ch-3 constitutional design

CHAPTER 3

 CONSTITUTIONAL DESIGN

Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela was tried for treason by the white South African government. He and seven other leaders were sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964 for daring to oppose the apartheid regime in South Africa. He spent the next 28 years in South Africa’s most dreaded prison, Robben Island.

Apartheid

1.      Apartheid was the name of a system of racial discrimination unique to South Africa where the white European minority discriminated the native black majority.

2.      The blacks were forbidden from living in white areas. They could work in white areas only if they had a permit.

3.      Trains, buses, taxis, hotels, hospitals, schools and colleges, libraries, cinema halls, theatres, beaches, swimming pools, public toilets, were all separate for the whites and blacks. This was called segregation.

4.      They could not even visit the churches where the whites worshipped.

5.      Blacks could not form associations or protest against the terrible treatment of whites.

Struggle against the Apartheid by African National Congress

1.      Since 1950, the blacks, the coloured and Indians fought against the apartheid system. They launched protest marches and strikes.

2.      The African National Congress (ANC) was the umbrella organization that led the struggle against the policies of segregation. This included many workers’ unions and the Communist Party.

3.      Many sensitive whites also joined the ANC to oppose apartheid and played a leading role in this struggle.

4.      Nelson Mandela was tried for treason by the white government. He and seven other leaders were sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964 for daring to oppose the apartheid regime in his country. He spent the next 28 years in South Africa’s most dreaded prison, Robben Island

5.      Several countries denounced apartheid as unjust and racist. But the white racist government continued to rule by detaining, torturing and killing thousands of black and coloured people.

End of Apartheid in South Africa

1.      As protests and struggles against apartheid had increased, the government realised that they could no longer keep the blacks under their rule through repression. Discriminatory laws were repealed. Ban on political parties and restrictions on the media were lifted.

2.      After 28 years of imprisonment, Nelson Mandela walked out of the jail as a free man. Finally, at the midnight of 26 April 1994, the new national flag of the Republic of South Africa was unfurled marking the newly born democracy in the world.

3.      The apartheid government came to an end, paving way for the formation of a multi-racial government. Mandela, became the first democratically elected president of new South Africa.

How did South Africans make a democratic constitution?

1.      After the emergence of the new democratic South Africa, black leaders appealed to fellow blacks to forgive the whites for the atrocities they had committed while in power.

2.      They build a new South Africa based on equality of all races, social justice and human rights.

3.      After two years of discussion and debate they came out with one of the finest constitutions the world has ever had. This constitution gave to its citizens the most extensive rights available in any country.

4.      The South African constitution inspires democrats all over the world. A state denounced by the entire world till recently as the most undemocratic one is now seen as a model of democracy.

WHY DO SOUTH AFRICANS NEED A CONSTITUTION?( why do we need a constitution?)

1.      The black majority was keen to ensure that the democratic principle of majority rule was not compromised. They wanted substantial social and economic rights. The white minority was keen to protect its privileges and property.

2.      After long negotiations both parties agreed to a compromise. The whites agreed to the principle of majority rule and that of one person one vote. They also agreed to accept some basic rights for the poor and the workers.

3.      The blacks agreed that majority rule would not be absolute. They agreed that the majority would not take away the property of the white minority.

4.      The only way to build and maintain trust in such a situation is to write down some rules of the country that everyone would abide by. These rules also determine what the elected governments are empowered to do and what they cannot do.

5.      They agreed on some basic rules which will be supreme, that no government will be able to ignore these. This set of basic rules is also called a constitution.

what do constitutions do in a Democracy?

1.      A Constitution generates a degree of trust and coordination that is necessary for different kind of people to live together.

2.      A Constitution specifies how the government will be constituted, who will have power to take which decisions.

3.      A Constitution lays down limits on the powers of the government and tells us what the rights of the citizens are.

4.      A Constitution expresses the aspirations of the people about creating a good society.

5.      All countries that have constitutions are not necessarily democratic. But all countries that are democratic will have constitutions.

PATH TO MAKING OF THE INDIAN CONSTITUTION

(OR)

(Factors contributed to the making of Indian Constitution)

1.      In 1928, Motilal Nehru and eight other Congress leaders drafted a constitution for India with the following features - universal adult franchise, right to freedom and equality and to protecting the rights of minorities

2.      In 1931, the resolution at the Karachi session of the Indian National Congress dwelt on how independent India’s constitution should look like with the following features - universal adult franchise, right to freedom and equality and to protecting the rights of minorities.

3.      The experience gained by Indians in the working of the legislative institutions of the colonial period proved to be very useful for the country in setting up its own institutions.

4.      Indian constitution adopted many institutional details and procedures from colonial laws like the Government of India Act 1935.

5.      Our leaders gained confidence to learn from other countries, but on our own terms. Many of our leaders were inspired by the ideals of French Revolution, the practice of parliamentary democracy in Britain, the Bill of Rights in the US and the socialist revolution in Russia.

India’s Constitution was drawn up under very difficult circumstances- How?

1.      At that time the people of India were emerging from the status of subjects to that of citizens.

2.      The country was born through a partition on the basis of religious differences. This was a traumatic experience for the people of India.

3.  At least ten lakh people were killed on both sides of the border in partition related violence.

4.  The British had left it to the rulers of the princely states to decide whether they wanted to merge with India or with Pakistan or remain independent.

5.  The merger of these princely states was a difficult and uncertain task.

Who were the makers of the Indian Constitution?

1.      The drafting of the constitution was done by an assembly of elected representatives called the Constituent Assembly.

2.      Election to the Constituent Assembly was held in July 1946. The Constituent Assembly that wrote the Indian constitution had 299 members. Its first meeting was held in December 1946. The Constituent Assembly worked in a systematic, open and consensual manner.

3.      First some basic principles were decided and agreed upon. Then a Drafting Committee chaired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar prepared a draft constitution for discussion.

4.      Several rounds of thorough discussion took place on the Draft Constitution. More than two thousand amendments were considered. The members deliberated for 114 days spread over three years.

5.      The Assembly adopted the Constitution on 26 November 1949 but it came into effect on January 26, 1950. To mark this day we celebrate January 26 as Republic Day every year.

Why should we accept the Constitution made by the constituent  Assembly more than fifty years ago?

1.      Over the last half a century, several groups have questioned some provisions of the Constitution. But no large social group or political party has ever questioned the legitimacy of the Constitution itself.

2.      The Constituent Assembly was elected mainly by the members of the existing Provincial Legislatures. This ensured a fair geographical share of members from all the regions of the country.

3.      The Assembly was dominated by the Indian National Congress, the party that led India’s freedom struggle. But the Congress itself included a variety of political groups and opinions.

4.      In social terms, the Assembly represented members from different language groups, castes, classes, religions and occupations.

5.      Finally, the manner in which the Constituent Assembly worked gives sanctity to the Constitution. The Constituent Assembly worked in a systematic, open and consensual manner. More than two thousand amendments were considered.

Constituent Assembly Debates

1.      Every document presented and every word spoken in the Constituent Assembly has been recorded and preserved. These are called ‘Constituent Assembly Debates’.

2.      When printed, these debates are 12 bulky volumes! These debates provide the rationale behind every provision of the Constitution.

3.      These are used to interpret the meaning of the Constitution.

GUIDING VALUES OF THE INDIAN CONSTITUTION

Understanding of the overall philosophy of our Constitution can be done in two ways.

1.       We can understand the overall philosophy of our Constitution by reading the views of some of our major leaders on our Constitution.

2.      Mahatma Gandhi-He had spelt out what he wanted the Constitution to do: 
1. In India there shall be no high class and low class of people,
2.  all communities shall live in perfect harmony, 
3. no room for untouchability or the curse of the intoxicating drinks and drugs and 
4. Women will enjoy the same rights as men.

3.      Dr. B.R. Ambedkar-who played a key role in the making of the Constitution but he often bitterly criticized Mahatma Gandhi and his vision. 
1. In his concluding speech to the Constituent Assembly he stated his anxiety very clearly. 
2. In politics we will have equality and in social and economic life we will have inequality. 
3. This inequality will continue till the so called higher caste people stop discrimination against so called low caste people.

4.      Jawaharlal Nehru- In his famous speech to the Constituent Assembly he stated that when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. 
1. Freedom and power bring responsibility. 
2. The service of India means the service of the millions who suffer. It means the ending of poverty and ignorance and disease and inequality of opportunity.
3.  The ambition of the greatest man of our generation has been to wipe every tear from every eye.

5.      We can understand the overall philosophy of our Constitution by reading the preamble to the Constitution.
      The Constitution begins with a short statement of its basic values. This is called the Preamble to the constitution. Preamble of the Indian Constitution guides all the articles of the Indian Constitution.

Key words of the Preamble

REPUBLIC- The head of the state, the president of India is an elected person. This position is not a hereditary position.

JUSTICE- Citizens cannot be discriminated on the grounds of caste, religion and gender.

Government should work for the welfare of all, especially of the disadvantaged groups.

LIBERTY- There is no restrictions on the citizens in what they think, express their thoughts and follow up their thoughts in action.

EQUALITY- All is equal before the law. The government should ensure equal opportunity for all.

FRATERNITY- All of us should behave as if we are members of the same family. No one should treat a fellow citizen as inferior.

WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA- The constitution has been drawn up and enacted by the people through their representatives not handed over by a king or outside powers.

SOVEREIGN- People have supreme right to make decisions on internal as well as external matters. No external power can dictate the government of India.

SOCIALIST- Wealth is generated socially and should be shared equally by society. Government should reduce socio-economic inequalities.

SECULAR- Citizens have complete freedom to follow any religion. Government treats all religious beliefs and practices with equal respect.

DEMOCRATIC- A form of government where people enjoy equal political rights, elect their rulers and hold them accountable.

Institutional design

A constitution is not merely a statement of values and philosophy it is mainly about embodying these values into institutional arrangements such as Office of the Prime Minister, President, Judiciary etc. Much of the Constitutional rules are about these arrangements.

Constitutional amendments

Indian Constitution felt that it has to be in accordance with people’s aspirations and changes in society. Constitution makers made provisions to incorporate changes in the constitution from time to time. These changes are called constitutional amendments.

Apartheid: The official policy of racial separation and ill treatment of blacks followed by the government of South Africa between 1948 and 1989.

Clause: A distinct section of a document.

Constituent Assembly: An assembly of people’s representatives that writes a constitution for a country.

Constitution: Supreme law of a country, containing fundamental rules governing the politics and society in a country.

Constitutional amendment: A change in the constitution made by the supreme legislative body in a country.

Draft: A preliminary version of a legal document.

Philosophy: The most fundamental principles underlying one’s thought and actions.

Preamble: An introductory statement in a constitution which states the reasons and guiding values of the constitution.

Treason: The offence of attempting to overthrow the government of the state to which the offender owes allegiance.

Tryst: A meeting or meeting place that has been agreed upon.

Assignment on Chapter : Constitutional Design

1.      Write a short note on Nelson Mandela

2.      What is Apartheid?

3.      What is segregation?

4.      How did African National Congress struggle against the Apartheid?

5.      How did Apartheid end in South Africa?

6.      How did South Africans make a democratic constitution?

7.      Why is South African constitution one of the finest constitutions the world has ever had?

8.      Why do South Africans need a constitution?

9.      Define constitution.

10.  What do constitutions do in a Democracy?

11.  Mention the factors that contributed to the making of Indian Constitution.

12.  India’s Constitution was drawn up under very difficult circumstances- How?

13.  Who were the makers of the Indian Constitution?

14.  Write a short note on the Constituent Assembly.

15.  Why should we accept the Constitution made by the Constituent Assembly more than fifty years ago?

16.  Write a short note on Constituent Assembly Debates

17.  How do we understand the overall philosophy of our Constitution? Explain the two ways.

18.  Explain the views of our major leader Mahatma Gandhi on our Constitution

19.   Explain the views of our major leader Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on our Constitution

20.  Explain the views of our major leader Jawaharlal Nehru on our Constitution

21.  What is the preamble of the constitution?