Constitution | Class 11 Political Science Notes
By ConceptScroll Team · Published on 17 July 2026 · 4 min read
Constitution – this guide gives you a concise, exam-ready overview of Constitution from Class 11 Political Science, written by ConceptScroll editors and reviewed against the latest NCERT textbook.
The Principle of Deliberation
This section highlights the importance of deliberation and reasoned debate in the Constituent Assembly. The Assembly’s authority stemmed not only from its representativeness but also from the principled discussions where members considered national interests beyond narrow community concerns. Members debated key issues like centralization vs. decentralization, state-centre relations, judiciary powers, and property rights with sophistication. The only provision passed without debate was universal suffrage. The Assembly emphasized public reason—members justified their positions with arguments to persuade others rather than advancing narrow interests. The extensive debates on every clause are a testament to democratic commitment and remain a significant historical record. The Assembly had eight major committees chaired by leaders like Nehru, Patel, Ambedkar, and Rajendra Prasad, who often disagreed but collaborated. The Assembly met for 166 days over nearly three years, with sessions open to the public and press, ensuring transparency.
📊 Diagram: Photograph of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar presiding over a Constituent Assembly discussion, symbolizing leadership in deliberation.
🔗 Connection: Leads to 'Inheritance of the nationalist movement' explaining the ideological foundations of the Constitution.
Frequently asked questions
1. 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.
The correct answer is c. It ensures that good people come to power. Explanation: The constitution does not ensure that good people come to power; rather, it provides the framework and rules for governance, guarantees rights, distributes powers, and expresses shared values.
2. 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.
The correct answer is c. The constitution specifies how parliament is to be formed and what are its powers. Explanation: The constitution is the supreme law that defines the formation and powers of the parliament, establishing its authority as subordinate to the constitution. Option d is incorrect because the constitution can be amended by the parliament under certain procedures.
3. 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.
a. True - Constitutions are indeed written documents that define the formation and powers of government. b. False - Constitutions exist in all types of countries, not only democracies. c. False - Constitutions also deal with ideals and values, not just legal rules. d. True - A constitution provides citizens with a legal and political identity.
4. State whether the following inferences about the making of the Indian Constitution are Correct or Incorrect. Give reasons to support your answer. 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.
a. Incorrect - Although the Constituent Assembly was not elected by universal adult franchise, it broadly represented the Indian people through indirect elections and representation of provinces and communities. b. Incorrect - Constitution making involved many major decisions and debates; there was not complete consensus on all issues. c. Incorrect - While the Indian Constitution borrowed features from other countries, it also showed originality in adapting these to Indian conditions.
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Clear NCERT-aligned notes on धर्मनिरपेक्षता for Class 11 Political Science.
- धर्मनिरपेक्षता | Class 11 Political Science Notes
Clear NCERT-aligned notes on धर्मनिरपेक्षता for Class 11 Political Science.
- धर्मनिरपेक्षता | Class 11 Political Science Notes
Clear NCERT-aligned notes on धर्मनिरपेक्षता for Class 11 Political Science.