These DAV Class 8 SST Notes and DAV Class 8 SST Chapter 16 Notes – Our Constitution hold significant importance as study material for students.
Our Constitution Class 8 DAV Notes
→ Rule of law means that every citizen of the country is equal in the eyes of law. There is no discrimination on the basis of caste, religion, sex, social or economic status.
→ In fact, rule of law is the basic foundation of a democratic system and the basis of all types of equalities.
→ A Constitution is a body of fundamental rules according to which the government of a country functions. It contains the powers and functions of the various organs of the government and their mutual relationship. It also defines the rights of the citizens and the relation between the government and its citizens.
→ India is a vast country with various physical, cultural and social diversities. Different people belonging to different regions, who speak different languages, have very different lifestyles.
→ Therefore, the Constitution provides a set of rules, principles and laws acceptable to almost all, as the basis of life and governance of the country.
→ The Constitution of India is the result of serious deliberations of a representative body called the Constituent Assembly, which was an indirectly elected body.
→ The Assembly included eminent personalities like Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Maulana Azad, K.M. Munshi, J.B. Kriplani, C. Rajagopalachari, Pattabhi Sitarammyya, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, M. Gopala Swamy Ayyangar, etc.
→ Some ideals are included in the Constitution of free India like commitment to democracy and guarantee of justice, equality and freedom to all the people.
→ The Preamble is an introduction to the Constitution and is non-justiciable. It contains the political philosophy, aims, objectives and basic purposes of the Constitution. It is called the Soul of the Indian Constitution.
→ The chief characteristic of the Constitution of India is its uniqueness. The best features of many existing constitutions of the world were modified and adapted to our needs and conditions.
→ The Constitution of India is the lengthiest and the most detailed Constitution on the world. It is divided into 22 parts and has 395 Articles and 12 Schedules.
→ Indian Constitution is a written Constitution. It was drafted and enacted by the Constituent Assembly, specially elected for this purpose. It was presided over by Dr. Rajendra Prasad. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was the Chairman of its Drafting Committee.
→ A Constitution is called rigid or flexible on the basis of the procedure of its amendments. A rigid Constitution is one which cannot be amended easily.
→ The Constitution of India is a combination of both rigid as well as flexible.
→ India is a sovereign, socialist, secular and delfiocratic Republic.
→ India has parliamentary form of government.
→ The Constitution of a federation is written and rigid and it divides powers between the centre and the states.
→ India has a single integrated judicial system. Unlike the judicial system of the United States, we do not have separate federal and state courts. In our country, the entire judiciary is one hierarchy of courts. The Supreme Court of India and the High Courts form a single integrated judicial structure with jurisdiction over all laws.
→ India has an independent judiciary, free from the influence of the executive and the legislature.
→ The Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles of State Policy and Fundamental Duties are also the basic features of the Constitution of India that prescribe the fundamental obligations of the state to its citizens and the duties of the citizen to the state.
→ The Constitution: It is usually a written document which contains the rules of governing a sovereign state.
→ Fundamental Rights: The set of Rights which ensures the life of dignity and honour to all who live in its jurisdiction.
→ Parliamentary Form: The form of government which is answerable to the Parliament or the union legislature.
→ Preamble: An introduction or preface which clearly states that all Indians are entitled to lawful justice, equality of status and opportunity, and liberty to practice any faith or belief.
→ Draft: A design/a preliminary form of writing subject to revision/review.
→ Governance: A method or system of government/management.
→ Hereditary: Passing from parent to their offsprings.
→ Jurisdiction: The extent of the power to make legal decisions and judgements.
→ Non-justiciable: Matters that cannot be decided by a court.