Constitution at Work

Ch 1 Constitution: Why And How? MCQs

Class 11 • Constitution at Work

Chapter 1: Constitution: Why And How?

Source: NCERT Official Textbook

Chapter 1, “Constitution: Why and How?” introduces the fundamental concept of a constitution and explains why every society needs one.
The chapter begins by posing a thought experiment: imagine a diverse group of people with different religions, professions, abilities, and economic statuses who must live together.
Without basic rules, every individual would be insecure, not knowing what others might do or who could claim rights over what.
The chapter identifies five essential functions of a constitution: first, it provides a set of basic rules that allow for minimal coordination among members of society;
second, it specifies who has the power to make decisions-the basic allocation of power in society; third, it sets limits on government power, typically through fundamental rights that protect citizens from arbitrary arrest and guarantee basic liberties like freedom of speech and conscience;
fourth, it enables the government to fulfil the aspirations of society and create conditions for a just society, as seen in the Indian Constitution’s Directive Principles; and fifth, it expresses the fundamental identity of a people, giving them a collective political and moral identity through shared constitutional norms. The chapter then examines what gives a constitution its authority and makes it effective.

Three key factors are identified: the mode of promulgation-constitutions created in the aftermath of popular national movements by credible leaders who command public respect are more likely to succeed; the substantive provisions-a constitution must give everyone in society some reason to go along with it, ensuring that no group feels their identity is stifled; and balanced institutional design-successful constitutions fragment power intelligently across different institutions (like the Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary) so that no single group can subvert the constitution, while also striking the right balance between preserving core values and adapting to changing circumstances.

The final section details the making of the Indian Constitution. The Constituent Assembly, elected indirectly by members of Provincial Legislative Assemblies, held its first sitting in December 1946 and adopted the Constitution on 26 November 1949.

Despite not being elected by universal suffrage, the Assembly was broadly representative, with members from all religions and communities. The chapter emphasizes the principle of deliberation—members engaged in public reason, giving principled arguments rather than simply advancing narrow interests.

The Objective Resolution, moved by Nehru in 1946, encapsulated the aspirations and values behind the Constitution: India as an independent, sovereign republic; power flowing from the people; guarantee of social, economic, and political justice; equality of status and opportunity; fundamental freedoms; and adequate safeguards for minorities and backward classes.

The framers wisely borrowed from other constitutional traditions while adapting provisions to Indian needs, creating a document that has survived as a living reality.

Topics Covered:

Section A: Descriptive Questions

  1. What is a constitution? What are its main functions? (Pg. 2-9) Page 2-9
  2. Why do diverse groups living together need basic rules? What would happen in the absence of such rules? (Pg. 2-3) Page 2-3
  3. What is the third function of a constitution? How does it limit government power? (Pg. 5-6) Page 5-6
  4. What is the fourth function of a constitution? How does the Indian Constitution fulfil this function? (Pg. 6-8) Page 6-8
  5. What is the fifth function of a constitution? How does it express the fundamental identity of a people? (Pg. 8-10) Page 8-10
  6. What are the three key questions we can ask about constitutions regarding their authority? (Pg. 10-11) Page 10-11
  7. What are the three factors that help determine whether a constitution has authority? (Pg. 11-14) Page 11-14
  8. How does the Indian Constitution fragment power across different institutions? (Pg. 13) Page 13
  9. How was the Indian Constituent Assembly composed? What was the basis of representation? (Pg. 15-16) Page 15-16
  10. What does Dr. B.R. Ambedkar mean by social democracy? How are liberty, equality, and fraternity related? (Pg. 15) Page 15
  11. What was the principle of deliberation in the Constituent Assembly? Why was it important? (Pg. 17-18) Page 17-18
  12. What was the Objective Resolution? What were its main points? (Pg. 19-20) Page 19-20
  13. How did the framers of the Indian Constitution approach borrowing from other constitutional traditions? (Pg. 21) Page 21

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Section B1: Objective MCQs

Page 3The first function of a constitution is to: (Pg. 3)
A) Specify who has power to make decisionsB) Provide a set of basic rules for minimal coordinationC) Set limits on government powerD) Express the aspirations of society
View Answer
Correct Answer: B
Reference: NCERT Page 3
Page 4-5The second function of a constitution is to: (Pg. 4-5)
A) Ensure minimal coordinationB) Specify who has the power to make decisionsC) Set limits on government powerD) Express societal aspirations
View Answer
Correct Answer: B
Reference: NCERT Page 4-5
Page 6The most common way of limiting government power is to specify: (Pg. 6)
A) The procedure for electionsB) Fundamental rights that all citizens possessC) The number of ministersD) The salary of the President
View Answer
Correct Answer: B
Reference: NCERT Page 6
Page 7-8The Indian Constitution enables the government to take positive welfare measures through: (Pg. 7-8)
A) Only Fundamental RightsB) Only Directive PrinciplesC) Both Fundamental Rights and Directive PrinciplesD) The Preamble alone
View Answer
Correct Answer: C
Reference: NCERT Page 7-8
Page 8-9A constitution expresses the fundamental identity of a people by: (Pg. 8-9)
A) Defining their ethnic originB) Agreeing to basic norms about governanceC) Specifying their religious identityD) Prescribing a common language
View Answer
Correct Answer: B
Reference: NCERT Page 8-9
Page 11What is one factor that makes a constitution effective? (Pg. 11)
A) It is written in complex languageB) It is crafted by military leadersC) It is created in the aftermath of popular national movementsD) It ignores minority groups
View Answer
Correct Answer: C
Reference: NCERT Page 11
Page 12According to the chapter, a successful constitution must give: (Pg. 12)
A) Absolute power to the majorityB) Everyone in society some reason to go along with its provisionsC) No rights to minoritiesD) Complete control to the executive
View Answer
Correct Answer: B
Reference: NCERT Page 12
Page 13The Indian Constitution ensures checks and balances by: (Pg. 13)
A) Concentrating all power in one institutionB) Giving unlimited power to the executiveC) Horizontally fragmenting power across Legislature, Executive, JudiciaryD) Abolishing the judiciary
View Answer
Correct Answer: C
Reference: NCERT Page 13
Page 15Members of the Constituent Assembly were elected by: (Pg. 15)
A) Direct universal suffrageB) The British ParliamentC) Indirect election by members of Provincial Legislative AssembliesD) The Princely States
View Answer
Correct Answer: C
Reference: NCERT Page 15
Page 15According to Dr. Ambedkar, without equality, liberty would produce: (Pg. 15)
A) Perfect harmonyB) The supremacy of the few over the manyC) Individual initiativeD) Natural course of things
View Answer
Correct Answer: B
Reference: NCERT Page 15
Page 17Only one provision of the Constitution was passed without virtually any debate. Which one? (Pg. 17)
A) Fundamental RightsB) Directive PrinciplesC) Universal suffrageD) Federal structure
View Answer
Correct Answer: C
Reference: NCERT Page 17
Page 19The Objective Resolution was moved in the Constituent Assembly by: (Pg. 19)
A) Dr. B.R. AmbedkarB) Jawaharlal NehruC) Sardar PatelD) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
View Answer
Correct Answer: B
Reference: NCERT Page 19
Page 21According to Dr. Ambedkar, the only new things in a Constitution framed so late are: (Pg. 21)
A) Original ideas never seen beforeB) Variations to remove faults and accommodate it to the country’s needsC) Complete rejection of all foreign modelsD) Perfect imitation of other constitutions
View Answer
Correct Answer: B
Reference: NCERT Page 21

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Section B2: Factual One-Liners

A constitution provides a set of basic rules that allow for minimal ______ among members of society. (Pg. 3) Page 3

Reveal Answer
coordination (Page 3)

The constitution specifies the basic ______ of power in a society. (Pg. 4) Page 4

Reveal Answer
allocation (Page 4)

Citizens will normally have the right to basic liberties: freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, freedom of ______, etc. (Pg. 6) Page 6

Reveal Answer
association (Page 6)

The Directive Principles of State Policy enjoin government to fulfil certain ______ of the people. (Pg. 8) Page 8

Reveal Answer
aspirations (Page 8)

By agreeing to certain basic norms and principles, one constitutes one’s basic ______ identity. (Pg. 9) Page 9

Reveal Answer
political (Page 9)

The most successful constitutions, like India’s, were created in the aftermath of popular ______ movements. (Pg. 11) Page 11

Reveal Answer
national (Page 11)

Well-crafted constitutions ______ power in society intelligently so that no single group can subvert it. (Pg. 13) Page 13

Reveal Answer
fragment (Page 13)

A constitution must strike the right balance between preserving core values and ______ them to new circumstances. (Pg. 13-14) Page 13-14

Reveal Answer
adapting (Page 13-14)

The Constitution was adopted on 26 November ______ and came into force on 26 January 1950. (Pg. 16) Page 16

Reveal Answer
1949 (Page 16)

Dr. Ambedkar stated that liberty cannot be divorced from equality, and equality cannot be divorced from ______. (Pg. 15) Page 15

Reveal Answer
liberty (Page 15)

The Constitution drew its authority from the fact that members engaged in what one might call public ______. (Pg. 17) Page 17

Reveal Answer
reason (Page 17)

According to the Objectives Resolution, all powers and authority of sovereign and independent India shall flow from the ______. (Pg. 20) Page 20

Reveal Answer
people (Page 20)

The framers of the Constitution did not hesitate to learn from experiments and ______ of other countries. (Pg. 21) Page 21

Reveal Answer
experiences (Page 21)

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