question_answer 8)

Compare the Preambles to the Constitutions of the United States of America, India and South Africa. (i) Make a list of ideas that are common to all these three. (ii) Note down at least one of the major differences among them. (iii) Which of the three makes a reference to the past? (iv) Which of these does not invoke God?  

Answer:

(i)(a) Each of these Preambles starts with, “We, the people." It means the sources of all authority to govern these countries are the people of these countries.   (b) In all these three, the idea of justice is embodied. (ii) In the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States, there is a statement for the formation of union, which is not there in the Preambles to the Indian and South African Constitutions. (iii) The Preamble to the Constitution of South Africa makes a reference to the past. (iv) The Preamble to the Constitutions of the United States and India do not invoke God. Both the Preamble suggests that citizens have complete freedom to follow any religion. There is no official religion.