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?
A clear demarcation of powers and responsibilities in the constitution is necessary because it specifies the basic allocation of power in a society. It decides who gets to decide what the laws will be and how the government will be constituted.
Without such demarcation, constitutions are often subverted by small groups who wish to enhance their own power. A well-crafted constitution fragments power in society intelligently so that no single group can subvert it. This is achieved by ensuring that no single institution acquires monopoly of power.
The Indian Constitution, for example, horizontally fragments power across different institutions like the Legislature, Executive and the Judiciary and even independent statutory bodies like the Election Commission. This ensures that even if one institution wants to subvert the Constitution, others can check its transgressions.
In the absence of clear demarcation, the government could pass laws that are patently unfair — it could prohibit citizens from practising their religion, arbitrarily arrest people, or allow discrimination based on caste or colour. There would be no limitations on the powers of government.
Thus, an intelligent system of checks and balances through clear demarcation of powers is essential to prevent tyranny and protect citizens' rights.
Explanation
The answer draws from multiple sections of the textbook context. The first paragraph explains the fundamental function of constitution in allocating power. The second and third paragraphs explain how power fragmentation prevents subversion, using the Indian Constitution's separation of powers as an example. The fourth paragraph explains consequences of absence of demarcation - unfair laws and lack of limitations on government. The conclusion emphasizes checks and balances. All points are derived directly from the provided context without external knowledge.