Civics Polity · General Awareness

Constitutions and Law

2,587 Questions

Constitutions and Law questions cover fundamental rights, the preamble, critical articles, and amendments from the Indian and United States constitutions. This topic is indispensable for UPSC, state PSC, and SSC exams. Practicing these questions ensures a solid understanding of political frameworks and legal provisions.

Indian Constitution articlesFundamental rights and dutiesConstitutional amendmentsPreamble featuresUS Constitution principles

Constitutions and Law Questions

Multiple choice

Article 21 of the constitution does not include

  1. right to personal liberty

  2. right against arbitary arrest and detention

  3. living wage for workers

  4. right to have a good environment
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Living wage for workers is included in the Article 44 of the constitution.

Multiple choice

In addition to the powers mentioned in the Union and Concurrent Lists, the Union Government has the

  1. residuary powers

  2. federal powers

  3. power to legislate in the State List

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

In addition to the powers mentioned in the Union and Concurrent Lists, the Union Government has the residuary powers. Matters which are not included in any of the three lists are known as residuary subjects and the right to make laws on these subjects is called residuary power.

Multiple choice

The Constitution of India borrowed the concept of Directive Principles of State Policy from the Constitution of

  1. Ireland

  2. the USA

  3. Netherlands

  4. Canada

  5. Finland
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Option (1) is correct: The Constitution of India borrowed the concept of the Directive Principles of State Policy from the Constitution of Ireland.

Option (2) is incorrect: Concept of Fundamental Rights has been borrowed from the Constitution of the USA. Option (3) is incorrect: Concept of Bicameral Parliament has been borrowed from the Constitution of the UK. Option (4) is incorrect: Concept of distribution of powers between the Centre and the States and placing residuary powers with the Centre was borrowed from the Constitution of Canada.

Multiple choice

The Preamble to the Constitution secures to all citizens

  1. liberty of thought, expression and worship

  2. liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship

  3. liberty of thought, expression, faith and worship

  4. liberty of thought, expression, belief and faith

  5. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Option (1) is incorrect: The Preamble to the Constitution also secures to all citizens the liberty of faith, along with liberty of thought, expression and worship. Option (2) is correct: The Preamble to the Constitution secures to all citizens liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship. Option (3) is incorrect: The Preamble to the Constitution also secures to all citizens the liberty of belief, along with liberty of thought, expression, faith and worship. Option (4) is incorrect: The Preamble to the Constitution also secures to all citizens the liberty of worship, along with liberty of thought, expression, belief and faith.

Multiple choice

Which Article lays down that the laws declared by the Supreme Court would be binding on all Courts in India?

  1. Article 131

  2. Article 141

  3. Article 143

  4. Article 142
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Option (1) is incorrect: Article 131 of Constitution of India deals with Original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of India. Option (2) is correct: Under Article 141 of the Constitution of India “the law declared by the Supreme Court shall be binding on all the Courts within the territory of India.”  Option (3) is incorrect: Article 143 of the Constitution confers Advisory Jurisdiction to the Supreme Court of India. Option (4) is incorrect: Article 142 of Constitution of India deals with Enforcement of decrees and orders of Supreme Court and orders as to discovery, etc.

Multiple choice

Which of the following grounds is not mentioned in Articles 15 on which the State cannot discriminate?

  1. Race

  2. Caste

  3. Residence

  4. Place of Birth

  5. Religion
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Option (1) is incorrect: Race is a ground in both Article 15 and Article 16 on which the State can discriminate. Option (2) is incorrect: Article 15 and Article 16 states prohibition of discrimination on grounds of caste. Option (3) is correct: Article 15 and Article 16 do not state prohibition of discrimination on grounds of residence. Option (4) is incorrect: Article 15 and Article 16 states prohibition of discrimination on grounds of place of birth.

Multiple choice

The Constitution of India is

  1. highly federal

  2. neither federal nor unitary

  3. highly unitary

  4. partly federal and partly unitary
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Option (1) is incorrect: The constitution of India is not highly federal. Option (2) is incorrect: The constitution of India is partly federal and partly unitary. Option (3) is incorrect: The constitution of India is not highly unitary. Option (4) is correct: In a federal set up, there is a two tier Government with well assigned powers and functions. A unitary system is governed constitutionally as one single unit, with one constitutionally created legislature.

Multiple choice

The words ‘Socialist Secular’ have been inserted in the preamble by the

  1. Forty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution

  2. Forty-second Amendment of the Constitution

  3. Forty-first Amendment of the Constitution

  4. Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Option (1) is incorrect: The words were not added by the Forty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution. Option (2) is correct: The words ‘Socialist Secular’ have been inserted in the preamble by the Forty-second Amendment of the Constitution. Option (3) is incorrect: The words were not added by the Forty-first Amendment of the Constitution. Option (4) is incorrect: The words were not added by the Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution. 

Multiple choice

Amendment to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms requires which of the following?

  1. A vote in support of the amendment by a majority of the members of the Parliament

  2. A vote in support of the amendment by members of the Parliament who represent 2/3 of the provinces in Canada

  3. A vote in support of the amendment by members of the Parliament who represent 50% of the provinces in Canada and 2/3 of the country's population

  4. A vote in support of the amendment by members of the Parliament who represent 2/3 of the provinces in Canada and 50% of the country's population
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

A vote in support of the amendment by members of the Parliament who represent 2/3 of the provinces in Canada and 50% of the country's population.

Multiple choice

The Charter of Rights and Freedoms contains a 'notwithstanding' clause, which allows the government to

  1. pass a law which conflicts with the Charter without amendment of the Constitution which automatically expires after 5 years

  2. pass a law which conflicts with the Charter without amendment of the Constitution

  3. pass a law which conflicts with the Charter provided approval of a majority of the government members is obtained

  4. pass a law which conflicts with the Charter for an indefinite period
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

(1) The Charter of Rights and Freedoms contains a 'notwithstanding' clause, i.e. to pass a law which conflicts with the Charter without amendment of the Constitution, which automatically expires after 5 years.