<–2/”>a >The Constitution of India begins with a Preamble which describes the nature of the Indian State and the objectives it is committed to secure. K.M. Munshi describes the Preamble as the political horoscope of the constitution. Thakur Dass Bhargawa says Preamble is the most precious part and the soul of the constitution.
The Preamble reads:
We, the People of India having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic and to secure to all its citizens;
Justice, social, economic, political;
Liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;
Equality of status and opportunity; and to promote among them all;
Fraternity, assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and Integrity of the nation ;
In our Constituent Assembly this, twenty sixth day of November 1949 do hereby Adopt, Enact and Give to ourselves this Constitution.
The words ‘Socialist ‘Secular” and ‘Integrity were initially not there in the Preamble. These were added by the 42nd Amendment (1976) of the Constitution.
Preamble: Features:
I. The Source of Authority:
Popular Sovereignty:
The Preamble categorically accepts the principle of Popular Sovereignty. It begins with the words: ‘We the people of India’. These words testify to the fact that the people of India are’ the ultimate source of all authority. The Government derives its power from them.
II. Nature of State:
The Preamble describes five cardinal features of the Indian state:
(1) India is a Sovereign State:
The Preamble proclaims that India is a sovereign state. Such a proclamation denotes the end of rule over India. It testifies to the fact that India is no longer a dependency or colony or possession of British Crown. As a sovereign independent state, India is free both internally and externally to take her own decisions and implement these for her people and territories.
(2) India is a Socialist State:
In 1976, the Preamble was amended to include the word ‘Socialism’. It is now regarded as a prime feature of the State. It reflects the fact that India is committed to secure social, economic and political justice for all its people. India stands for ending all forms of exploitation as well as for securing equitable distribution of income, Resources and wealth. This has to be secured by peaceful, constitutional and democratic means. The term ‘India is a Socialist state’ really means, ‘India is a democratic socialist state.’
(3) India is A Secular State:
By the 42nd Amendment, the term ‘Secular’ was incorporated in the Preamble. Its inclusion simply made the secular nature of the Indian Constitution more explicit. As a state India gives special status to no religion. There is no such thing as a state religion of India. India guarantees equal freedom to all religions. All religions enjoy equality of status and respect.
(4) India is a Democratic State:
The Preamble declares India to be a Democratic State. The Constitution of India provides for a democratic system. The authority of the government rests upon the sovereignty of the people. The people enjoy equal political rights. The people freely participate in the democratic process of self rule.
They elect their government. For all its acts, the government is responsible before the people. The people can change their government through Elections. The government enjoys limited powers. It always acts under the Constitution which represents the supreme will of the people.
(5) India is a Republic:
The Preamble declares India to be a Republic. Negatively, this means that India is not ruled by a monarch or a nominated head of state. Positively, it means that India has an elected head of state who wields power for a fixed term. President of India is the elected sovereign head of the state. He holds a tenure of 5 years. Any Indian citizen can get elected as the President of India.
III. Four Objectives of the Indian State:
The Preamble lists four cardinal objectives which are to be “secured by the state for all its citizens”.
These are:
(1) Justice:
India seeks to secure social, economic and political justice for its people.
(i) Social Justice:
Social Justice means the absence of socially privileged classes in the Society and no discrimination against any citizen on grounds of caste, creed, colour, religion, sex or place of birth. India stands for eliminating all forms of exploitations from the society.
(ii) Economic Justice:
Economic Justice means no discrimination between man and man on the basis of income, wealth and economic status. It stands for equitable distribution of wealth, economic equality, end of monopolistic control over means of production and distribution, decentralisation of economic resources, and securing of adequate opportunities to all for earning their livelihoods.
(iii) Political Justice:
Political Justice means equal, free and fair opportunities to the people for participation in the political process. It stands for the grant of equal political rights to all the people without any discrimination. The Constitution of India provides for a liberal Democracy in which all the people have the right and freedom to participate.
(2) Liberty:
The Preamble declares liberty to be the second cardinal objective to be secured. It includes liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship. The grant of Fundamental Rights (Part III) including the right to freedom is designed to secure this objective. Liberty of faith and worship is designed to strengthen the spirit of Secularism-2/”>Secularism.
(3) Equality:
The Preamble declares Equality as the third objective of the Constitution. Equality means two basic things:
(i) Equality of status i.e. natural equality of all persons as equal and free citizens of India enjoying equality before law.
(ii) Equality of opportunity i.e. adequate opportunities for all to develop. For securing the equality of status and opportunity, the Constitution of India grants and guarantees the fundamental Right to Equality.
(4) Fraternity:
Promotion of Fraternity among the people is the fourth objective is to promote Fraternity among all the people. Fraternity means the inculcation of a strong feeling of spiritual and psychological unity among the people. It is designed to secure dignity of the individual and unity and integrity of the nation.
IV. Date of Adoption and Enactment:
In its final paragraph, the Preamble specifies the important historical fact that the Constitution was adopted on 26 November, 1949. It was on this day that the Constitution received the signatures of the President of the Constituent Assembly and was declared passed.
V. Self-made Constitution:
The Constitution of India is an adopted, enacted and self-made constitution. It was adopted and enacted by the Constituent Assembly acting as the elected representative body of the people of India. The Preamble states the philosophical foundations of the Constitution India and enumerates its objectives.
It constitutes a Key for the interpretation of the Constitution. It is a part of the Basic Structure of the Constitution. Through, it’s Preamble, the Constitution a commits itself to Democracy, Republicanism, Socialism, Secularism, Liberalism and Welfare State. The Preamble states the objectives which the Constitution is committed to secure for all the people of India.,
The Preamble to the United States Constitution is a brief introductory statement of the Constitution’s fundamental purposes and guiding principles. It is not part of the Constitution’s body, but rather a “preamble” or introduction. The Preamble is not legally binding, but it has been cited by The Supreme Court as an aid to interpretation.
The Preamble states that the Constitution was created to “form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.” These are the six purposes of the Constitution.
The Preamble is a powerful statement of the American people’s commitment to democracy and Human Rights. It is a reminder of the ideals that inspired the Founding Fathers and that continue to guide the United States today.
The Preamble is as follows:
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
The Preamble is divided into six clauses, each of which states one of the purposes of the Constitution. The first clause states that the Constitution was created to “form a more perfect Union.” This means that the Constitution was created to replace the Articles of Confederation, which were the first constitution of the United States. The Articles of Confederation were too weak to effectively govern the country, so the Founding Fathers created the Constitution to create a stronger central government.
The second clause states that the Constitution was created to “establish Justice.” This means that the Constitution was created to ensure that everyone is treated fairly under the law. The Constitution establishes a system of checks and balances to prevent any one branch of government from becoming too powerful. It also guarantees certain rights to all citizens, such as the right to free speech and the right to bear arms.
The third clause states that the Constitution was created to “insure domestic Tranquility.” This means that the Constitution was created to keep the peace within the United States. The Constitution establishes a national military to protect the country from foreign threats. It also establishes a system of laws to protect the rights of citizens and to punish criminals.
The fourth clause states that the Constitution was created to “provide for the common defence.” This means that the Constitution was created to protect the United States from foreign threats. The Constitution establishes a national military to defend the country from attack. It also establishes a system of taxes to pay for the military and other government expenses.
The fifth clause states that the Constitution was created to “promote the general Welfare.” This means that the Constitution was created to improve the lives of all citizens. The Constitution establishes a system of public Education to provide all citizens with the opportunity to learn. It also establishes a system of social programs to help the poor and the elderly.
The sixth clause states that the Constitution was created to “secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.” This means that the Constitution was created to protect the rights of all citizens and to ensure that future generations will enjoy the same freedoms. The Constitution guarantees certain rights to all citizens, such as the right to free speech and the right to bear arms. It also establishes a system of checks and balances to prevent any one branch of government from becoming too powerful.
The Preamble is a powerful statement of the American people’s commitment to democracy and human rights. It is a reminder of the ideals that inspired the Founding Fathers and that continue to guide the United States today.
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What is the Preamble?
The Preamble is the introductory statement of the United States Constitution. It explains the Constitution’s purpose and why it was written. -
What does the Preamble say?
The Preamble says that the Constitution was written to “form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.” -
Why is the Preamble important?
The Preamble is important because it explains the purpose of the Constitution. It is a reminder of the values that the Constitution was founded on. -
What are some of the key words in the Preamble?
Some of the key words in the Preamble are “Union,” “Justice,” “Tranquility,” “Defence,” “Welfare,” and “Liberty.” -
What does the Preamble mean for the United States today?
The Preamble means that the United States is a country that is founded on the principles of unity, justice, peace, security, prosperity, and freedom. -
What are some of the challenges that the United States faces today?
Some of the challenges that the United States faces today include terrorism, Climate change, and income inequality. -
How can the Preamble help the United States address these challenges?
The Preamble can help the United States address these challenges by reminding us of the values that we share as a country. It can also help us to come together as a nation to solve these problems. -
What is the future of the United States?
The future of the United States is bright. We are a country with a strong economy, a diverse Population, and a commitment to democracy. We will continue to face challenges, but we will overcome them together.
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The Preamble to the United States Constitution states that the purpose of the government is to:
(A) Establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.
(B) Protect the rights of the minority from the tyranny of the majority.
(C) Limit the power of the government to prevent it from becoming tyrannical.
(D) Establish a government that is of the people, by the people, and for the people. -
The Preamble to the United States Constitution is:
(A) A list of the rights that are guaranteed to all citizens of the United States.
(B) A statement of the purposes of the government.
(C) A list of the powers that are granted to the government.
(D) A list of the restrictions that are placed on the government. -
The Preamble to the United States Constitution is:
(A) The first sentence of the Constitution.
(B) The last sentence of the Constitution.
(C) The longest sentence in the Constitution.
(D) The shortest sentence in the Constitution. -
The Preamble to the United States Constitution is:
(A) A requirement for all laws passed by Congress.
(B) A requirement for all treaties ratified by the Senate.
(C) A requirement for all presidential proclamations.
(D) Not a requirement for any laws, treaties, or proclamations. -
The Preamble to the United States Constitution is:
(A) A part of the Constitution that is still in effect today.
(B) A part of the Constitution that has been repealed.
(C) A part of the Constitution that is no longer relevant.
(D) A part of the Constitution that is not binding on the government.