What is the significance of the ‘Special Majority’ required for amending the certain articles of the constitution?
An amendment to the constitution requires two different sets of special majorities. In the first place, those voting in favour of the amendment bill should constitute at least half of the total strength of the House. Secondly the supporters of the bill must constitute two thirds of those present and voting. Both the houses have to pass the amendment bill separately in the same manner. (There is no provision for a joint session). This implies that there is sufficient consensus over the proposed amendment, it cannot be passed. The political party in power need to take at least some opposition parties into confidence, if it wanted to amend the constitution, thus making it broad based.
What is meant by the term Equality as given in the Preamble of the Constitution?
Why is the 42nd amendment called a ‘mini Constitution’?
What would you say about each of these statements?
(a) The constitution is live any other law. If simply tells us what are the rules and regulations governing the government.
(b) The constitution is the expression of the will of the people, so there must be a provision to change the constitution after every ten or fifteen years.
(c) The constitution is a statement of the philosophy of the country. It can never be changed.
(d) The constitution is a sacred document. Therefore any talk of changing it is against democracy.
Which two factors have made India's constitution a living document rather than a closed and static rulebook?
