Which one of the following statements best reflects the Chief purpose of the 'Constitution' of a country?
- A.It determines the objective for the making of necessary laws.
- B.It enables the creation of political offices and a government.
- C.It defines and limits the powers of government.
- D.It secures social justice, social equality and social security.
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is C, it defines and limits the powers of government. The core idea of a constitution is constitutionalism: power is granted to the government, but only within set limits.
A constitution sets up the organs of the State and divides power among them, but its chief purpose is to stop that power from becoming arbitrary. It does this through fundamental rights that the State cannot violate, separation of powers, federal division of subjects, judicial review and a procedure for amendment. In India, the Supreme Court's basic structure doctrine from the Kesavananda Bharati case (1973) is a clear example of limiting even Parliament's amending power.
A is wrong: guiding law-making is a function, through the Directive Principles, but not the chief purpose.
B is wrong: creating offices and a government is a means; the defining feature is that their powers are limited.
D is wrong: social justice and security are goals some constitutions add, not the essential purpose of every constitution.
Exam tip: constitutionalism = limited government; a constitution both grants and limits power.
Practice Questions
View allWhich of the following amendments requires ratification by the legislatures of at least half the States?
- A.An amendment adding a new language to the Eighth Schedule
- B.An amendment changing the manner of election of the President
- C.An amendment altering the name of a State
- D.An amendment changing the salaries of ministers
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Article 368(2) lists the provisions whose amendment needs a special majority in each House and, in addition, ratification by the legislatures of not less than one-half of the States: the election of the President, the extent of the executive power of the Union and the States, the Supreme Court and…
Read the full explanation →Which amendment limited the size of the Council of Ministers to fifteen per cent of the strength of the House?
- A.The 88th Amendment Act
- B.The 91st Amendment Act
- C.The 97th Amendment Act
- D.The 104th Amendment Act
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It added clauses to Articles 75 and 164 so that the total number of ministers, including the Prime Minister or the Chief Minister, cannot exceed fifteen per cent of the total number of members of the Lok Sabha or of the State Legislative Assembly, with a floor of twelve ministers…
Read the full explanation →The Ninth Schedule of the Constitution, which protects certain laws from judicial review, was added by which amendment?
- A.The First Amendment Act, 1951
- B.The Fourth Amendment Act, 1955
- C.The Seventh Amendment Act, 1956
- D.The Seventeenth Amendment Act, 1964
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It added Article 31B and the Ninth Schedule so that the zamindari abolition and land reform laws of the States could not be struck down for violating the Fundamental Rights, and it also added reasonable restrictions on the freedom of speech in Article 19(2) and Article 15(4) for the advancement…
Read the full explanation →The Eleventh Schedule, which lists the subjects of the panchayats, was added by which amendment?
- A.The 73rd Amendment Act
- B.The 74th Amendment Act
- C.The 65th Amendment Act
- D.The 97th Amendment Act
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The amendment also made a three-tier structure, five-year terms, reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and women, a State Election Commission and a State Finance Commission compulsory.
Read the full explanation →The right to property was removed from the list of Fundamental Rights by which amendment?
- A.The 24th Amendment Act, 1971
- B.The 25th Amendment Act, 1971
- C.The 42nd Amendment Act, 1976
- D.The 44th Amendment Act, 1978
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It repealed Article 19(1)(f) and Article 31 and put the right to property in a new Article 300A in Part XII, so that no person may be deprived of his property except by authority of law.
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