Eleanor Finch
The length of a country's constitution is often indicative of the political changes it has undergone, and the Indian Constitution is a testament to this. At 146,385 words, it is the world's longest written constitution, and it continues to be amended and expanded.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of words | 146,385 |
| Number of articles | 448 |
| Number of parts | 25 |
| Number of schedules | 12 |
| Number of appendices | 5 |
| Number of amendments | 106 |
| Date of last amendment | 28 September 2023 |
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What You'll Learn
The Indian Constitution is the world's longest
The Constitution of India lays down the framework that demarcates the fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions. It also sets out fundamental rights, directive principles, and the duties of citizens. It is a unique document, being the world's biggest written liberal democratic constitution. It is so specific in spelling out government powers that many amendments address issues dealt with by statute in other democracies.
The Constitution of India is the country's fundamental governing document, replacing the Government of India Act 1935. It declares India a sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic, assuring its citizens justice, equality, and liberty, and promoting fraternity. It is a codified constitution, meaning it is contained in a single document that is the single source of constitutional law in the state.
The Indian Constitution was composed between 1947 and 1950, and it came into effect on 26 January 1950, the day that India celebrates each year as Republic Day. It replaced the Indian Independence Act 1947 and marked India's transition from being a dominion of the British Crown to a sovereign, democratic republic. The Constitution of India is kept in a nitrogen-filled case at the Parliament Library Building in New Delhi, with two additional copies in helium-filled cases in the library of the Parliament House, one in English and one in Hindi.
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It has been amended over 100 times
The Indian Constitution is the world's longest written constitution for a sovereign nation. It is approximately 145,000 words long, though some sources state that it is 146,385 words in its English-language version. It is significantly longer than the US Constitution, which has only 4,400 words. The Indian Constitution has been amended over 100 times, with sources citing different numbers of amendments, from 101 to 106. The most recent changes were made on 1 July 2017, with the latest amendment given assent on 28 September 2023.
The Indian Constitution is so lengthy because it encompasses all the specifics and descriptions of the authorities wielded by the government, legislature, and judiciary. It is a unique document, being the world's biggest written liberal democratic constitution. The bulkiness of the constitution is also attributable to the fact that it draws on characteristics from the constitutions of many countries. It was composed between 1947 and 1950, and it came into effect on 26 January 1950, which is celebrated annually in India as Republic Day. The Constitution replaced the Government of India Act 1935 and the Indian Independence Act 1947 as the country's fundamental governing document, marking India's transition from a dominion of the British Crown to a sovereign, democratic republic.
The Indian Constitution has a preamble and 448 articles, which are grouped into 25 parts. With 12 schedules and five appendices, the document lays down the framework that demarcates the fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions. It also sets out fundamental rights, directive principles, and the duties of citizens. The Constitution declares India a sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic, assuring its citizens justice, equality, and liberty, and promoting fraternity.
The Indian Constitution does not contain a provision to limit the powers of Parliament to amend the Constitution. However, the Supreme Court has ruled that an amendment cannot destroy what it seeks to modify, and it cannot tinker with the Constitution's 'Basic Structure' or framework, which are immutable. This Basic Structure Doctrine was adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India on 26 November 1949 and came into effect on 26 January 1950. The original 1950 Constitution is preserved in a nitrogen-filled case at the Parliament Library Building in New Delhi, while two copies, handwritten in English and Hindi, are kept in helium-filled cases in the library of the Parliament House.
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The US Constitution is the oldest active
The US Constitution is also the shortest written constitution still in force, with only 4,400 words. In contrast, the Indian Constitution, the world's longest written constitution, has 145,000 to 146,385 words in its English-language version. Composed between 1947 and 1950, the Indian Constitution has been amended over 100 times. The Constitution of Alabama, with over 435,000 words, is even lengthier than the Indian Constitution.
The US Constitution is the world's second-oldest constitution after the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Constitution, which was passed on 3 May 1791. It is also older than the French Constitution of 1791, which did not last more than a year. The US Constitution has served as a model for many other constitutions around the world.
While the US Constitution has remained largely unchanged, other countries have experienced frequent constitutional changes due to political desires and short constitution-drafting processes. For example, the Myanmar 2008 Constitution was secretly drafted for more than 17 years, while Japan's 1946 Constitution was drafted in just one week. The average time taken to draft a constitution is around 16 months, and the historical life expectancy of a constitution since 1789 is approximately 19 years.
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The Monaco Constitution is the world's shortest
The constitution was drafted in 1962 under the direction of Prince Rainier III, and it was approved by the people of Monaco in a referendum held on December 17 of that year. It establishes Monaco as a constitutional monarchy, with the Prince having extensive executive powers, including the authority to appoint the Minister of State, who presides over a six-member Council of Government. The constitution also sets out the structure and powers of Monaco's legislative body, the National Council, which consists of 24 elected members and has the power to propose and pass laws, as well as approve the budget.
Despite its brevity, the Monaco Constitution covers all the essential aspects of a modern constitution, including the rights and freedoms of the people, the organization and powers of the government, and the relationship between the Prince and the country's institutions. It also includes provisions for its own amendment, requiring that any revisions be approved by both the Prince and the National Council.
The constitution has been amended several times since its adoption, but it has retained its concise nature. The most recent amendment, made in 2002, clarified the line of succession to the Monegasque throne, providing for female succession in the absence of male heirs. This amendment attracted international attention as it ended centuries of male-only succession and ensured that Princess Caroline's son, Andrea Casiraghi, became second in line to the throne after his mother and before his younger brother, Pierre.
The Monaco Constitution's succinctness reflects a focused and efficient approach to governance, and its adaptability has allowed it to keep pace with modern times while maintaining the stability and continuity that a constitution should provide. While it may be the world's shortest, it serves its purpose effectively, providing a clear framework for the functioning of Monaco's unique form of constitutional monarchy.
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The Constitution of Alabama is longer than India's
The Constitution of India, with 146,385 words in its English-language version, is often regarded as the world's longest written constitution for a sovereign country. However, the Constitution of Alabama is approximately twice as long as India's, with a word count of 388,882. To put this into perspective, Alabama's constitution is more than 40 times longer than the U.S. Constitution and is longer than the constitutions of Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, and Florida combined. It would take over two days to read the Constitution of Alabama in one sitting, without taking any breaks.
The Constitution of India is a one-of-a-kind document that serves as the world's biggest written liberal democratic constitution. It encompasses all the specifics and descriptions of the authorities wielded by the government, legislature, and judiciary. The bulkiness of the Indian Constitution can be attributed to the fact that it borrows characteristics from the constitutions of many countries. For instance, it draws from the Indian Council Act of 1861, the Indian Independent Act of 1947, and the Government of India Act of 1858. The English language version of the Indian Constitution is around 145,000 words long and includes a preface, 448 articles divided into 25 sections, 12 schedules, and five appendices. It has been amended 101 times, with the most recent changes occurring on July 1, 2017.
The Constitution of Alabama, on the other hand, is so lengthy due to its 892 amendments, which cover a wide range of topics. The current constitution was passed in 1901, and it stripped local communities of any right to home rule, resulting in a large number of additional laws being added to the state constitution. Some of the issues addressed in the amendments include bingo, mosquito control, the management of dead farm animals, and prostitution.
While the Constitution of India is impressive in its scope and detail, the Constitution of Alabama surpasses it in sheer length. The length of a constitution can impact its clarity, efficiency, and effectiveness in governing a state or country.
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Frequently asked questions
The Indian Constitution is the world's longest written constitution, with 146,385 words in its English-language version.
The Indian Constitution has been amended 101, 103 or 106 times, depending on the source.
The Indian Constitution came into effect on 26 January 1950, which is celebrated annually in India as Republic Day.
The Constitution of Monaco is the world's shortest written constitution, with 3,814 words.
The Constitution of the United States is the oldest active codified constitution, while the Constitution of San Marino may be the oldest active written constitution, with some of its core documents in operation since 1600.
