The constitution of a country is a set of written rules that are accepted by all people living together in a country. Constitution is the supreme law that determines the relationship among people living in a territory (called citizens) and also the relationship between the people and government.
Role of Constitution
- It generates a degree of trust and coordination that is necessary for different kind of people to live together.
- It specifies how the government will be constituted, who will have power to take which decisions.
- It lays down limits on the powers of the government and tells us what the rights of the citizens are.
- It expresses the aspirations of the people about creating a good society.
Indian Constitution
The drafting of the document called the constitution was done by an assembly of elected representatives called the Constituent Assembly. The Constituent Assembly that wrote the Indian constitution had 299 members. The Assembly adopted the Constitution on 26 November 1949 but it came into effect on 26 January 1950.
Values that inspired and guided the freedom struggle and were in turn nurtured by it, formed the foundation for India’s democracy. These values are embedded in the Preamble of the Indian Constitution.