NCERT Solutions Class 11 Polity Chapter 1: Constitution: Why and How?

NCERT Solutions Class 11 Polity Chapter 1 Constitution: Why and How? – This article includes the free NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Polity Chapter 1 Constitution: Why and How? It will help the students of Class 11 to learn the solutions and ace their exams. It has been developed by the subject matter experts at GFG, according to the latest CBSE Syllabus 2023-24, and guidelines. It helps the students of Class 11 create a solid conceptual base for Polity Chapter 1 Constitution: Why and How?

The solutions to all the exercises in Class 11 Polity Chapter 1 Constitution: Why and How? of your NCERT textbook have been collectively covered in NCERT Solution for Class 11 (2024-2025).

NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Polity Chapter 1 Constitution: Why and How?

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Here are some provisions of the Indian and other constitutions. For each of these write the function that this provision performs.

The government cannot order any citizen to follow or not to follow any religion	Limitations on the power of the government
The government must try to reduce inequalities in income and wealth	Establish the checks and balances on government authority to prevent abuse of power and protect fundamental rights. This reflects the commitment of the government to promote social justice in the socio-economic concept.
The President has the power to appoint the Prime Minister	Specifies the process of the executive branch formation and ensures a smooth transition between the power and stability in the government.
The Constitution is the supreme law that everyone has to obey	Establishes the legal framework for governance and also serves as the highest authority to interpret and enforce laws.
Indian citizenship is not limited to people of any race, caste or religion	Promotes equality by framing citizenship in India which is not restricted to sex, caste, and religion.

NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Polity Chapter 1: Constitution: Why and How?

Exercise Questions

Q1. Which of these is not a function of the constitution?

(a) It gives a guarantee of the rights of the citizen.

(b) It marks out different spheres of power for different branches of government.

(c) It ensures that good people come to power.

(d) It gives expression to some shared values.

Answer:

(c) It ensures that good people come to power.

Q2. Which of the following is a good reason to conclude that the authority of the constitution is higher than that of the parliament?

(a) The constitution was framed before the parliament came into being.

(b) The constitution makers were more eminent leaders than the members of the parliament.

(c) The constitution specifies how parliament is to be formed and what are its powers.

(d) The constitution cannot be amended by the parliament.

Answer:

(c) The constitution specifies how parliament is to be formed and what are its powers.

Q3. State whether the following statements about a constitution are True or False.

(a) Constitutions are written documents about formation and power of the government.

(b) Constitutions exist and are required only in democratic countries.

(c) Constitution is a legal document that does not deal with ideals and values.

(d) A constitution gives its citizens a new identity.

Answer:

(a) True

(b) False

(c) False

(d) True

Q4. State whether the following inferences about the making of the Indian Constitution are Correct or Incorrect.

(a) The Constituent Assembly did not represent the Indian people since it was not elected by all citizens.

(b) Constitution making did not involve any major decision since there was a general consensus among the leaders at that time about its basic framework.

(c) There was little originality in the Constitution, for much of it was borrowed from other countries.

Answer:

(a) Incorrect

(b) Incorrect

(c) Incorrect

Q5. Give two examples each to support the following conclusions about the Indian Constitution:

(a) The Constitution was made by credible leaders who commanded peoples’ respect.

(b) The Constitution has distributed power in such a way as to make it difficult to subvert it.

(c) The Constitution is the locus of people’s hopes and aspirations.

Answer:

(a) The Constitution was made by credible leaders who commanded peoples’ respect: Members of the Provincial Legislative Assembly and Members of the constituent assembly.

(b) The Constitution has distributed power in such a way as to make it difficult to subvert it: Institutional arrangements of the government and process of amendments.

(c) The Constitution is the locus of people’s hopes and aspirations: Equality, liberty, DPSP and sovereignty.

Q6. Why is it necessary for a country to have a clear demarcation of powers and responsibilities in the constitution? What would happen in the absence of such a demarcation?

Answer:

It is necessary for a nation to have clear demarcation of powers and different responsibilities because:

(a) It ensures that no single institution process which will try to dominate the other.

(b) To provide the provision of checks and balances.

(c) It shows how the government would be constituted. It will have the power to make decisions.

(d) It helps to lay down some limits on the powers of the government and our citizens.

Q7. Rajat asked his teacher this question: “ The constitution is a fifty year old and therefore outdated book. No one took my consent for implementing it. It is written in such tough language that I cannot understand it. Tell me why should I obey this document?” If you were the teacher, how would you answer Rajat?

Answer:

The constitution is not an outdated book as it accepts the changes which helps it to be updated. The following are the reasons:

(a) The provision of constitutional amendment ensures that the changes are made from time to time.

(b) It has vast size and ensures detail description of each law, policy or provision as per the constitution.

(c) It is a body of fundamental principles according to which India is governed.

(d) It provides democratic form of government in India.

(e) It is laid down on the basic idea of equality, justice, secularism and fraternity.

In a discussion on the experience of the working of our Constitution, three speakers took three different positions:

(a) Harbans: The Indian Constitution has succeeded in giving us a framework of democratic government.

(b) Neha: The Constitution made solemn promises of ensuring liberty, equality and fraternity. Since this has not happened, the Constitution has failed.

(c) Nazima: The Constitution has not failed us. We have failed the Constitution.

Do you agree with any of these positions? If yes, why? If not, what is your own position?

Answer:

(a) Harbans is correct. The Constitution successfully created a framework for our democratic government. 

(b) Neha is not correct because the inability to achieve the goals can not be attributed to the constitution.

(c) Nazima is correct. The Constitution has not failed us but we failed the Constitution.

People Also Read:

• Constitution: Why and How? Class 11 Polity Notes
• Basic Structure and Evolution of the Constitution
• Class 11 Polity Chapter 1: Why do we Need a Constitution
• Class 11 Polity Chapter 1: The Authority of a Constitution

FAQs on NCERT Solutions Class 11 Polity Chapter 1: Constitution: Why and How?

Why do we need a constitution?

We need a constitution to protect individual rights, establish a framework for governance, uphold the rule of law, provide stability, promote citizen participation, and safeguard against tyranny. It guarantees fundamental freedoms, outlines the structure of the government, and ensures accountability.

Why is constitution made?

Constitutions limit the power of government in many ways. The most common way of limiting the power of government is to specify certain fundamental rights that all of us possess as citizens and which no government can ever be allowed to violate.

What is the main purpose of constitution?

To provide a set of basic rules that allow for minimal coordination amongst members of society. To specify who has the power to make decisions in a society. It decides how the government will be constituted. To set some limits on what a government can impose on its citizens.

Why is India’s constitution?

The Constitution of India, as the fundamental law of the land, embodies the values, principles, and governance framework of our country. It serves as the supreme law, guiding the state’s functioning and ensuring citizen’s rights and responsibilities.

Who made our constitution?

Dr BR Ambedkar, the chairman of its Drafting Committee, is considered the chief architect of the Indian Constitution which provides a comprehensive and dynamic framework to guide and govern the country, keeping in view her unique social, cultural and religious diversity.

What is the history of the constitution?

Prior to the constituent assembly that convened in 1948 to draft the Indian constitution adopted in 1950 and still in force to date, the fundamental law of India was mostly embodied in a series of statutes enacted by the British Parliament. Key among them was the Government of India Acts of 1919 and 1935.

What is constitution and its features?

The Constitution of India establishes a federal system of government. It contains all the usual features of a federation, such as two governments, division of powers, written constitution, the supremacy of the constitution, the rigidity of the Constitution, independent judiciary and bicameralism.