Understanding the Constitution of India

A constitution is the basic legal code that governs the governing systems of a country. A constitution is a written or unwritten document that contains a set of rules for a government. The origin of term 'constitution' is from the latin word 'constituere'. The constitution contains the fundamental political principles and establishes the structure, procedures, powers and duties of a government. The term constitution can be applied to any overall law that defines the functioning of a government. Constitution can be divided into two - Written and Unwritten. Examples for countries having written constitution are India, America, Australia, Brazil, South Africa etc. Examples for countries having unwritten constitution are Britain, Israel, France and New Zealand. Constitution is considered as 'Law of the Land'. The constitution of the nation is comprehensive and sovereign in nature. 

Functions of the Constitution

■ The Constitution provides unity and security.

■ It specifies the authority to make decisions.

■ It sets limits on the powers of the government.

■ It specifies the goals and aspirations of society.

■ It specifies what the fundamental identity of the people is.