Civics Polity ยท 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

The vesting of residuary powers under our constitution in the Union follows the precedent of which constitution?

  1. Canadian Constitution

  2. Irish Constitution

  3. US Constitution

  4. British Constitution
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Indian Constitution follows the Canadian model where residuary powers (powers not mentioned in any of the three lists) are vested in the Union government. In contrast, the US and Australian constitutions vest residuary powers in the states.

Multiple choice

Which amendment to the Constitution made it necessary on the part of the President to accept the advice given by the Council of Ministers?

  1. 24th amendment

  2. 25th amendment

  3. 41st amendment

  4. 42nd amendment
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The 42nd Amendment Act of 1976 amended Article 74 to explicitly state that the President shall act in accordance with the advice of the Council of Ministers. The 44th Amendment later added that the President could ask for reconsideration once, but must follow the subsequent advice.

Multiple choice

From which constitution did we borrow the concept of our Federation?

  1. Canadian Constitution

  2. Australian Constitution

  3. Irish Constitution

  4. German Constitution
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The concept of a federation with a strong center was borrowed from the Canadian Constitution. While the US is also a federation, the Indian model of 'quasi-federalism' aligns more closely with the Canadian system.

Multiple choice

Which Article of our Constitution forbids child labour?

  1. Article 18

  2. Article 24

  3. Article 36

  4. Article 28
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
  1. Prohibition of employment of children in factories, etc No child below the age of fourteen years shall be employed to work in any factory or mine or engaged in any other hazardous employment Provided that nothing in this sub clause shall authorise the detention of any person beyond the maximum period prescribed by any law made by Parliament under sub clause (b) of clause ( 7 ); or such person is detained in accordance with the provisions of any law made by Parliament under sub clauses (a) and (b) of clause ( 7 )
Multiple choice

Under our Constitution, Residuary Powers are vested in

  1. the President

  2. the Union

  3. the State Legislatures

  4. Both (2) and (3)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Under Article 248 of the Indian Constitution, residuary powers (those not listed in the Union, State, or Concurrent lists) are vested in the Union Parliament. This reflects the centralizing tendency of the Indian federal system.

Multiple choice

How was the Bill of Rights incorporated in the Constitution of the United States of America?

  1. By the first 10 Amendments of the Constitution

  2. By the 27th Amendment of the Constitution

  3. By the first 12 Amendments of the Constitution

  4. By the insertion of a Preamble
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Bill of Rights consists of the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution, which were ratified simultaneously in 1791 to guarantee specific personal freedoms and rights.

Multiple choice

In the Federal Republic of Germany, the authority to declare a political party unconstitutional lies with which one of the following?

  1. Bundestag

  2. Bundesrat

  3. Federal Government

  4. Federal Constitutional Court
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

In Germany, the Federal Constitutional Court (Bundesverfassungsgericht) has the exclusive power to determine the constitutionality of political parties and can ban those that seek to undermine the democratic order.

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements.

  1. In the United States of America an amendment of the Constitution may be made if the proposal is passed by two-thirds majority of each House of Congress and is thereafter accepted by a vote of the legislatures of two-thirds of the States.
  2. In the American Presidential elections, if no Presidential candidate secures the minimum 270 college votes needed for outright victory, the House of Representatives chooses a President from among the first three finishers in the Electoral College. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only

  2. 2 only

  3. Both 1 and 2

  4. Neither 1 nor 2
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect because US constitutional amendments require a two-thirds majority in each House of Congress, but ratification requires approval by three-fourths (not two-thirds) of the state legislatures or conventions. Statement 2 is correct, as the 12th Amendment specifies that if no presidential candidate reaches the electoral vote majority, the House of Representatives chooses from the top three candidates.

Multiple choice

Which one of the following is not stated as a Directive Principles of state policy in the Constitution of India?

  1. Organization of village panchayats

  2. Uniform civil code for the citizens

  3. Separation of judiciary from executive

  4. Right minorities to establish and administer educational institutions
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions is a Fundamental Right under Article 30. The other options, Village Panchayats (Art 40), Uniform Civil Code (Art 44), and Separation of Judiciary (Art 50), are all Directive Principles of State Policy.

Multiple choice

Which one of the following Articles of the Constitution of India deals with the saving of laws giving effect to certain directive principles?

  1. Article 32

  2. Article 31 A

  3. Article 31 B

  4. Article 31 C
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Article 31C was inserted by the 25th Amendment Act of 1971 to protect laws that give effect to the Directive Principles specified in Article 39(b) and (c) from being challenged on the grounds of violating Fundamental Rights.

Multiple choice

Article 359 of the Constitution of India deals with which one of the following?

  1. Declaration of financial emergency

  2. Promulgation of President's rule in a State

  3. Suspension of the enforcement of fundamental rights except a few during emergency

  4. Terms and conditions of service of members of the Union Public Service Commission
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Article 359 empowers the President to suspend the right to move any court for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights during a National Emergency, except for the rights guaranteed by Articles 20 and 21.

Multiple choice

Part XVI A inserted by the Constitution (Forth-Second Amendment) Act, 1976 in the Constitution of India deals with which of the following?

  1. Administrative tribunals
  2. Adjudication or trial by tribunals in respect of enforcement of any tax.
  3. Adjudication or trial by tribunals in respect of ceiling on urban property.
  4. Adjudication or trial by tribunals in respect of industrial and labour disputes. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  1. 1, 2, 3 and 4

  2. 1, 2 and 3 only

  3. 3 and 4 only

  4. 1 and 4 only
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The 42nd Amendment Act of 1976 added Part XIV-A (not XVI-A, which is a typo in the question) to the Constitution. This part includes Article 323A for administrative tribunals and Article 323B for tribunals for other matters such as taxation, urban property ceilings, and industrial/labor disputes.