Polity & Governance
Comparison with Other Constitutions
GS Paper II
Comparison with Other Constitutions — Quick Revision
One-page UPSC revision of comparative constitutions: sources of borrowed features, and India vs the UK and USA on executive, federalism, citizenship, courts and amendment.
SyllabusGS II · Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries
A last-week sheet on comparative constitutions. Prelims is almost entirely “feature → country” matching; Mains asks India-vs-UK and India-vs-USA contrasts.
Sources at a Glance
| Source | Features |
|---|---|
| Government of India Act, 1935 | Federal scheme, Governor, judiciary, PSCs, emergency provisions |
| UK | Parliamentary system, rule of law, legislative procedure, single citizenship, Cabinet, writs, privileges, bicameralism |
| USA | Fundamental Rights, judicial independence, judicial review, impeachment of President, removal of judges, Vice-President |
| Ireland | DPSP, Rajya Sabha nominations, method of electing the President |
| Canada | Strong-Centre federation, residuary powers with Centre, Governors appointed by Centre, advisory jurisdiction |
| Australia | Concurrent List, freedom of trade and commerce, joint sitting |
| Weimar Germany | Suspension of FRs in emergency |
| USSR | Fundamental Duties; justice — social, economic, political |
| France | Republic; liberty, equality, fraternity |
| South Africa | Amendment procedure; election of Rajya Sabha members |
| Japan | Procedure established by law |
India vs UK
| India | UK |
|---|---|
| Written, codified Constitution | Uncodified |
| Constitutional supremacy; judicial review | Parliamentary sovereignty |
| Elected President (indirect) | Hereditary monarch |
| Federal with unitary bias | Unitary with devolution |
| Non-member minister for up to six months | Ministers are MPs by convention |
| No legal responsibility (no countersignature) | Ministers countersign acts of the Crown |
India vs USA
| India | USA |
|---|---|
| Parliamentary executive | Presidential executive |
| Single citizenship | Dual citizenship |
| One Constitution for all | Separate state constitutions |
| Residuary powers with Union | Residuary powers with states |
| Rajya Sabha seats by population | Two senators per state |
| Procedure established by law | Due process of law |
| Only Parliament initiates amendments | Congress (or convention); three-fourths of states ratify |
| “Indestructible Union of destructible States” | “Indestructible Union of indestructible States” (Texas v. White, 1869) |
High-Yield Lines
Most-tested lines
- DPSP — Ireland; Fundamental Duties — USSR.
- Concurrent List — Australia; residuary powers with Centre — Canada.
- Judicial review — USA (not UK).
- Emergency suspension of rights — Weimar Germany.
- Amendment procedure — South Africa.
- Ambedkar (4 November 1948): parliamentary system chosen for “more responsibility” over “more stability”.
Traps
- The UK has no judicial review of Acts of Parliament.
- Fundamental Duties are not from the USA.
- India’s Article 21 text still says “procedure established by law”, though read with fairness since Maneka Gandhi.
- The Vice-President presiding over the upper House is a US feature, not a UK one.
Related Topics
- The Indian Constitution Compared — main note
- Comparison — practice questions
- Comparison — overview
- Constitutional Framework
- All quick revision sheets
Advertisement