Amendments to the Constitution

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Amendments to the Constitution are made by the Parliament, the procedure for which is laid out in ARTICLE 368. An amendment bill must be passed by both the Houses of the Parliament by a tw

o-thirds majority and voting. In addition to this, certain amendments which pertain to the federal nature of the Constitution must be ratified by a majority of state legislatures. As of June 2013 there have been 118 amendment bills presented in the Parliament, out of which 98 have been passed to become Amendment Acts.

 

Amendments of constitution                 

 

  1. 1951 To fully secure the constitutional validity of zamindari abolition laws and to place reasonable restriction on freedom of speech. A new constitutional device, called Schedule 9 introduced to protect laws that are contrary to the Constitutionally guaranteed Fundamental Rights. These laws encroach upon property rights, freedom of speech and Equality before law.
  2. 1953 A technical amendment to fix the size of each parliamentary constituency between 650,000 and 850,000 voters.
  3. 1955 LS limit of 500 members, one member of a constituency represents between 500000 and 750000 people.
  4. 1955 Restrictions on property rights and inclusion of related bills in Schedule 9 of the constitution.
  5. 1955 Provides for a consultation mechanism with concerned states in matters relating to the amendments to the territorial matters and in the re-naming of the state.
  6. 1956 Amend the Union and State Lists with respect to raising of taxes.
  7. 1956 Reorganization of States on linguistic lines, abolition of Class A, B, C, D states and introduction of Union Territories.
  8. 1960 Clarify state’s power of compulsory acquisition and requisitioning of private property and include Zamindari abolition laws in Schedule 9 of the constitution.
  9. 1960 Minor adjustments to territory of Indian Union consequent to agreement with Pakistan for settlement of disputes by demarcation of border villages, etc.
  10. 1961 Incorporation of Dadra, Nagar and Haveli as a Union Territory, consequent to acquisition from Portugal.
  11. 1961 Election of vice president by Electoral College consisting of members of both Houses of Parliament, instead of election by a Joint Sitting of Parliament.

Indemnify the President and Vice President Election procedure from challenge on grounds of existence of any vacancies in the electoral college.

  1. 1961 Incorporation of Goa, Daman and Diu as a Union Territory, consequent to acquisition from Portugal.
  2. 1963 Formation of State of Nagaland, with special protection under Article 371A.
  3. 1962 Incorporation of Pondicherry into the Union of India and creation of Legislative Assemblies for Himachal Pradesh, Tripura, Manipur and Goa.
  4. 1963 Raise retirement age of judges from 60 to 62 and other minor amendments for rationalizing interpretation of rules regarding judges etc.,
  5. 1963 Make it obligatory for seekers of public office to swear their allegiance to the Indian Republic and prescribe the various obligatory templates.
  6. 1964 To secure the constitutional validity of acquisition of Estates and place land acquisition laws in Schedule 9 of the constitution
  7. 1966 Technical Amendment to include Union Territories in Article 3 and hence permit reorganisation of Union Territories.
  8. 1966 Abolish Election Tribunals and enable trial of election petitions by regular High Courts.
  9. 1966 Indemnify & validate judgments, decrees, orders and sentences passed by judges and to validate the appointment, posting, promotion and transfer of judges barring a few who were not eligible for appointment under article 233. Amendment needed to overcome the effect of judgement invalidating appointments of certain judges in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
  10. 1967 Include Sindhi as an Official Language.
  11. 1969

Provision to form Autonomous states within the State of Assam.

 

  1. 1970 Extend reservation for SC / ST and nomination of Anglo Indian members in Parliament and State Assemblies for another ten years i.e. up to 1980.
  2. 1971 Enable parliament to dilute fundamental rights through amendments to the constitution.
  3. 1972 Restrict property rights and compensation in case the state takes over private property.
  4. 1971 Abolition of privy purse paid to former rulers of princely states which were incorporated into the Indian Republic.
  5. 1972 Reorganization of Mizoram into a Union Territory with a legislature and council of ministers.
  6. 1972 Rationalize Civil Service rules to make it uniform across those appointed prior to Independence and post independence.
  7. 1972 Place land reform acts and amendments to these act under Schedule 9 of the constitution.
  8. 1973 Change the basis for appeals in Supreme Court of India in case of Civil Suits from value criteria to one involving substantial question of law.
  9. 1973 Increase size of Parliament from 525 to 545 seats. Increased seats going to the new states formed in North East India and minor adjustment consequent to 1971 Delimitation exercise.
  10. 1974 Protection of regional rights in Telengana and Andhra regions of State of Andhra Pradesh.
  11. 1974 Prescribes procedure for resignation by members of parliament and state legislatures and the procedure for verification and acceptance of resignation by house speaker.
  12. 1974 Place land reform acts and amendments to these act under Schedule 9 of the constitution.
  13. 1975 Terms and Conditions for the Incorporation of Sikkim into the Union of India.
  14. 1975 Formation of Sikkim as a State within the Indian Union.
  15. 1975 Formation of Arunachal Pradesh legislative assembly.
  16. 1975 Enhances the powers of President and Governors to pass ordinances
  17. 1975 Amendment designed to negate the judgement of Allahabad High Court invalidating Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s election to parliament. Amendment placed restrictions on judicial scrutiny of post of President, vice-president and Prime Minister.
  18. 1976 Enable Parliament to make laws with respect to Exclusive Economic Zone and vest the mineral wealth with Union of India

Place land reform & other acts and amendments to these act under Schedule 9 of the constitution.

 

  1. 1976 Raise Retirement Age Limit of Chairmen and Members of Union and State Public Commissions from 60 to 62.
  2. 1977 Amendment passed during internal emergency by Indira Gandhi. Provides for curtailment of fundamental rights, imposes Fundamental Duties and changes to the basic structure of the constitution by making India a “Socialist Secular” Republic.
  3. 1978 Amendment passed after revocation of internal emergency in the Country. Repeals some of the more ‘Anti-Freedom’ amendments enacted through Amendment Bill 42.
  4. 1979 Amendment passed after revocation of internal emergency in the Country. Provides for Human Rights safeguards and mechanisms to prevent abuse of executive and legislative authority. Annuls some Amendments enacted in Amendment Bill 42.
  5. 1980 Extend reservation for SC / ST and nomination of Anglo Indian members in Parliament and State Assemblies for another ten years i.e. up to 1990.
  6. 1983 Amendment to negate judicial pronouncements on scope and applicability on Sales Tax.
  7. 1984 Place land reform acts and amendments to these act under Schedule 9 of the constitution.
  8. 1985 Article 356 amended to permit President’s rule up to two years in the state of Punjab.
  9. 1984 Recognize Tripura as a Tribal State and enable the creation of a Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council.
  10. 1984 Technical Amendment to curtailment of Fundamental Rights as per Part III as prescribed in Article 33 to cover Security Personnel protecting property and Communication Infrastructure-2/”>INFRASTRUCTURE.
  11. 1986 Provide reservation to Scheduled Tribes in Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assemblies.
  12. 1985 Anti Defection Law – Provide disqualification of members from parliament and assembly in case of defection from one party to other.
  13. 1987 Special provision with respect to the State of Mizoram.
  14. 1986 Increase the salary of Justice-of-india/”>Chief Justice of India & other Judges and to provide for determining future increases without the need for constitutional amendment.
  15. 1987 Special powers to Governor consequent to formation of state of Arunachal Pradesh.
  16. 1987 Transition provision to enable formation of state of Goa.
  17. 1987 Provide reservation to Scheduled Tribes in Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assemblies.
  18. 1987 Provision to publish authentic Hindi translation of constitution as on date and provision to publish authentic Hindi translation of future amendments.
  19. 1988 Article 356 amended to permit President’s rule up to three years in the state of Punjab, Articles 352 and Article 359A amended to permit imposing emergency in state of Punjab or in specific districts of the state of Punjab.
  20. 1988 Profession Tax increased from a maximum of Rs. 250/- to a maximum of Rs. 2500/-.
  21. 1989 Reduce age for voting rights from 21 to 18.
  22. 1989 Extend reservation for SC / ST and nomination of Anglo Indian members in Parliament and State Assemblies for another ten years i.e. up to 2000.
  23. 1990 Emergency powers applicable to State of Punjab, accorded in Article 359A as per amendment 59 repealed.
  24. 1990 Article 356 amended to permit President’s rule up to three years and six months in the state of Punjab.
  25. 1990 National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes formed and its stututory powers specifed in The Constitution.
  26. 1990 Place land reform acts and amendments to these act under Schedule 9 of the constitution.
  27. 1990 Article 356 amended to permit President’s rule up to four years in the state of Punjab.
  28. 1991 Article 356 amended to permit President’s rule up to five years in the state of Punjab.
  29. 1992 To provide for a legislative assembly and council of ministers for Federal National Capital of Delhi. Delhi continues to be a Union Territory.
  30. 1991 Include National Capital of Delhi and Union Territory of Pondicherry in electoral college for Presidential Election.
  31. 1992 Include Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali as Official Languages.
  32. 1992 Provide reservation to Scheduled Tribes in Tripura State Legislative Assembly.
  33. 1993 Statutory provisions for Panchyat Raj as third level of administration in villages.
  34. 1993 Statutory provisions for Local Administrative bodies as third level of administration in urban areas such as towns and cities. (Municipalities)
  35. 1994 Provisions for setting up Rent Control Tribunals.
  36. 1994 Enable continuance of 69% reservation in Tamil Nadu by including the relevant Tamil Nadu Act under 9th Schedule of the constitution.
  37. 1995 A technical amendment to protect reservation to SC/ST Employees in promotions.
  38. 1995 Place land reform acts and amendments to these act under Schedule 9 of the constitution.
  39. 2000 Extend reservation for SC / ST and nomination of Anglo Indian members in Parliament and State Assemblies for another ten years i.e. up to 2010.
  40. 2000 Implement Tenth Finance Commission recommendation to simplify the tax structures by pooling and sharing all taxes between states and The Centre.
  41. 2000 Protect SC / ST reservation in filling backlog of vacancies.
  42. 2000 Permit relaxation of qualifying marks and other criteria in reservation in promotion for SC / ST candidates.
  43. 2000 Exempt Arunachal Pradesh from reservation for Scheduled Castes in Panchayati Raj institutions.
  44. 2002 Extend the usage of 1991 national census Population figures for statewise distribution of parliamentary seats.
  45. 2002 A technical amendment to protect seniority in case of promotions of SC/ST Employees.
  46. 2002 Provides Right to Education until the age of fourteen and Early childhood care until the age of six.
  47. 2003 Extend the usage of 2001 national census population figures for statewise distribution of parliamentary seats.
  48. 2004 To extend statutory cover for levy and utilization of Service Tax.
  49. 2003 The National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes was bifurcated into The National Commission for Scheduled Castes and The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes.
  50. 2003 Reservation in Assam Assembly relating to Bodoland Territory Area.
  51. 2004 Restrict the size of council of ministers to 15 % of legislative members & to strengthen Anti Defection laws.
  52. 2004 Enable Levy of Service Tax. Include Bodo, Dogri, Santali and Maithili as National Languages.
  53. 2006 Reservation for OBCs in government as well as private educational institutions
  54. 2006 To provide for a Minister of Tribal Welfare in newly created Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh States.
  55. 2010 Extended the reservation of seats in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies for SCs and STs from sixty to seventy years.
  56. 2011 Changed “Oriya” in the Eighth Schedule to “Odia.
  57. 2012, Jan 12 Right to form unions or co-operative societies. (19(1)C)

Promotion of Co-operative Societies. (43B)

 

The Co-operative Societies. (Part 9B)

 

  1. 2013, Jan 2 To empower the Governor of Karnataka to take steps to develop the Hyderabad-Karnataka Region.

(To insert Article 371J in the Constitution),

The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. It was adopted on September 17, 1787, by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and ratified by conventions in each U.S. state in the name of “The People.” The Constitution has a central place in United States law and political culture. The handwritten, or “engrossed,” original document penned by Jacob Shallus is on display at the National Archives and Records Administration in Washington, D.C.

The Constitution establishes a federal government consisting of three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative branch is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The executive branch is headed by the President. The judicial branch is headed by The Supreme Court.

The Constitution also establishes the relationship between the federal government and the states. The Tenth Amendment states that “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

The Constitution has been amended 27 times since it was adopted. The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were adopted in 1791. The Bill of Rights guarantees certain fundamental rights and freedoms, such as freedom of speech, religion, and assembly.

The following is a list of the 27 amendments to the United States Constitution:

  • First Amendment (1791): Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition
  • Second Amendment (1791): Right to bear arms
  • Third Amendment (1791): No quartering of soldiers in private homes
  • Fourth Amendment (1791): Protection from unreasonable searches and seizures
  • Fifth Amendment (1791): Right to Due Process of Law, protection from self-incrimination, and double jeopardy
  • Sixth Amendment (1791): Right to a speedy and public trial, right to an attorney, right to confront witnesses, and right to compulsory process for obtaining witnesses
  • Seventh Amendment (1791): Right to a jury trial in civil cases
  • Eighth Amendment (1791): Prohibition of excessive bail, excessive fines, and cruel and unusual punishments
  • Ninth Amendment (1791): Rights retained by the people
  • Tenth Amendment (1791): Powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved to the states or to the people
  • Eleventh Amendment (1795): Suits against states by citizens of other states or foreign countries
  • Twelfth Amendment (1804): Election of the President and Vice President
  • Thirteenth Amendment (1865): Abolishment of slavery
  • Fourteenth Amendment (1868): Citizenship-2/”>Citizenship for all persons born or naturalized in the United States, equal protection of the laws, due process of law, and privileges or immunities clause
  • Fifteenth Amendment (1870): Right to vote for all male citizens regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude
  • Sixteenth Amendment (1913): Income tax
  • Seventeenth Amendment (1913): Direct election of senators
  • Eighteenth Amendment (1919): Prohibition of alcoholic beverages
  • Nineteenth Amendment (1920): Right to vote for Women
  • Twentieth Amendment (1933): Change in date of presidential and congressional inaugurations, beginning of terms of President and Vice President, and convening of Congress
  • Twenty-first Amendment (1933): Repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment
  • Twenty-second Amendment (1951): Limiting the President to two terms in office
  • Twenty-third Amendment (1961): District of Columbia representation in the Electoral College
  • Twenty-fourth Amendment (1964): Abolition of the poll tax in federal Elections
  • Twenty-fifth Amendment (1967): Procedures for filling a presidential vacancy
  • Twenty-sixth Amendment (1971): Lowering the voting age to 18
  • Twenty-seventh Amendment (1992): Ratification of a law must take place within seven years of its passage

The Constitution is a living document that has been interpreted and reinterpreted over the years. The Supreme Court is the final arbiter of the Constitution’s meaning. The Constitution has been amended 27 times, but its basic principles remain the same. It is a remarkable document that has helped to shape the United States into the country it is today.

What is the Bill of Rights?

The Bill of Rights is the first 10 amendments to the United States Constitution. It was adopted on December 15, 1791, and guarantees certain fundamental rights and freedoms, such as freedom of speech, religion, and assembly.

What are the 10 amendments to the Constitution?

The 10 amendments to the Constitution are:

  1. Freedom of religion, speech, and the press
  2. The right to bear arms
  3. The right to a fair trial
  4. The right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures
  5. The right to due process of law
  6. The right to a speedy and public trial
  7. The right to be informed of the charges against you
  8. The right to confront your accusers
  9. The right to have a lawyer
  10. The right to be free from excessive bail, excessive fines, and cruel and unusual punishments

What is the purpose of the Bill of Rights?

The purpose of the Bill of Rights is to protect the rights of the people from the government. It was written in response to the concerns of many Americans that the new government would become too powerful and infringe on the rights of the people.

What are some of the most important rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights?

Some of the most important rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights include freedom of speech, religion, and assembly; the right to bear arms; the right to a fair trial; the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures; and the right to due process of law.

How has the Bill of Rights been interpreted over time?

The Bill of Rights has been interpreted by the Supreme Court over time to protect a wide range of rights, including the Right to Privacy, the right to marry, and the right to vote.

What are some of the challenges facing the Bill of Rights today?

Some of the challenges facing the Bill of Rights today include the threat of terrorism, the rise of surveillance technology, and the increasing power of the government.

What can we do to protect the Bill of Rights?

We can protect the Bill of Rights by staying informed about our rights, speaking out against violations of our rights, and supporting organizations that are working to protect our rights.

Sure, here are some multiple choice questions about the United States Constitution:

  1. The Constitution was ratified in what year?
    (A) 1776
    (B) 1787
    (C) 1789
    (D) 1865

  2. The Constitution establishes what form of government?
    (A) A Monarchy
    (B) A Democracy
    (C) A republic
    (D) A Dictatorship

  3. The Constitution divides the government into what three branches?
    (A) The legislative, executive, and judicial branches
    (B) The legislative, executive, and military branches
    (C) The legislative, executive, and religious branches
    (D) The legislative, executive, and financial branches

  4. The Constitution guarantees what rights to all citizens?
    (A) The right to life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
    (B) The right to free speech, religion, and assembly
    (C) The right to bear arms, a fair trial, and due process of law
    (D) All of the above

  5. The Constitution can be amended by what process?
    (A) A two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress
    (B) A two-thirds vote of the states
    (C) A convention called by two-thirds of the states
    (D) All of the above

  6. The first ten amendments to the Constitution are known as what?
    (A) The Bill of Rights
    (B) The Articles of Confederation
    (C) The Declaration of Independence
    (D) The Constitution of the United States

  7. The Bill of Rights guarantees what rights to all citizens?
    (A) The right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
    (B) The right to free speech, religion, and assembly
    (C) The right to bear arms, a fair trial, and due process of law
    (D) All of the above

  8. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States. It is made up of how many justices?
    (A) 9
    (B) 10
    (C) 11
    (D) 12

  9. The Supreme Court has the power to declare laws unconstitutional. This power is known as what?
    (A) Judicial Review
    (B) Legislative review
    (C) Executive review
    (D) None of the above

  10. The Constitution has been amended how many times?
    (A) 10
    (B) 27
    (C) 35
    (D) 50

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