The Constituent Assembly


 
 
Concept Explanation
 

The Constituent Assembly

The Constituent Assembly: The drafting of the Constitution was done by an assembly of elected representatives called the Cosntituent Assembly. Elections to the Constituent  Assembly were held in July 1946. Its first meeting was helf in December 1946. After  partition of India and pakistan, the Constituent Assembly was divided into Constituent Assembly that wrote the Indian Constitution constituted 299 members. The Assembly adopted the constitution on 26th November. 1949. It came into effect on 26th January, 1950. To mark this day, we celebrate 26th January as Republic Day every year.

Legitimacy  Of the Indian Constitution Today: Even today, the Constitution made by the Constituent Assembly more than 60 years ago is accepted. The Constitution does not reflect the view of its members alone, but expresses a broad consensu of its time. Over the last many years, several groups have questioned some provisions of the Constitution. But  no large social group or political party has ever questioned its legitimacy.

This is an unusual achievement for the Indian Constitution on the world stage. It is so because many countries of the world have had to reqrite their constitutions afresh just groups or political parties. In some countries, the Constitution is just piece of paper. No one actually follows it. Another reason for accepting the Constitution is that the COnstituent Assembly represented the people of India. It could not chosen directly by all the people, as there was no universal adult franchise at that time. The Constituent Assembly was elected by the members of the existing  Provincial Legislatures. This ensured a fair geographical share of members from all regions of the country.

Working of the Constituent Assembly: The Assembly was dominated by the Indian National COngress, which included a varitey  of political and regional groups of people. It had  many members  who did not agree with the congress. In social terms too, the Assembly represented members from different language groups, castes, classes religions and occupations. Finally, the Constituent Assembly worked in a systematic, open and consensual (with mutual consent) manner, which gave sacred quality to the Constituiton.

 
 


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