s e th e a p arth e id re g im e in h is c o u n try. H e s p e n t th e
n e x t 28 ye a rs in S o u th A fric a’ s m o s t frig h te n e d pris o n , R o b b e n Is lan d .

Apartheid
1. A p arth e id w a s a s ys te m o f rac ia l d is c rim in a tion in S ou th Africa w h e re th e w h ite E u ro pe an d is c rim in a te d th e
b la c k m ajo rity.
2. Th e b lac ks w e re fo rb idd e n fro m livin g in w h ite a re a s .
3. Tra in s , b u s e s , ta xis , h o te ls , h o s p itals , s c h o o ls a n d co lle g e s , lib ra rie s , c in e m a h a lls , th e a tre s , b e a c h e s , s w im m in g
p o ols , pu blic toile ts , w e re a ll s e p arate fo r th e w h ite s a n d b la c ks . Th is w a s c alle d segregation.
4 . Th e y co u ld n o t e ve n vis it th e c h u rch e s w h e re th e w h ite s w ors h ip p e d .

Struggle against the Apartheid

1. S in ce 1 95 0 , Th e Africa n N atio n al C o n g re s s (AN C ) w as (in clu d e d w o rke rs ’ u n io n s , th e C o m m u n is t P arty, th e
b la c ks , th e c o lou re d an d In d ian s ) fo u g h t a g ain s t th e a p arth e id s ys te m . Th e y la u n c h e d pro te s t m a rch e s a n d
s trik e s .
2. M an y s e n s itive w h ite s als o join e d th e A N C a n d p laye d a le ad in g ro le in th is s tru g gle .

End of Apartheid in South Africa

1. A s p ro te s ts a n d s tru g g le s h a d in c re as e d , th e g ove rn m e n t re a lis e d th at th e y c ou ld n o lo n g e r ke e p th e b la ck s

u n d e r th e ir ru le .
2. D is c rim in a to ry law s w e re a b o lis h e d . B a n on p o litic al p a rtie s a n d re s tric tio n s on th e m e d ia w e re lifte d .
2. A fte r 2 8 ye a rs , N e ls o n M a n d e la w a lk e d o u t o f th e jail a s a fre e m a n . Fin ally, 26 Ap ril 19 9 4 , th e R e p u b lic o f S o u th
Africa w a s g o t in d e p e n d e n c e .
3. Th e a pa rth e id g ove rn m e n t ca m e to a n e n d , M an d e la , b e c a m e th e firs t p re s id e n t o f n e w S o u th A fric a.

How did South Africans make a democratic constitution?

1. A fte r th e e m e rg e n c e of th e n e w d e m o c ra tic S o u th A frica , b la c k le ad e rs ap p e a le d to fe llo w b lac k s to forg ive
th e w h ite s fo r th e atro c itie s w h ile in p o w e r.
2. Th e y b u ild a n e w S ou th A fric a b as e d on e q u a lity o f a ll rac e s , s o cia l ju s tic e an d h u m a n rig h ts .
3. Afte r tw o ye a rs o f d is c u s s io n a n d d e b a te th e y c am e o u t w ith o n e o f th e fin e s t c on s titu tio n s th e w o rld h a s e ve r
h a d . Th is co n s titu tio n g a ve to its citize n s th e m o s t e xte n s ive righ ts a va ilab le in an y c ou n try.
4. Th e S ou th A fric an c o n s titu tio n in s p ire s de m o cra ts all ove r th e w o rld . A s tate d e n o u n c e d b y th e e n tire w o rld till
re ce n tly a s th e m os t u n d e m o cratic o n e is n o w s e e n a s a m o d e l o f de m o crac y.

WHY DO SOUTH AFRICANS NEED A CONSTITUTION?

Th e b lac k m ajo rity w a s k e e n to e n s u re th a t th e d e m o cratic p rin c ip le o f m ajo rity ru le w a s n ot co m p rom is e d . T h e y

w a n te d s u b s ta n tia l s o cial a n d e c o n o m ic rig h ts . T h e w h ite m in o rity w a s k e e n to p ro te c t its p rivile ge s a n d p ro p e rty.
Afte r lo n g n e go tiatio n s b o th p artie s a gre e d to a c om pro m is e .
● Th e w h ite s a g re e d to th e p rin c ip le o f m ajo rity ru le a n d th a t o f o n e p e rs on o n e vo te .
● Th e y a ls o a g re e d to a c ce pt s o m e ba s ic rig h ts fo r th e p oo r a n d th e w o rk e rs .
● Th e b la c ks a g re e d th at m a jority ru le w o u ld n o t b e a b s olu te .
● Th e y a gre e d th a t th e m ajo rity w o u ld n o t ta ke aw a y th e p rop e rty of th e w h ite m in o rity.
● Th e y a gre e d o n s o m e b a s ic ru le s w h ic h w ill be s u p re m e , th a t n o g o ve rn m e n t w ill be a ble to ig n o re th e s e .
● Th e o n ly w ay to b u ild a n d m a in tain tru s t in s u c h a s itu a tio n is to w rite d o w n s o m e ru le s o f th e c o u n try th a t
e ve ryo n e w o u ld a b id e b y. Th is s e t o f b a s ic ru le s is c a lle d a c o n s titu tion .
 WHAT DO CONSTITUTIONS DO IN A DEMOCRACY?*
1. A C o n s titu tion g e n e ra te s a d e g re e of tru s t a n d c o o rd in a tion th a t is n e c e s s a ry fo r d iffe re n t k in d o f p e o ple to live
to g e th e r.
2. A C o n s titu tion s p e c ifie s h o w th e g o ve rn m e n t w ill b e c o n s titu te d, w h o w ill h a ve p o w e r to ta k e w h ic h d e cis io n s .
3. A C o n s titu tion lays do w n lim its o n th e p ow e rs o f th e g o ve rn m e n t a n d te lls u s w h at th e rig h ts of th e c itize n s are .
4 . A C o n s titu tio n e xp re s s e s th e a s p ira tio n s o f th e p e o ple ab o u t cre a tin g a g oo d s o c ie ty.
5 . A ll c ou n trie s th a t h ave c on s titu tio n s are n ot n e c e s s a rily de m o cratic . B u t a ll c o u n trie s th a t are d e m oc ratic w ill
h a ve c o n s titu tio n s .

STORY OF BHARATIYA CONSTITUION

PATH TO MAKING OF THE INDIAN CONSTITUTION OR (Factors contributed to the making of our Constitution)

1. In 1 92 8, M o tila l N e h ru a n d e ig h t o th e r C on gre s s le a d e rs d rafte d a c o n s titu tion fo r In d ia w ith th e fo llo w in g

fe atu re s - u n ive rs al a d u lt fra n c h is e , rig h t to fre e d o m an d e q u a lity a n d to p ro te c tin g th e righ ts o f m in oritie s
2. In 19 30 , th e re s o lu tion a t th e K a ra c h i s e s s io n o f th e In d ia n N atio n al C o n g re s s dw e lt o n h o w in d e p e n d e n t In d ia ’
s c on s titu tio n s h ou ld loo k lik e w ith th e fo llo w in g fe a tu re s - u n ive rs al a du lt fra n c h is e , righ t to fre e do m a n d
e q u a lity a n d to p ro te ctin g th e rig h ts o f m in o ritie s .
3. Th e e xp e rie n ce g ain e d b y In d ia n s in th e w o rk in g o f th e le g is la tive in s titu tio n s of th e c o lon ial p e rio d p ro ve d to b e
ve ry u s e fu l for th e c o u n try in s e ttin g u p its o w n in s titu tio n s .
4. In d ia n co n s titu tio n a do p te d m a n y in s titu tio n a l d e tails an d p ro c e d u re s from c o lo n ia l la w s like th e G o ve rn m e n t o f
In d ia Ac t 19 35 .
5. O u r le a de rs ga in e d c o n fid e n ce to le arn fro m o th e r c o u n trie s , b u t o n o u r o w n te rm s . M a n y of o u r le a d e rs w e re
in s p ire d by th e id e a ls o f Fre n c h R e volu tio n , th e p rac tice o f p a rlia m e n tary d e m o cra cy in B ritain , th e B ill o f R igh ts
in th e U S a n d th e s o c ia lis t re vo lu tio n in R u s s ia .-.-.

INDIA’ S CONSTITUTION WAS DRAWN UP UNDER VERY DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES- HOW?

1. A t th a t tim e th e pe o ple o f In d ia w e re e m e rg in g from th e s ta tu s o f s u b je c ts to th a t o f c itize n s .

2. Th e co u n try w a s b o rn th rou gh a p a rtition on th e ba s is o f re lig io u s d iffe re n ce s . Th is w as a tra u m a tic e x p e rie n c e
for th e p e o p le of In dia. At le a s t te n la k h p e o ple w e re kille d o n b o th s id e s o f th e b o rd e r in pa rtitio n re la te d
vio le n c e .
3. Th e B ritis h h a d le ft it to th e ru le rs o f th e p rin c e ly s ta te s to d e c id e w h e th e r th e y w an te d to m e rge w ith In d ia o r
w ith P a kis tan o r re m a in in d e p e n d e n t. Th e m e rg e r o f th e s e p rin ce ly s ta te s w a s a d iffic u lt an d u n c e rta in tas k .
 WHO WERE THE MAKERS OF THE INDIAN CONSTITUTION?
1. Th e d raftin g o f th e d oc u m e n t c a lle d th e c o n s titu tion w as d o n e b y a n a s s e m b ly o f e le c te d re p re s e n ta tive s c a lle d
th e C o n s titu e n t A s s e m b ly.
2. E le c tio n to th e C o n s titu e n t A s s e m b ly w as h e ld in J u ly 19 4 6 . Th e C on s titu e n t A s s e m b ly th a t w ro te th e In d ia n
c on s titu tio n h a d 2 99 m e m be rs . Its firs t m e e tin g w a s h e ld in D e c e m b e r 19 4 6. Th e C on s titu e n t A s s e m b ly w o rk e d
in a s ys te m a tic, o p e n a n d c o n s e n s u al m an n e r.
3. F irs t s om e ba s ic p rin cip le s w e re d e c ide d a n d a g re e d u p o n . Th e n a D ra ftin g C o m m itte e c h a ire d b y D r. B .R .
Am be d ka r pre p a re d a dra ft c on s titu tio n fo r d is cu s s io n .
4 . S e ve ral ro u n ds o f th o ro u g h d is c u s s io n to o k p lac e o n th e D ra ft C o n s titu tio n , cla u s e b y c la u s e . M o re th a n tw o
th ou s an d am e n d m e n ts w e re c o n s id e re d . Th e m e m b e rs d e lib e rate d for 1 14 d ays s p re a d o ve r th re e ye a rs .
5 . Th e A s s e m b ly a do p te d th e C o n s titu tio n o n 26 N ove m b e r 1 9 49 b u t it c a m e in to e ffe c t o n J an u ary 26 , 1 9 50 . To
m a rk th is d a y w e c e le b rate J a n u a ry 26 a s R e p u b lic D ay e ve ry ye a r.

CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY DEBATES

1. Every document presented and every word spoken in the Constituent Assembly has been recorded and preserved. These are called ‘ Constituent
Assembly Debates’ .
2. When printed, these debates are 12 bulky volumes! These debates provide the rationale behind every provision of the Constitution.
3. These are used to interpret the meaning of the Constitution.

WHY SHOULD WE ACCEPT THE CONSTITUTION MADE BY THIS ASSEMBLY MORE THAN FIFTY YEARS AGO?
1. O ve r th e la s t h alf a ce n tu ry, s e ve ral g ro u p s h ave q u e s tio n e d s o m e pro vis io n s o f th e C on s titu tio n . B u t n o larg e
s o cial g rou p or p o litic a l p a rty h a s e ve r qu e s tio n e d th e le g itim a c y o f th e C o n s titu tio n its e lf.
2. Th e C o n s titu e n t A s s e m b ly w as e le c te d m ain ly by th e m e m b e rs o f th e e xis tin g P ro vin c ia l Le g is latu re s . Th is
e n s u re d a fa ir ge o gra ph ica l s h a re o f m e m b e rs fro m a ll th e re g io n s of th e c o u n try.
3 In s o c ial te rm s , th e A s s e m b ly re pre s e n te d m e m b e rs fro m d iffe re n t lan gu ag e gro u p s , c a s te s , cla s s e s , re lig io n s
a n d o cc u p a tio n s .
4 . Th e A s s e m b ly w a s do m in a te d b y th e In d ia n N a tio n al C o n g re s s , th e p arty th at le d In d ia ’ s fre e d o m s tru g gle . B u t
th e C o n g re s s its e lf in c lu d e d a va rie ty o f p olitica l g ro u p s a n d o p in io n s .
5. F in a lly, th e m a n n e r in w h ic h th e C o n s titu e n t As s e m b ly w o rk e d g ive s s a n c tity to th e C o n s titu tio n . T h e
C on s titu e n t A s s e m b ly w o rke d in a s ys te m a tic , o p e n an d c o n s e n s u al m an n e r. M o re th a n tw o th o u s a n d
a m e n d m e n ts w e re co n s ide re d .
 GUIDING VALUES OF THE INDIAN CONSTITUTION
Understanding of the overall philosophy of our Constitution can be done in two ways.

W e c a n u n de rs tan d th e ove ra ll p h ilo s o p h y o f ou r C o n s titu tio n b y reading the views of some of our major
leaders o n o u r C o n s titu tio n .
1. Mahatma Gandhi- H e h a d s p e lt o u t w h a t h e w a n te d th e C o n s titu tio n to d o : A n In d ia in w h ic h th e re
s h all b e n o h ig h c la s s a n d lo w c la s s o f p e o p le , a ll c o m m u n itie s s h a ll liv e in p e rfe c t h a rm o n y , n o
ro o m fo r u n to u c h a b ility a n d th e c u rs e o f th e in to xic a tin g d rin k s a n d d ru g s a n d W o m e n w ill e n jo y
th e s a m e rig h ts a s m e n .

2. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar- w h o p la y e d a k e y ro le in th e m a kin g o f th e C o n s titu tio n b u t h e o fte n b itte rly

c ritic is e d M a h a tm a G a n d h i a n d h is v is io n . In h is c o n c lu d in g s p e e c h to th e C o n s titu e n t A s s e m b ly
h e s ta te d h is a n xie ty v e ry c le a rly . In p o litic s w e w ill h a v e e q u a lity a n d in s o c ia l a n d e c o n o m ic life
w e w ill h av e in e q u a lity .

3. Jawaharlal Nehru- In h is fa m o u s s p e e c h to th e C o n s titu e n t A s s e m b ly h e s ta te d th a t w h e n th e w o rld

s le e p s , In d ia w ill a w a k e to life a n d fre e d o m . F re e d o m a n d p o w e r b rin g re s p o n s ib ility . T h e s e rv ic e
o f In d ia m e a n s th e s e rv ic e o f th e m illio n s w h o s u ffe r. It m e a n s th e e n d in g o f p o v e rty a n d
ig n o ra n c e a n d d is e a s e a n d in e q u a lity o f o p p o rtu n ity .

W e c a n u n d e rs ta n d th e o v e ra ll p h ilo s o p h y o f o u r C o n s titu tio n by reading the preamble to th e

C o n s titu tio n . T h e C o n s titu tio n b e g in s w ith a s h o rt s tate m e n t o f its b a s ic v a lu e s . T h is is c a lle d th e
P re a m b le to th e c o n s titu tio n . P re am b le o f th e In d ia n C o n s titu tio n g u id e s a ll th e artic le s o f th e In d ian
C o n s titu tio n .

Key words of the Preamble

REPUBLIC- T h e h e ad of th e s tate , th e p re s id e n t o f In d ia is a n e le cte d p e rs on a n d n o t a h e re d ita ry p os itio n .

JUSTICE- C itize n s ca n n ot b e d is c rim in a te d on th e g ro u n d s o f c a s te , re lig io n an d g e n d e r.

G o ve rn m e n t s h ou ld w o rk fo r th e w e lfa re of a ll, e s p e c ially o f th e dis ad va n ta g e d g rou ps .

LIBERTY- T h e re is n o re s tric tio n s o n th e citize n s in w h a t th e y th in k, e x pre s s th e ir th o u g h ts a n d fo llo w u p th e ir

th ou gh ts in a ctio n .

EQUALITY- A ll is e q u a l b e fo re th e law . Th e g o ve rn m e n t s h o u ld e n s u re e q u a l op p o rtu n ity for a ll.

FRATERNITY- All o f u s s h o u ld b e h ave as if w e are m e m b e rs o f th e s a m e fa m ily. N o o n e s h o u ld tre a t a fe llo w

c itize n a s in fe rio r.

WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA- Th e co n s titu tio n h a s b e e n d raw n u p an d e n a c te d b y th e pe op le th ro u g h th e ir

re p re s e n ta tive s n o t h a n d e d o ve r b y a kin g o r o u ts id e p o w e rs .

SOVEREIGN- P e op le h a ve s u pre m e righ t to m ak e d e c is io n s on in te rn al a s w e ll a s e x te rn a l m atte rs . N o e xte rn al

p o w e r c a n d ic ta te th e g o ve rn m e n t o f In dia.

SOCIALIST- W e a lth is ge n e rate d s o cia lly a n d s h o u ld b e s h a re d e qu ally b y s o c ie ty. G o ve rn m e n t s h o u ld re d u c e

s o cio-e co n o m ic in e q u a litie s .

SECULAR- C itize n s h a ve c o m p le te fre e d o m to fo llo w a n y re ligion . G o ve rn m e n t tre a ts all re lig io u s b e lie fs a n d

p ra c tic e s w ith e qu al re s p e c t.

DEMOCRATIC- A fo rm o f g o ve rn m e n t w h e re p e o ple e n jo y e q u a l p o litic al rig h ts , e le c t th e ir ru le rs a n d h o ld th e m

a cc o u n tab le .

INSTITUTIONAL DESIGN
A c o ns t itu tio n is n o t m e re ly a s ta te m e n t o f v a lu e s a n d p h ilo s o p h y it is m a in ly a b o u t e m b o d y in g th e s e v a lu e s in to in s t itu tio n a l
a r ra n g em e n ts s u c h a s O ffic e o f th e P rim e M in is t er , P re s id en t , J u d ic ia ry e tc . M u c h o f th e C o n s titu tio n a l ru le s a r e a b o u t th e s e
a r ra n g em e n ts .

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
In d ia n C o n s titu tio n fe lt th a t it h as to b e in a c co rd an ce w ith p e o ple ’ s a s p ira tio n s a n d c h a n g e s in s o cie ty.
C on s titu tio n m a k e rs m a d e p ro vis io n s to in c o rp o ra te ch a n g e s in th e c on s titu tio n fro m tim e to tim e . Th e s e
c h a n g e s a re c alle d co n s titu tio n a l a m e n d m e n ts .

Apartheid : T h e o f fic ia l p o lic y o f ra c ia l s e p a ra t io n a n d ill tre a tm en t o f b la c k s fo llo w e d b y th e g o v e rn m e nt o f S o u th A fric a b e t w e e n

1 9 48 a n d 1 9 8 9 .
Clause : A d is tin c t s e c tio n o f a d o c u m en t .
Constituent Assembly: A n a s s e m b ly o f p e o p le ’ s re p re s e n ta tiv e s th a t w rite s a c o ns t itu tio n fo r a c o u nt ry .
Constitutional amendment: A c h a n g e in th e c o n s titu t io n m a d e b y th e s u p re m e le g is la tiv e b o d y in a c o u n try .
Philosophy: T h e m o s t fu n d a m e n ta l p rin c ip le s u n d e rly in g o n e ’ s th o u g h t a n d a c tio n s .
Treason : T h e o ff en c e o f a tt e m p tin g to o v e rth ro w th e g o v e rn m e n t o f t he s ta te to w h ic h th e o ffe n d e r o w e s a lle g ia n c e .
Tryst: A m e e tin g o r m e e tin g p la c e t h a t h a s b e e n a g re e d u p o n .