Jonah Patel
The fundamental objective of a constitution is to provide a framework for the functioning of the government, the protection of individual liberties, and the maintenance of social order. Constitutions are the supreme legal documents of a country, outlining the values, principles, and governance framework that reflect a nation's collective journey toward democracy, justice, and equality. They are the fundamental laws of the land, guiding the state's functioning and ensuring citizens' rights and responsibilities. The Indian Constitution, for example, aims to promote harmony throughout the nation by ensuring social, economic, and political justice, liberty, equality, fraternity, and the freedom to follow any religion or work without state interference. It also establishes India as a sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sovereign | India has its own independent authority and is not a dominion of any other external power |
| Socialist | Achievement of socialist ends through democratic means and a mixed economy |
| Secular | All religions get equal respect, protection, and support from the state |
| Democratic | The Constitution has an established form that gets its authority from the will of the people expressed in an election |
| Republic | The head of state is elected by the people |
| Justice | Social, economic, and political justice |
| Liberty | Freedom of expression, thought, belief, religion, worship, and faith |
| Fraternity | N/A |
| Equality | N/A |
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What You'll Learn
The constitution's preamble
The preamble to a constitution is an introductory statement that explains the document's philosophy, intentions, purpose, core values, and objectives. It is not a part of the laws established by the constitution but rather an important reference source that guides the interpretation of the constitution.
The preamble to the Indian Constitution, the longest written constitution in the world, declares India to be a sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic. The preamble indicates that the power of authority lies with the people of India, who are guaranteed justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity. It promises to uphold the fundamental rights of its citizens, including freedom of expression, thought, belief, religion, worship, and faith. The preamble also ensures social, economic, and political justice, and the liberty to follow any religion, any job, or any work without interference from the state.
The preamble to the Indian Constitution was inspired by Jawaharlal Nehru's Objectives Resolution, which was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on January 22, 1947. The preamble acts as a guide to interpreting the various articles of the constitution, providing clarity when language is found to be ambiguous.
The preamble to the Indian Constitution also establishes India as a republic, ensuring that there will be no hereditary ruler and that elections will be held at regular intervals to elect representatives of the people. This concept, inspired by the constitution of France, empowers the people to elect their leaders and form a government that serves their interests and upholds the values enshrined in the preamble and the constitution.
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A republic state
The Constitution of India is the supreme law of the Republic of India. It is the longest written constitution in the world. The constitution lays down the framework for the country's political system, defining the powers and responsibilities of government institutions, and outlining the principles of governance.
The preamble to the Indian Constitution declares India to be a sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic. The term republic indicates that the head of state is elected by the people. The concept of a republic ensures that there will be no hereditary ruler and that elections will be held regularly to elect a representative and ruler of the people.
The constitution of India replaced the Government of India Act 1935 as the country's fundamental governing document, and the Dominion of India became the Republic of India. The constitution declares that the power of authority lies with the people of the country. It promises a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic, and republican form of government that ensures justice, liberty, and fraternity to all.
The constitution of India guarantees its citizens social, economic, and political justice, as well as the liberty to follow any religion, pursue any job, or engage in any work without state interference. It ensures freedom of expression, thought, belief, religion, worship, and faith for every citizen. The constitution also establishes universal adult franchise, granting every citizen over the age of 18 the right to vote without discrimination based on caste, race, religion, sex, or literacy, among other factors.
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Social, economic, and political justice
The Constitution of India is the supreme legal document of India and the longest written national constitution in the world. It lays down the framework that demarcates fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions and sets out fundamental rights, directive principles, and the duties of citizens.
The preamble of the Indian Constitution states all the objectives of the Indian Constitution and acts as a reference source in case of confusion regarding any of the objectives during the interpretation of various articles. The preamble indicates that the power of authority lies with the people of the country. It promises a sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic that ensures justice, liberty, and fraternity to all.
Articles 38 and 39 of the Indian Constitution are central to achieving social justice. Article 38 mandates the state to secure a social order in which justice—social, economic, and political—pervades all institutions. Article 39 directs the state to secure adequate means of livelihood, equal pay for equal work, and protection against economic exploitation.
The Indian Constitution enables the government to provide reservations and affirmative action for marginalized communities to achieve social justice. The judiciary plays an important role in upholding social justice as envisioned by the Indian Constitution. Landmark judgments have shaped interpretations of constitutional provisions, leading to progressive societal changes. The judiciary uses tools like public interest litigation (PIL) to address societal issues, especially concerning the rights of marginalized groups.
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Equality and liberty
The constitution of a country is the supreme legal document that lays down the framework and demarcates the fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions. It also sets out the fundamental rights, directive principles, and duties of citizens. The constitution of India, for example, is the longest written constitution in the world. It was adopted on 26 November 1949 and came into effect on 26 January 1950. The preamble of the Indian constitution states all its objectives and acts as a reference source in case of confusion during the interpretation of various articles. It promises a sovereign, socialist, democratic, secular, and republican country that ensures justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity to all.
The relationship between liberty and equality is intricate and often disputed. Some might argue that liberty and equality are mutually exclusive, as enforcing rules that are equal for everyone may restrict the freedom of individuals to do as they wish. However, a specific balance between liberty and equality is crucial to promoting both accountability and participation in society. This balance is at the core of the rule of law, which requires a reciprocal cooperation between citizens and the government.
The constitution of a country plays a vital role in ensuring liberty and equality for its citizens. For example, the Indian constitution guarantees its citizens freedom of expression, thought, belief, religion, worship, and faith. It also ensures social, economic, and political justice, and the liberty to follow any religion, job, or work without state interference. Similarly, the American Constitution was founded on the principles of liberty and equality, as stated in the Declaration of Independence. The right to liberty and equality is also protected by the judiciary, which acts as a watchdog to prevent any legislative or executive act from overstepping constitutional bounds.
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Fraternity
The Indian Constitution promotes fraternity by guaranteeing certain fundamental rights and freedoms to all citizens. These include freedom of expression, thought, belief, religion, worship, and faith. The Constitution also ensures social, economic, and political justice, where everyone has equal opportunities and rights under the law, regardless of their background or status.
Additionally, the Constitution promotes fraternity by providing for universal adult franchise, where every citizen above the age of 18 has the right to vote without any discrimination based on caste, race, religion, gender, or wealth. This ensures that all citizens have an equal say in electing their representatives and shaping the country's future.
The Indian Constitution also promotes fraternity through its secular nature. It does not uphold any particular religion as the official religion of the state. Instead, it treats all religions equally, providing them with equal respect, protection, and support from the state. This ensures that people of different faiths can live together harmoniously and respect each other's beliefs.
In conclusion, fraternity, as a fundamental objective of the Indian Constitution, aims to foster a sense of unity, equality, and social harmony among the diverse citizens of India. It promotes a society where people are treated fairly and justly, regardless of their background, and where everyone has an equal opportunity to participate in the political, social, and economic life of the nation. By guaranteeing fundamental rights and freedoms, providing for universal adult franchise, and upholding secularism, the Indian Constitution lays the foundation for a strong and united nation built on the principles of fraternity.
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Frequently asked questions
The main objective is to promote harmony throughout the nation, encompassing justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity.
The Indian Constitution does not uphold any particular religion as the official religion of the Indian State. Instead, it mandates that the state treat all religions and their followers equally.
The Indian Constitution ensures citizens' fundamental rights, including freedom of expression, thought, belief, religion, worship, and faith.
The judiciary is tasked with protecting the fundamental rights of citizens from infringement by any state body. It also maintains a balance of power between the central government and state governments.
