Core ideas
A constitution must provide continuity while allowing a society to respond to new conditions. Article 368 sets out the amendment process, with different requirements for different provisions. In India, constitutional amendments are subject to judicial review and the basic structure doctrine. The chapter asks how democratic change can coexist with constitutional limits.
Key concepts
amendment; Article 368; judicial review; basic structure
When answering, distinguish the constitutional rule, the institution applying it and the evidence in a case or example.
Practice
- Why can an amendment process be necessary, and why might constitutional limits also matter?
- Explain one reason the concept matters in a constitutional democracy.
- Give one example of a tension or trade-off that institutions must resolve.