The document discusses the meaning and importance of constitutions. It notes that India's constitution was framed by a constituent assembly established in 1946. The constitution aims to provide basic rules of governance, define the powers of government bodies, and protect citizens' rights. Key features include flexibility, federalism, and supremacy. The philosophical vision of the Indian constitution is democratic, secular, egalitarian, and sensitive to minorities. Its objectives include justice, liberty, equality and national unity. Studying the constitution's underlying philosophy is important to understand its conceptual framework and ideals.

1. CONSTITUTION:
WHY AND HOW
CLASS XI
LESSON I
DIVYA BHARDWAJ
A P S BIRPUR

2. Meaning of Constitution:
 A constitution is a body of
fundamental principles
according to which a state is
constituted or governed . The
constitution is a compact
document that comprises of
a number of articles about
the state.

3. Constituent Assembly
The constitution of India
was framed by a
constituent assembly which
was established in 1946
under the Cabinet Mission
Plan of 1946

4. Functions of a Constitution
 i) To provide a set of basic rules that allow for
minimal degree of coordination and
assurance amongst members of a society.
 ii) To specify who has the power to make
decisions in the society.
 iii) To set limitations on the government.
 iv) To enable the government to fulfill the
aspirations of a society and create conditions
for a society.
 v) To express the fundamental identity of the
people.

5. Why do we need a
constitution?
i) Constitution defines and limits the
powers of the government.
ii) Constitution defines the powers
and functions of the various organs
of the government.
iii) Constitution defines the rights of
the citizen and their relationship
with government.

6. Main features of the
Constitution
i) It is a blend of rigidity and flexibility.
ii) It is federal in form but unitary in spirit. It
has federal as well as unitary features.
Iii) The Constitution of India is supreme
which is respected and accepted by all
the institutions and citizens of India

7. Sources of Indian Constitution
The main source of the Indian
Constitution are the Govt. of India
Act 1935, the British Constitution, the
American Constitution, the
Constitution of Canada, the
Constitution of Ireland, the French
Constitution etc.

8. The main federal features of
the Indian Constitution
 i) It is a flexible and written.
ii) There is a distribution of
powers between Centre and
State.
iii) There is supremacy of the
judiciary.
iv) Bi- cameral legislature.

9. Committees of the Constituent
Assembly and Chairs
 The Constituent Assembly had major
committees on different subjects.
 Committee on the Rules of Procedure:
Rajendra Prasad
 Drafting Committee: B.R. Ambedkar
 Steering Committee: Rajendra Prasad
 Finance and Staff Committee: Rajendra
Prasad
 Credential Committee: Alladi Krishnaswami
Aiyyar
 House Committee: B. Pattabhi Sitaramayya
 Order of Business Committee: K. M. Munshi
 Ad Hoc Committee on National Flag:
Rajendra Prasad

10. Committees of the Constituent
Assembly and Chairs
 Committee on Functions of Constituent Assembly: G.V.
Mavlankar
 States Committee: Jawaharlal Nehru
 Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights, Minorities and
Tribal and Excluded Areas: Vallabhbhai Patel
 Minorities Sub-Committee: H. C. Mookherjee
 Fundamental Rights Sub-Committee: J. B. Kriplani
 North-East Frontier Tribal Areas and Assam Excluded &
Partially Excluded Areas Sub-Committee: Gopinath Bardoloi
 Excluded and Partially Excluded Areas (Other than Those in
Assam) Sub-Committee: A. V. Thakkar
 Union Powers Committee: Jawaharlal Nehru
 Union Constitution Committee: Jawaharlal Nehru

11. Nature of Political Philosophy
of the Constitution
 Political Philosophy of the Indian
Constitution is that it is liberal,
democratic, egalitarian, secular and
federal, open to community values,
sensitive to the need of religious and
linguistic minorities as well as
historically disadvantaged groups and
committed to building a common
national identity.

12. Objectives of Indian
Constitution
The Preamble outlines the
objectives of the Indian
Constitution..
These objectives are:
i) Justice ii) Liberty
iii) Equality iv) Unity
v) Fraternity vi) Integrity of nation.

13. Need to adopt political
philosophy
 It is very important to study the philosophy of the
constitution. There is a connection between laws
and moral values. We need to adopt a political
philosophical approach to the constitution due to
following reasons:
 i) We need to understand the conceptual
structure of the constitution.
 ii) We must have a better grasp of the set of ideals
embedded in the constitution.
 iii) A philosophical treatment of a value is
incomplete if a detailed justification for it is not
provided.

14. Important Achievement
The sharing in vision or the
philosophy of the constitution is a
valuable outcome of the working
of the constitution. In 1950,
making of this constitution was a
great achievement. Today
keeping alive the philosophical
vision of that constitution may be
our important achievement.