CBSE Class 11 Political Science — Notes, Solutions & Papers

COURSE STRUCTURE

Chapter

No.

Chapter Name Marks

INDIAN CONSTITUTION AT WORK

1 Constitution: Why and How? 8 2 Rights in the Indian Constitution

4 Executive 12 5 Legislature 6 Judiciary

9 Constitution as a Living Document 4 10 The Philosophy of the Constitution Marks allotted to Indian Constitution at Work 40

POLITICAL THEORY

2 Freedom 12 3 Equality

6 Citizenship 8 7 Nationalism

Marks allotted for Political Theory 40

Total 80

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CLASS XI

COURSE CONTENT

Chapter No. and Name Learning Outcomes with Specific

Competencies 1- Constitution: Why and How? a) Why do we need a Constitution?  Constitution allows coordination and assurance  Specification of decision-making powers  Limitations on the powers of government  Aspirations and goals of a society  Fundamental identity of a people b) The authority of a Constitution  Mode of promulgation  The substantive provisions of constitution  Balanced institutional design c) How was the Indian Constitution made?  Composition of the Constituent Assembly  Procedures  Inheritance of the nationalist movement  Institutional arrangements d) Provisions adapted from Constitutions of different countries Students will be able to:  Appreciate the need fora Constitution.  Understand the historical processes and the circumstances in which the Indian Constitution was drafted.  Critically evaluate how constitutions, govern the distribution of power in society.  Analyse the ways in which the provisions of the Constitution have worked in real political life. 2- Rights in the Indian Constitution a) The importance of rights  Bill of Rights b) Fundamental rights in the Indian Constitution  Right to Equality  Right to Freedom  Right against Exploitation  Right to Freedom of Religion  Cultural and Educational Rights  Right to Constitutional Remedies c) Directive principles of state policy  What do the directive principles contain? d) Relationship between fundamental rights and directive principles Students will be able to:  Analyse the working of the Constitution in real life  Learn to respect others, think critically, and make informed decisions  Identify violations of the rights to equality and freedom in the society around them  Justify the need for reasonable restrictions on the rights guaranteed.  Use freedom of expression to advocate for ensuring rights is given to people around them.

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3. Election and Representation a) Elections and democracy b) Election system in India  First Past the Post System  Proportional Representation c) Why did India adopt the FPTP system? d) Reservation of constituencies e) Free and fair elections  Universal franchise and right to contest  Independent Election Commission f) Electoral Reforms Students will be able to:  Identify different types and methods of election  Develop critical thinking about the role of various stakeholders in ensuring free and fair elections.  Demonstrate the innate role played by Election Commission  Compare election systems of different countries of the world. 4. Executive a) What is an executive? b) What are the different types of executives? c) Parliamentary executive in India  Power and position of President  Discretionary Powers of the President d) Prime Minister and Council of ministers e) Permanent Executive: Bureaucracy Student will be able to:  Recognise the meaning of Executive.  Compare and contrast the Parliamentary and Presidential Executive.  Analyse the composition and functioning of the executive.  Know the significance of the administrative machinery. 5. Legislature a) Why do we need a parliament? b) Why do we need two houses of parliament?  Rajya Sabha  Lok Sabha c) What does the parliament do?  Powers of Rajya Sabha  Special Powers of Rajya Sabha d) How does the parliament make laws? e) How does the parliament control the executive? f) What do the committees of parliament do? g) How does the parliament regulate itself? Students will be able to:  Describe the law- making process in India.  Differentiate between the powers and functions of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.  Examine the parliamentary control over the Executive.  Analyse the role of Parliamentary committees for the success of Indian democracy. 6. Judiciary a) Why do we need an independent judiciary?  Independence of Judiciary  Appointment of Judges  Removal of Judges b) Structure of the Judiciary Students will be able to:  Identify the different aspects which makes the Judiciary independent  Compare and contrast the different jurisdictions

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c) Jurisdiction of supreme Court  Original Jurisdiction  Writ Jurisdiction  Appellate Jurisdiction  Advisory Jurisdiction  Judicial Activism d) Judiciary and Rights  Judiciary and Parliament  Analyse the reasons why Judiciary has become proactive.  Examine the reasons for the conflicts between the judiciary and parliament with respect to Constitutional Amendments. 7. Federalism a) What is Federalism? b) Federalism in the Indian Constitution  Division of Powers c) Federalism with a strong central government d) Conflicts in India’s federal system  Centre-State Relations  Demands for Autonomy  Role of Governors and President’s Rule  Demands for New States  Interstate Conflicts e) Special provisions  Jammu and Kashmir Students will be able to:  Explain the basic features of a federation.  Identify the different levels of the government &subjects on which the union and state governments can make laws.  Discuss the various constitutional provisions that led to a strong Centre in India. 8. Local Governments a) Why local governments? b) Growth of Local Government in India  Local Governments in Independent India c) 73rd and 74thamendments d) 73rd Amendment  Three Tier Structure  Elections  Reservations  Transfer of Subjects  State Election Commissioners  State Finance Commission e) 74th Amendment  Implementation of 73rdand 74th Amendments Students will be able to:  Understand the Panchayati Raj system of local government in India, its emergence and significance  Identify the objectives, functions and sources of income of rural and urban local government bodies  Justify the significance of 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments  Acknowledge and examine the significance of decentralization  Introspect and realise the need to empower local government bodies Constitution as a Living Document a) Are constitutions static? b) How to amend the constitution? c) Why have there been so many amendments? Students will be able to:  Analyse the working of the Constitution.  Appreciate why the Constitution is called a Living Document

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9. Contents of amendments made so far  Differing Interpretations  Amendments through Political Consensus  Controversial Amendments e) Basic structure and evolution of the constitution f) Constitution as a Living Document  Contribution of the Judiciary  Maturity of the Political Leadership Students will be able to: • Know the various amendments that have taken place and the controversies raised.

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10. The Philosophy of the Constitution a) What is meant by philosophy of the constitution?  Constitution as Means of Democratic Transformation b) Why do we need to go back to the Constituent Assembly? c) What is the political philosophy of our constitution?  Individual freedom  Social Justice  Respect for diversity and minority rights  Secularism  Universal franchise  Federalism  National identity d) Procedural Achievements e) Criticisms  Limitations Students will be able to:  Appreciate the philosophical vision of our Constitution.  Recognise the core features of the Indian Constitution.  Evaluate the strengths and limitations of the Constitution.

POLITICAL THEORY

1. Political Theory: An Introduction a) What is politics? b) What do we study in political theory? c) Putting Political theory into practice d) Why should we study political theory? Students will be able to:  Define the term politics and identify various political principles.  Explain the innate ideas of various Political theories.  Appreciate the contribution of Political Thinkers

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2. Freedom a) The Ideal of freedom b) The sources of Constraints-Why do we need constraints? c) The Harm Principle d) Negative and Positive liberty Students will be able to:  Appreciate the ideal of freedom.  Critically evaluate the dimensions of negative and positive liberty.  Demonstrate spirit of enquiry  Explain the ideas introduced by J.S. Mill in Harm Principle.  Assess the possible limitations on freedom resulting from the social and economic structures of society. 3. Equality a) Why does equality matter? • Equality of opportunities • Natural and Social Inequalities b) Three dimensions of equality c) Feminism, Socialism d) How can we promote equality? Students will be able to:  Understand the moral and political ideals of equality.  Assess how equality is perceived through different ideologies  Recognise the means and methods to promote equality.  Evaluate the possible solutions to minimise inequality. 4. Social Justice a) What is Justice?  Equal Treatment for Equals  Proportionate Justice  Recognition of Special Needs b) Just distribution c) John Rawls Theory of Justice d) Pursuing Social Justice e) Free Markets versus State Intervention Students will be able to:  Classify the different dimensions of justice.  Appreciate the measures taken by the government of India to secure social justice.  Enlist the basic minimum requirements of people for living a healthy and productive life.  State John Rawls’ theory of veil of ignorance. 5. Rights a) What are Rights? b) Where do rights come from? c) Legal rights and the state d) Kinds of rights e) Rights and responsibilities Students will be able to:  Define rights  Identify the need for rights and its importance to mankind.  why rights need to be sanctioned by law.  Describe the features of different kinds of rights. 6. Citizenship a) Introduction b) Full and equal membership c) Equal Rights d) Citizen and Nation e) Universal Citizenship f) Global Citizenship Students will be able to:  Explain the meaning of citizenship.  Contribute to meaningful discussion on ways of granting citizenship.  Discuss the probable solutions or alternatives to solve citizenship issue  Analyse the problems to be surmounted to strengthen links between the people and governments

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7. Nationalism a) Introducing Nationalism b) Nations and Nationalism  Shared Beliefs and History  Shared National Identity c) National self-determination d) Nationalism and Pluralism Students will be able to:  Understand the concepts of nation and nationalism  Assess the strengths and limitations of nationalism.  Identify and build an understanding on the factors related to creation of collective identities  Examine the concept of national self- determination  Acknowledge the need to make nations more democratic and inclusive 8. Secularism a) What is Secularism? b) Inter-religious Domination c) Intra-religious Domination d) Secular State  The western model of secularism  The Indian model of secularism e) Criticisms of Indian secularism  Western Import and Minoritism  Interventionist  Vote Bank Politics Student will be able to:  Define Secularism.  Differentiate between Inter-religious and Intra-Religious Domination.  Recognise the concept of a Secular State.  Compare Western and Indian Model of Secularism.  Make an appraisal of Indian Secularism. Prescribed Textbooks: 1. Indian Constitution at Work, Class XI, Published by NCERT 2. Political Theory, Class XI, Published by NCERT 3. Added Reference Material available with the document in the Annexure

Note: The above textbooks are also available in Hindi and Urdu versions. — 10 marks