NCERT Solutions Class 11 Polity Chapter 9 Constitution as a Living Document – This article includes the free NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Polity Chapter 9 Constitution as a Living Document. 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 help the students of Class 11 create a solid conceptual base for Polity Chapter 9 Constitution as a Living Document.
The solutions to all the exercises in Class 11 Polity Chapter 9 Constitution as a Living Document of your NCERT textbook have been collectively covered in NCERT Solution for Class 11 (2024-2025).
NCERT Solutions
What would you say about each of these statements? (Page Number: 199)
a. The Constitution is like any other law. It simply tells us what are the rules and regulations governing the government.
b. The Constitution is the expression of the will of the people, so there must be a provision to change the Constitution every ten or fifteen years.
c. The Constitution is a statement of the philosophy of the country. It can never be changed.
d. The Constitution is a sacred document. Therefore any talk of changing it is against democracy.
Answer:
a. This statement gives a simple view of the constitution to the level of the statutory laws. It tells about the functions as a set of rules which helps to govern a state. The constitution is a fundamental nature that structures the fourth principle and structures.
b. The statement reflects the constitutional flexibility to align with the evolving will of the populace. The necessity and frequency of the constitutional amendments are complex and vary sometimes due to legal, political, and cultural contexts.
c. The statement gives a view of the constitution which says about the core values of a nation and its principles as well. There are so many legal systems that also say the amendment mechanisms are based on social values.
d. The statement says the significance of the quasi-religious aspect of the constitution. The constitutional principles are important to maintain the stability and legitimacy of the democracy.
For making the following amendments to the Constitution of India, what conditions need to be fulfilled? Place a tick mark in the chart wherever applicable. (Page – 204)
- Subject of amendment
- Special majority
- Ratification by States
- Citizenship clause
- Right to freedom of religion
- Changes in the Union List
- Changes in State boundaries
- Provision regarding Election Commission
Ans:
Citizenship Clause
Right to Freedom of Religion
Changes in the Union List
Changes in State Boundaries
Provision regarding Election Commission
Find out the amendments about the right to education (RTE) and the Goods and Services Tax (GST). What do you think is the importance of these amendments? (Page – 210)
Answer:
The RTE Act was enacted in 2009 to provide free and compulsory education to all children aged between 6 to 14. TTE is not an amendment as it falls under Article 21 A i.e. under the right to education. The GST was introduced to streamline the complex indirect tax structure and to create a unified national market as well. The 101st Amendment Act of 2016 introduced the necessary amendment to the constitution.
State whether the following statements are correct or not: (Page – 213)
- After the Basic Structure ruling, Parliament does not have power to amend the Constitution.
- The Supreme Court has given a clear list of the basic features of our Constitution, which cannot be amended.
- Judiciary has the power to decide whether an amendment violates basic structure or not.
- The Kesavananda Bharati ruling has set clear limits on Parliament’s power to amend the Constitution.
Answer:
Correct
Incorrect
Correct
Correct
NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Polity Chapter 9: Constitution as a Living Document – Exercise
1. Choose the correct statement from the following: A constitution needs to be amended from time to time because –
a. Circumstances change and require suitable changes in the constitution.
b. A document written at one point of time becomes outdated after some time.
c. Every generation should have a constitution of its own liking.
d. It must reflect the philosophy of the existing government.
Answer: c. Every generation should have a constitution of its own liking.
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.
Answer:
a. True
b. True
c. True
d. False
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
Answer:
a. Voters do not have any involvement in the process of amendment of the constitution.
b. The President of India has to give assent to the respective amendment after the rectification of the Parliament.
c. The State Legislatures are concerned with the amendments to their jurisdictions. Half of the state legislatures have to rectify the amendment bill.
d. Both houses of the parliament have to rectify the specific bill under a simple majority.
e. Government are not a part of the Amendment but in case of an emergency they can take part.
f. Judiciary has to check the principles of the amendment so that the process does not violate the Constitution.
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.
Answer:
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.
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.
Answer:
d. Legislature cannot be entrusted to protect the rights of the citizens.
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.
Answer:
a. Incorrect
b. Correct
c. Correct
d. Correct
e. Correct
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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 the time.
e. The amendments were of a non-controversial nature and parties had an agreement on the subject of amendments.
Answer:
c. There was strong pressure from the pubic in favour of certain amendments.
d. There were no real differences among the parties during the 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.
Answer:
To achieve the provision of the special majority, it is needed to gain two-thirds of the majority in the Parliament. The respective amended bill needs to be rectified by both houses of the legislature as well. The provision needs to be introduced by the constitution drafters who ensure the policy of deliberation and discloser process takes place before any bill passes in the Parliament. It allows both houses to have discourse upon the bill upon the principles of participation of other parliamentarians also.
9. Many amendments to the Constitution of India have been made due to different interpretations upheld by the Judiciary and Parliament. Explain with examples.
Answer:
The Judicial Review and related restrictions can be upheld by the honorable Supreme Court of India. It has been affected by the amendments by the executives in the legislature. The First Amendment of 1951 made some changes to restructure the constitution. Later on, the Congress Government made some amendments to the Constitution between 1975 to 1977. In the Keshavananda Bharati Case, the judiciary stated that the legislature can not amend the base structure of the Indian Constitution.
10. If amending power is with the elected representatives, judiciary should NOT have the power to decide the validity of amendments. Do you agree?
No. The elected representatives have the power to amend. But the judiciary has the power also to review the validity of that amendment as well. The interference of the Judiciary needs to check the nature of the amendment or the bill. The basic sense of accountability must check the truthness of the government towards its citizens.
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NCERT Solutions Class 11 Polity Chapter 9: Constitution as a Living Document- FAQs
Is Constitution a living document true or false with reason?
The Constitution is seen as a living document owing to its dynamic nature. It has to change according to changing conditions of the society and the Parliament has been entrusted with that responsibility.
Why is a Constitution called a living document?
The Indian Constitution is called a living document because it can be amended or changed. Our Constitution accepts the necessity of modifications according to changing needs of the society. Secondly, in the actual working of the Constitution, there has been enough flexibility of interpretations.
Is the Indian Constitution a living Constitution?
The Constitution of India, which is a living and organic document, starts its preamble with ― we the people of India, and establishes goals to achieve such as, ― justice, liberty, equality, and dignity of an individual.
Which document is called a Constitution?
A constitution is the aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organization or other type of entity, and commonly determines how that entity is to be governed.
What does the term living document mean?
A living document, also known as an evergreen document or dynamic document, is a document that is continually edited and updated.
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