INDIAN SCHOOL AL WADI AL KABIR

Class: IX Department: SOCIAL SCIENCE Date of submission:

Question Bank Topic: CONSTITUTIONAL DESIGN Year:2019-20

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS.

Q.1. On what charges was Nelson Mandela sentenced to life imprisonment?
(a) For treason (b) For breaking the laws
(c) For corruption charges (d) for possessing illegal property
Q.2. what is apartheid?
(a) Election in proportion to population (b) Official policy of discrimination against the Blacks
(c) Equality among all (d) None of the above
Q.3. In which way did the system of apartheid discriminate among the South Africans?
(a) Restricted social contacts between the races (b) Segregation of public facilities
(c) Created race-specific job categories (d) All of the above
Q.4. Name the organization that led the struggle against the policies of segregation.
(a) African National Conference (b) African Neutral Congress
(c) African National Congress (d) All National Party
Q.5. when did South Africa become a democratic country?
(a) 26 April, 1995 (b) 26 April, 1994 (c) 24 March, 1994 (d) 27 April, 1996
Q.6. Name the autobiography of Nelson Mandela.
(a) The Long Walk to Freedom (b) South Africa Wins Freedom (c) Spirit of Freedom (d) Our
Freedom
Q.7. which of these features were accepted by all the Indian leaders much before they sat
Down to make the Constitution?
(a) Universal adult franchise (b) Right to freedom
(c) Protection of the rights of minorities (d) All of the above
Q.8. Which of these inspired our leaders while framing the Constitution?
(a) Ideals of the French Revolution (b) Parliamentary democracy in Britain
(c) Bill of Rights in US (d) All of the above
Q.9. Name the body which framed the Constitution of India?
(a) General Assembly (b) Constituent Assembly (c) Constitutional Assembly (d) People’s
Assembly
Q.10. The Constitution begins with a short statement of its basic values. What is it called?
(a) Preface (b) Preamble (c) Practical (d) Profile

KEY OF MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

1(a) 2(b) 3(d) 4(c) 5(b) 6(a) 7(d) 8(d) 9(b) 10(b).

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Q1. Explain the condition of the blacks under the apartheid system in South Africa.
 The conditions of the blacks under the apartheid system in South Africa were as given
below:
 They were forbidden from living in White areas.
 They could work in white areas only if they had a permit.
 Trains, buses, taxis, hotels, schools, hospitals etc. were all separate for the whites and
the blacks.
 They could not even visit the churches where the Whites worshipped.
 Blacks could not form associations or protest against any ill treatment.
Q2. What is a Preamble? Why is it called the “soul of the Indian Constitution”?
 The constitution begins with a short statement of its basic values. This is called the
Preamble to the constitution.
 Taking inspiration from American model most countries begin their constitution with a
Preamble.
 It contains the philosophy on which the entire Constitution has been built. It provides a
standard to examine and evaluate any law and action of government, to find out
whether it is good or bad. It is the soul of the Indian Constitution.
Q3. What are the constitutional amendments?
 A constitution is not merely a statement of values and philosophy. A constitution is
mainly about embodying these values into institutional arrangements.
 Indian constitution is a very long and detailed document. Therefore it needs to be
amended quite regularly to keep it updated.
 Those who crafted the Indian Constitution felt that it has to be in accordance with
people’s aspirations and changes in society.
 They did not see it as a sacred, static and unalterable law. So, they made provisions to
incorporate changes from time to time. These changes are called constitutional
amendments.
Q4. What is a constitution? Why do we need a constitution?
The constitution of a country is a set of rules that are accepted by all people living together in a
country. Constitution is the supreme law that determines the relationship among people living in
a territory and also between the people and government.
We need constitution for the following reasons:
• It generates a degree of trust and coordination for the people living together.
• It specifies how the government will be constituted, who will have the power to
take which decisions.
• It lays down limits on the powers of the government and tells us about the rights
of the citizens.
It expresses the aspirations of the people creating a good society
Q5. What were the objectives of black majority and the white minority in South Africa at the time
of making the Constitution? How a compromise was reached to achieve those objectives?
 The black majority was keen to have the democratic principle of majority rule in the
country and to have social and economic rights.
 The white minority wanted to protect the privileges and property.
 The compromise was reached as given below:
 The whites agreed on the principle of majority rule and that of one person, one vote
value. Some basic rights will be given to the poor and the workers.
 The blacks agreed that the majority rule will not be absolute. They also agreed that the
majority would not take away the property of the whites.

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Q6. Describe the basic ideas that were accepted by almost everyone in India even before the
Constitution Assembly met to frame the Constitution?
Or
“Some basic values were accepted by all leaders much before the Constituent Assembly met
to deliberate on the Constitution.”
 In India although there were sharp differences of opinion within the freedom struggle
about the path India should take after independence yet some ideas had to be accepted
by almost everyone:
 In 1928 Motilal Nehru and 8 Congress leaders drafted a constitution that is known as
Nehru Report.
 Again in 1931 the resolution in the Karachi Session dealt with the future constitution of
Independent India.
 These two documents-Nehru Report and Resolution at the Karachi session included
Universal adult franchise, right to freedom and equality and protecting the rights of the
minorities.
Q7. Write any five guiding values of the Indian Constitution.
WE, THE PEOPLE WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA: The constitution has been drawn up and enacted by
the people through their representatives, and not handed down to them by a king or any
outside.
 SOVEREIGN: People have supreme right to make decisions on internal as well as external
matters. No external power can dictate the government of India.
 SOCIALIST: Wealth is generated socially and should be shared equally by society.
Government should regulate the ownership of land and industry to reduce socio-
economic inequalities.
 SECULAR: Citizens have complete freedom to follow any religion. But there is no official
religion. Government treats all religious beliefs and practices with equal respect.
 DEMOCRACY: A form of government where people enjoy equal political rights, elect their
rulers and hold them accountable. The government is run according to some basic rules.
REPUBLIC: The head of the state is an elected person and not a hereditary position.
 JUSTICE: Citizens cannot be discriminated on the grounds of caste, religion and gender.
Social inequalities have to be reduced. Government should work for the welfare of all,
especially of the disadvantaged groups.
 LIBERTY: There are no unreasonable restrictions on the citizens in what they think, how
they wish to express their thoughts and the way they wish to follow up their thoughts in
action.
 EQUALITY: All are equal before the law. The traditional social inequalities have to be
ended. The government should ensure equal opportunity for all.
 FRATERNITY: All of us should behave as if we are members of the same family. No one
should treat a fellow citizen as an inferior.
Q8. Describe the composition of the Constituent Assembly. How much time it took to frame the
Indian Constitution?
 Election to the constituent Assembly was held in July 1946. It first meeting was in
December 1946.
 After the division of the country into India and Pakistan the assembly was also divided
into the Constituent Assembly of India and Constituent Assembly of Pakistan.
 The Constituent Assembly of India had 299 members.
 It took 2yrs, 11months and 18 days to frame the constitution. The members deliberated
for 114 days.

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  The Constituent Assembly adopted the constitution on 26th November 1949. It came
into effect on 26th January 1950 which is celebrated as Republic Day.
Q9. What are the reasons for accepting the constitution framed by the Constitution framed by the
Constituent Assembly more than fifty years ago?
 The constitution reflects the views of its members as well as it expresses a broad
consensus of its time. During the last 50 years, several groups have questioned some
provisions of the constitution but no one has ever questioned the legitimacy of the
constitution itself.
 The constituent assembly represented the people of all regions, political groups and
opinions, different language groups, classes, castes, religion of the country.
 There was no universal adult franchise and the members were elected by the provincial
legislatures.
 The assembly was dominated by the Congress which represented a variety of political
groups and opinions.
 The constituent assembly worked in a systematic, open and consensual manner thus
giving sanctity to the constitution.
Q10. Why is South Africa called Rainbow Nation today?
There is no social discrimination today based on skin colour in today’s South Africa. Black,
Whites and coloured people, men women live as free citizens in total harmony. This is why they
call South Africa a “rainbow nations”.

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