Constitution: Why and How?

Which of the following is a good reason to conclude that the authority of the constitution is higher than that of the parliament?

State whether the following inferences about the making of the Indian Constitution are Correct or Incorrect. Give reasons to support your answer.

Why is it necessary for a country to have a clear demarcation of powers and responsibilities in the constitution? What would happen in the absence of such a demarcation?

The Japanese Constitution was made when the US occupation army was still in control of Japan after its defeat in the Second World War. The Japanese constitution could not have had any provision that the US government did not like. Do you see any problem in this way of making the constitution? In which way was the Indian experience different from this?

State whether the following statements about a constitution are True or False.

Give two examples each to support the following conclusions about the Indian Constitution:

Why is it necessary for a constitution to place limitations on the rulers? Can there be a constitution that gives no power at all to the citizens?

Rajat asked his teacher this question: "The constitution is a fifty year old and therefore outdated book. No one took my consent for implementing it. It is written in such tough language that I cannot understand it. Tell me why should I obey this document?" If you were the teacher, how would you answer Rajat?

Which of these is not a function of the constitution?

In a discussion on the experience of the working of our Constitution, three speakers took three different positions: a. Harbans: The Indian Constitution has succeeded in giving us a framework of democratic government. b. Neha: The Constitution made solemn promises of ensuring liberty, equality and fraternity. Since this has not happened, the Constitution has failed. c. Nazima: The Constitution has not failed us. We have failed the Constitution. Do you agree with any of these positions? If yes, why? If not, what is your own position?

For each of these provisions write the function that this provision performs.