CBSE Class 11 India Constitution Work: Chapter 1 - Constitution Why and How? NCERT Solutions

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NCERT Solutions PDF Class 11 PDF

This chapter delves into the fundamental role and necessity of a constitution, exploring its core functions and the principles behind its authority. It addresses why a constitution is crucial for governing a nation, guaranteeing citizen rights, and establishing governmental structures. The solutions explain how a constitution provides a framework for power distribution among different government branches and reflects the shared values of a society. It also touches upon the historical context of constitution-making in India, highlighting the credibility of its framers and the process of achieving consensus. These NCERT Solutions are designed to help students grasp the essential concepts of constitutionalism and prepare for their examinations by providing clear explanations and reasoned answers to key questions.

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BoardCBSE
ClassClass 11
SubjectIndia Constitution Work
Session2026
LanguageEnglish
TypeNCERT Solutions
ChapterChapter 1

Chapter summary

Chapter 1 of the India Constitution Work textbook for Class 11 focuses on the 'Why and How' of constitutions. It explains the essential functions of a constitution, such as guaranteeing rights, defining governmental powers, and expressing societal values. The solutions clarify the superior authority of a constitution over parliament and discuss whether constitutions must be written. It also examines the legitimacy and decision-making processes involved in the Indian constitution's creation, emphasizing the role of credible leaders and the distribution of power to prevent subversion. This chapter provides a foundational understanding of constitutional principles.

Learning outcomes

  • Understand the primary functions of a constitution in a country.
  • Differentiate between the authority of a constitution and that of a parliament.
  • Analyze the reasons for the importance of a constitution, even if unwritten.
  • Evaluate the credibility and decision-making processes in the formation of the Indian Constitution.
  • Explain how power distribution in a constitution prevents its subversion.

Topics covered

Paper topics

  • Functions of a Constitution
  • Authority of a Constitution vs. Parliament
  • Written vs. Unwritten Constitutions
  • Role of Ideals and Values in Constitutions
  • Citizen Identity and Constitutions
  • Legitimacy of Constituent Assembly
  • Decision-making in Constitution Making
  • Credibility of Constitution Makers
  • Distribution of Power in Constitution
  • Subversion of Constitution

Important topics

  • Functions of a Constitution
  • Authority of Constitution over Parliament
  • Credibility of Indian Constitution Makers
  • Distribution of Power to Prevent Subversion
  • Legitimacy of the Constituent Assembly

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Questions and Solutions

Question 1

Which of these is not a function of the constitution?
  1. It gives a guarantee of the rights of the citizen.
  2. It marks out different spheres of power for different branches of government.
  3. It ensures that good people come to power.
  4. It gives expression to some shared values.
Solution: The correct option is (c). A constitution's primary functions include guaranteeing citizen rights, defining governmental powers, and reflecting shared values. However, it cannot ensure that only 'good' people come to power, as this depends on electoral processes and other societal factors beyond the direct control of the constitutional framework.

Question 2

Which of the following is a good reason to conclude that the authority of the constitution is higher than that of the parliament?
  1. The constitution was framed before the parliament came into being.
  2. The constitution makers were more eminent leaders than the members of the parliament.
  3. The constitution specifies how parliament is to be formed and what are its powers.
  4. The constitution cannot be amended by the parliament.
Solution: The most compelling reason is (c). The constitution lays down the fundamental rules and principles that govern the formation, structure, and powers of the parliament. Since parliament operates within the framework established by the constitution, the constitution inherently holds a higher and foundational authority.

Question 3

State whether the following statements about a constitution are True or False.
  1. Constitutions need not always be written documents.
  2. Constitutions exist and are required only in democratic countries.
  3. A constitution is a legal document that does not deal with ideals and values.
  4. A constitution gives its citizens a new identity.
Solution:
  1. False. While many constitutions are written, they do not necessarily have to be. Unwritten constitutions, like that of the United Kingdom, are based on conventions, statutes, and judicial precedents.
  2. False. Constitutions are essential for any form of government, including authoritarian or military regimes, to establish rules, power structures, and limitations, even if they are not democratic.
  3. False. Constitutions are indeed legal documents, but they are also deeply concerned with the ideals and values of a society. They often enshrine principles like justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity, shaping the fundamental identity of the nation and its people.
  4. True. A constitution can provide a new identity to citizens by defining their rights, duties, and their relationship with the state, often fostering a sense of national unity and shared purpose.

Question 4

State whether the following inferences about the making of the Indian Constitution are Correct or Incorrect. Give reasons to support your answer.
  1. The Constituent Assembly did not represent the Indian people since it was not elected by all citizens.
  2. Constitution making did not involve any major decision since there was a general consensus among the leaders at that time about its basic framework.
  3. There was little originality in the Constitution, for much of it was borrowed from other countries.
Solution:
  1. Incorrect. Although the Constituent Assembly was not elected by universal adult suffrage, it possessed significant public authority. This authority stemmed from the consensus it built and the backing it received from popular leaders. The people adopted the constitution by abiding by its provisions, thereby legitimizing it.
  2. False. Constitution making involved numerous significant decisions and debates. While there was consensus on some fundamental aspects like universal adult franchise, many other foundational issues of the modern state were discussed with great sophistication and involved legitimate differences of principle among the leaders.
  3. False. The makers of the Indian Constitution were well-learned and did not hesitate to draw upon the experiences and experiments of other countries. However, they adapted these provisions to suit Indian problems and aspirations, ensuring that each part of the constitution was defended on grounds of its suitability for India, demonstrating significant originality in application and context.

Question 5

Give two examples each to support the following conclusions about the Indian Constitution:
  1. The Constitution was made by credible leaders who commanded people's respect.
  2. The Constitution has distributed power in such a way as to make it difficult to subvert it.
Solution:
  1. The Indian Constitution was framed by leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Maulana Azad, and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, who were highly respected figures with significant political experience and public standing. The Constituent Assembly, though not directly elected by all citizens, comprised eminent individuals representing diverse opinions and interests, ensuring broad-based legitimacy and credibility for the constitution they drafted.
  2. The Indian Constitution employs a system of checks and balances by horizontally fragmenting power among the legislature, executive, and judiciary. For instance, the judiciary can strike down laws passed by the legislature if they violate the constitution, and the legislature can impeach judges. Furthermore, independent bodies like the Election Commission are established with significant powers to ensure fairness in electoral processes, making it difficult for any single institution or group to gain absolute control and subvert the constitutional order.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming constitutions are only written documents.
  • Believing constitutions are only necessary for democratic countries.
  • Overlooking the role of ideals and values in a constitution.
  • Underestimating the significance of the Constituent Assembly's legitimacy despite not being directly elected by all citizens.

Revision tips

  • Focus on the core functions of a constitution as listed in Question 1.
  • Understand the hierarchical relationship between the constitution and parliament.
  • Review the explanations for True/False statements to grasp nuances.
  • Pay attention to the reasons provided for the credibility of the Indian Constitution's makers and its power distribution.

Practice MCQs

Q1. Which of the following is NOT a primary function of a constitution?

Q2. What is a strong reason to believe the constitution's authority is superior to parliament's?

Q3. Can a constitution be unwritten?

Q4. How does the Indian Constitution prevent its subversion?

Q5. What gives the Indian Constitution its authority, despite not being subject to a referendum?

Frequently asked questions

What are the main functions of a constitution?

A constitution guarantees the rights of citizens, defines the powers and spheres of different government branches, expresses shared societal values, and provides a framework for governance.

Why is the constitution considered to have higher authority than the parliament?

The constitution's authority is higher because it specifies how parliament is to be formed, defines its powers, and acts as the foundational law from which parliament derives its legitimacy.

Do constitutions have to be written?

No, constitutions do not necessarily have to be written. While many are written documents, some countries have unwritten constitutions based on conventions and historical practices.

How did the Indian Constitution gain public authority?

The Indian Constitution gained public authority through the consensus and backing of its framers, who were eminent leaders commanding popular respect, and by the people adopting it as their own through adherence to its provisions.

How does the Indian Constitution prevent the subversion of power?

It achieves this by intelligently fragmenting power across different institutions like the legislature, executive, and judiciary, ensuring that checks and balances prevent any single organ from gaining absolute control or subverting the constitution.

Are ideals and values part of a constitution?

Yes, a constitution is a legal document that also deals with the ideals and values of society, reflecting the fundamental identity and aspirations of its people.

Important links

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