Constitutional framework
Constitutionalism and core political concepts
Practise 14 PYQsConcepts to cover
- What a constitution does: it defines and limits government
- Constitutional or limited government
- Rule of law and its features
- Liberty, and its relation to law
- Equality as absence of privilege
- Rights as claims of citizens against the State; rights and duties correlative
- Definition of the State; democracy and separation of powers as safeguards
- Gandhism, Marxism and liberal thought as reference points
Where to study
NCERT Class XI Indian Constitution at Work, Chapter 1: Constitution: Why and How?
- pp. 1-25 whole chapter 'Constitution: Why and How?'
- pp. 2-9 'Why do we need a Constitution?'
- pp. 5-6 'Limitations on the powers of government'
- p. 22 'Provisions adapted from constitutions of different countries' (rule of law from the British Constitution)
- pp. 4-6 'Specification of decision making powers', 'Limitations on the powers of government'
NCERT Class XI Indian Constitution at Work, Chapter 10: The Philosophy of the Constitution
- pp. 1-23 whole chapter 'The Philosophy of the Constitution'
- pp. 4-5 'Constitution as Means of Democratic Transformation'
- p. 7 'Individual freedom'
- p. 7 'Social Justice'
- pp. 12-14 'Universal franchise', 'Federalism', 'National identity'
- pp. 6-9 'What is the political philosophy of our Constitution?' (liberal, socialist and Gandhian strands)
NCERT Class XI Indian Constitution at Work, Chapter 2: Rights in the Indian Constitution
- pp. 1-25 whole chapter 'Rights in the Indian Constitution'
- pp. 5-8 'Right to Equality'
- pp. 9-11 'Right to Freedom'
- pp. 2-4 'The importance of rights', 'Fundamental Rights in the Indian Constitution'
Indian Polity · M. Laxmikanth
- ch. 7 Right to Equality