Constitutional
Design Class 9 Notes Social Science Civics Chapter 3
The following topics from this chapter are being highlighted
the most in the previous 3 year’s examinations and thereby hold significant
importance.
- Democratic
Constitution in South Africa.
- Making
of the Indian Constitution
Democratic Constitution in South Africa
- Nelson
Mandela, the South African leader of African National Congress, fought a
long battle against Apartheid.
- Imprisoned
for 28 years (1964-1992) emerged as the first President of the Republic of
South Africa.
- People
struggled against the horrible discrimination practised against them by
the white minority rulers.
- Apartheid
system began to fall apart in the 1980s. Finally; in 1994, the first free
multiracial elections were held.
- Remarkable
constitution, forgot past sufferings, sought co-operation of all the races
which made South Africa based on equality, democratic values and social
justice.
Do We Need A Constitution?
- Yes.
A constitution has written laws accepted by people living together in a
country.
- It
generates trust and coordination.
- It
specifies how a government should be constituted.
- It
lays down limits on the powers of the government.
- It
expresses the aspirations of the people about creating a good society.
Making of the Indian Constitution
- From
1858 onwards, the British Government passed many Acts for the government
of India but could not satisfy Indian aspiration.
- The
demand for a Constitution was first raised in 1934 by the Indian National
Congress.
- In
1938, Jawaharlal Nehru formulated the demand for a Constituent Assembly.
- In
1942, the British Government recognized that Indians should frame a new
Constitution by themselves.
- Participation
in Provincial Legislatures helped Indians in framing their Constitution.
- The
Leaders were inspired by the French Revolution, British Parliamentary
System and the Bill of Rights of the US.
- They
also learnt what the British were denying Indian citizens.
The Constituent Assembly
- Elections
to the Constituent Assembly were held in July 1946.
- Dr
B.R. Ambedkar was appointed Chairman of the Drafting Committee.
- The
Constitution was adopted on 26th November 1949, and enacted on 26th
January 1950, when India became a Republic state.
- The
Constitution reflects the best minds of the country. The Constituent
Assembly was called Mini- India.
- Every
law was debated clause by clause and a consensus arrived at.
- It
is the longest written Constitution in the world
