Fundamental Tenets of Constitution
                     FUNDAMENTAL 
TENETS OF 
CONSTITUTION
INTRODUCTION
Every constitution reflects the ideas and ideals of the 
people who framed it. Although it is intended to be a 
document of permanent value, it is bound to reflect 
also the conditions and circumstances of the period in 
which it was framed. 
Source: www.competitionreview.in
CONSTITUTION 
OF INDIA
The Constitution of India is no exception to this; it 
embodies certain basic principles. Let us, therefore, 
begin with a study of these principles which form the 
foundations of democratic government of India.
Source: www.competitionreview.in
BASIC 
PRINCIPLES
A careful study of the Constitution will show that there 
are at least eight such basic principles. These are: 
(1) Popular Sovereignty
(2) Fundamental Rights
(3) Directive Principles of State Policy
(4) Socialism
(5) Secularism
(6) Judicial Independence
(7) Federalism
(8) Cabinet Government
Source: www.competitionreview.in
POPULAR 
SOVEREIGNTY
India is a Sovereign Democratic Republic. The opening 
words of the Preamble to the Constitution emphasize 
the ultimate authority of the people of India from 
whose will the Constitution emerged.
Source: www.competitionreview.in
PRINCIPLE OF 
POPULAR 
SOVEREIGNTY
The principle of popular sovereignty implies, firstly, 
that the ultimate authority of all governmental 
agencies springs from the will of the people as 
expressed in the Constitution and, secondly, that 
authority is renewed from time to time through 
popular elections at regular intervals. 
Source: www.competitionreview.in
REPUBLICANISM
Republicanism is based on this belief: The people 
exercise their power by voting for their political 
representatives.
Source: schools.nbisd.org
FEDERALISM
Federalism is a system of government in which power 
is divided between a central government and smaller 
political units, such as states. 
In the early years of the United States, federalism was 
closely related to dual sovereignty, the idea that the 
powers of the federal government and the states were 
clearly defined, and each had exclusive power over 
their own spheres with little overlap.
Source: schools.nbisd.org
SEPARATION OF 
POWERS
The Framers were concerned that too much power 
might fall into the hands of a single group. 
To avoid this problem, they built the idea of 
separation of powers into the constitution. This 
principle means the division of basic government 
roles into branches.
Source: schools.nbisd.org
CHECKS AND 
BALANCES
Each branch of government can exercise checks, or 
controls, over the other branches. Though the 
branches of government are separate, they rely on 
one another to perform the work of government.
Source: schools.nbisd.org
INDIVIDUAL 
RIGHTS
The Bill of Rights guarantees certain individual rights, 
or personal liberties and privileges. For example, 
government cannot control what people write or say. 
People also have the right to meet peacefully and to 
ask the government to correct a problem.
Source: schools.nbisd.org