Meaning of Constitution “A Constitution is a set of Laws and Rules setting up the machinery of the government of a state and which defines and determines the relations between the different institutions and areas of government, the Executive, the Legislature and, the Judiciary, the Central, the Regional and the Local Governments.” - M.V. Pylee
PREAMBLE WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens: JUSTICE, social, economic and political; LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation; IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this twenty-sixth day of November, 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE OURSELVES THIS
BIRD’S EYE VIEW OF THE CONSTITUTION
The union and its territory Citizenship Fundamental Rights and Duties Directive Principles of State Policy Provisions Regarding the Union, States and Union Territories
Executive Parliament Judiciary Relations Between States Services
Union
and
BIRD’S EYE VIEW OF THE CONSTITUTION
Finance, Property, Contracts, Suits, Trade & Commerce Emergency Provisions Misc., Provisions
Scheduled and Tribal Areas Scheduled Castes and Tribes Public Service Commissions Official Language Amendment
BASIC FEATURES OF THE CONSTITUTION
Lengthiest Popular Sovereignty Judicial Independence Federal and Unitary Simple and Flexible
RULES OF NATURAL JUSTICE
No one can be a judge in his own cause No one should be condemned without being heard No one can be penalized on the ground of conduct which was not penal on the day it was committed A Quasi-Judicial order must be supported by reasons.
JUDICIAL ACTIVISM “I do think people are putting too much reliance on courts. I also believe that courts are too prone on problems that they have no business getting into. To me the idea of a court deciding whether or not girls should be permitted to play little league baseball is ludicrous. Congress too has contributed to this glut which I call legal pollution.” -
Thomas Ehrlich
Dean Stanford Univ. of Law
NATURE OF CONSTITUTION “However good a constitution may be, it is true to turn out bad because those who are called to work it happen to be a bad lot. However, bad a constitution may be, it may turn out to be good if those who are called to work it happen to be a good lot”