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The NCERT Class 11 Political Science Chapter 9: Constitution as a Living Document from the Indian Constitution at Work textbook explores the dynamic nature of the Indian Constitution, its amendment process, the concept of the basic structure, and the interplay between Parliament and the Judiciary in shaping constitutional evolution. It covers the need for amendments, the role of various institutions, and significant cases like Kesavananda Bharati. This section provides detailed solutions to the chapter’s exercise questions, offering clear explanations to help students understand the Constitution’s adaptability and prepare effectively for exams.
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NCERT Solutions Class 11 Indian Constitution at Work Chapter 9: Constitution as a Living Document
This section provides clear solutions for Class 11 Indian Constitution at Work Chapter 9: Indian Constitution as a Living Document. The detailed explanations below help students understand the subject thoroughly.
Exercise
1. Choose the correct statement from the following.
A constitution needs to be amended from time to time because,
- Circumstances change and require suitable changes in the constitution.
- A document written at one point of time becomes outdated after some time.
- Every generation should have a constitution of its own liking.
- It must reflect the philosophy of the existing government.
2. Write True / False against the following statements.
a. The President cannot send back an amendment bill for reconsideration of Parliament.
b. Elected representatives alone have the power to amend the Constitution.
c. The Judiciary cannot initiate the process of constitutional amendment but can effectively change the Constitution by interpreting it differently.
d. Parliament can amend any section of the Constitution.
3. Which of the following are involved in the amendment of the Indian Constitution? In what way are they involved?
a. Voters
b. President of India
c. State Legislatures
d. Parliament
e. Governors
f. Judiciary
4. You have read in this chapter that the 42nd amendment was one of the most controversial amendments so far. Which of the following were the reasons for this controversy?
a. It was made during national emergency, and the declaration of that emergency was itself controversial.
b. It was made without the support of special majority.
c. It was made without ratification by State legislatures.
d. It contained provisions, which were controversial.
5. Which of the following is not a reasonable explanation of the conflict between the legislature and the judiciary over different amendments?
a. Different interpretations of the Constitution are possible.
b. In a democracy, debates and differences are natural.
c. Constitution has given higher importance to certain rules and principles and also allowed for amendment by special majority.
d. Legislature cannot be entrusted to protect the rights of the citizens.
e. Judiciary can only decide the constitutionality of a particular law; cannot resolve political debates about its need.
6. Identify the correct statements about the theory of basic structure.
Correct the incorrect statements.
a. Constitution specifies the basic tenets.
b. Legislature can amend all parts of the Constitution except the basic structure.
c. Judiciary has defined which aspects of the Constitution can be termed as the basic structure and which cannot.
d. This theory found its first expression in the Kesavananda Bharati case and has been discussed in subsequent judgments.
e. This theory has increased the powers of the judiciary and has come to be accepted by different political parties and the government.
7. From the information that many amendments were made during 2000-2003, which of the following conclusions would you draw?
a. Judiciary did not interfere in the amendments made during this period.
b. One political party had a strong majority during this period.
c. There was strong pressure from the pubic in favour of certain amendments.
d. There were no real differences among the parties during this time.
e. The amendments were of a non-controversial nature and parties had an agreement on the subject of amendments.
8. Explain the reason for requiring special majority for amending the Constitution.
9. Many amendments to the Constitution of India have been made due to different interpretations upheld by the Judiciary and Parliament. Explain with examples.
10. If amending power is with the elected representatives, judiciary should NOT have the power to decide the validity of amendments. Do you agree? Give your reasons in 100 words.
Also Read:
- NCERT Solutions Class 11 Political Science: Political Theory Chapter 7 Nationalism (Free PDF)
- NCERT Class 11 Political Science Chapter 6: Citizenship Notes (Free PDF)
Solutions:
1. a) Circumstances change and require suitable changes in the constitution.
2. a. True
b. False
c. True
d. True
3. a. Voters: Not directly involved in the amendment process, as amendments are initiated and
passed by elected representatives, not through public referendums.
b. President of India: Must give assent to a constitutional amendment bill after it is passed by Parliament; cannot send it back for reconsideration.
c. State Legislatures: Involved in amendments affecting federal provisions (e.g., powers of states), requiring ratification by at least half of the state legislatures.
d. Parliament: Has the primary role in initiating, debating, and passing amendment bills with a special majority in both Houses.
e. Governors: Not directly involved in the amendment process, as their role is limited to state-level legislation, not constitutional amendments.
f. Judiciary: Reviews the constitutionality of amendments, ensuring they do not violate the basic structure of the Constitution.
4. a. It was made during a national emergency, and the declaration of that emergency was itself controversial.
c. It was made without ratification by State legislatures.
d. It contained provisions, which were controversial.
5. d. Legislature cannot be entrusted to protect the rights of the citizens.
6. a. Incorrect: The Constitution does not explicitly specify the basic tenets; the basic structure is a judicially evolved concept.
Corrected: The basic structure is a judicial doctrine, not explicitly listed in the Constitution.
b. Correct: Legislature can amend all parts of the Constitution except the basic structure.
c. Incorrect: Judiciary has defined aspects constituting the basic structure, not what cannot be included.
Corrected: Judiciary has defined aspects like federalism and secularism as part of the basic structure.
d. Correct: This theory found its first expression in the Kesavananda Bharati case and has been discussed in subsequent judgments.
e. Correct: This theory has increased the powers of the judiciary and has come to be accepted by different political parties and the government.
7. e. The amendments were of a non-controversial nature and parties had an agreement on the subject of amendments.
8. The special majority requirement for amending the Constitution ensures that changes reflect broad consensus, preventing hasty or partisan alterations. It mandates a two-thirds majority in both Houses of Parliament, ensuring stability while allowing flexibility to adapt to changing needs. For federal provisions, ratification by half of the state legislatures further safeguards the interests of states, maintaining the Constitution’s balance between rigidity and adaptability.
9. Amendments to the Constitution often arise from differing interpretations between the Judiciary and Parliament. For example, the 24th Amendment (1971) was enacted to overturn the Golaknath case ruling, which limited Parliament’s amending power by declaring fundamental rights unamendable. Parliament clarified its authority to amend any part of the Constitution. Similarly, the 42nd Amendment (1976) expanded Parliament’s powers and curtailed judicial review, but the Judiciary, in the Minerva Mills case (1980), struck down provisions violating the basic structure, like unchecked amendment powers, illustrating the dynamic interplay between the two institutions in shaping constitutional evolution.
10. I disagree that the judiciary should not decide the validity of amendments passed by elected representatives. The judiciary’s role in reviewing amendments ensures they do not violate the Constitution’s basic structure, as established in the Kesavananda Bharati case. This protects essential principles like democracy and federalism from arbitrary changes. While elected representatives have amending powers, unchecked authority risks undermining constitutional integrity. Judicial review acts as a safeguard, balancing legislative authority with constitutional supremacy, ensuring amendments align with the Constitution’s core values without interfering in the legislative process.
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Also Read:
- NCERT Notes Class 11 Political Science Indian Constitution at Work Chapter 3: Election and Representation (Free PDF)
- NCERT Notes Class 11 Political Science: Political Theory Chapter 7: Nationalism (Free PDF)
Download the Solutions of Other Chapters of Class 11 Political Science: Indian Constitution at Work
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