Q. With reference to the differences between Federal features of USA and India, consider the following statements:
1. The allocation of seats in upper houses of legislatures of both countries is on the basis of the population of each State.
2. While the states in America have been guaranteed territorial integrity, the states in India have not.
3. While there is a single constitution in India, in America each state has its own constitution.
How many of the above given statements are correct?
Exp) Option b is the correct answer
Both India and the United States of America are federal polity in structure.
Statement 1 is incorrect: The allocation of seats in Rajya Sabha is made on the basis of the population of each State. However, in the USA, all states are given equal representation in the Senate irrespective of their population.
Statement 2 is correct: According to the American constitution, the Central government cannot create or merge states or alter their boundaries with a simple legislation. Hence the states in America have absolute territorial integrity. But in India, Central Parliament can easily create or destroy or merge a state by passing a simple legislation with simple majority, without the consent of the states involved. Thus, states in India, do not have territorial integrity.
Statement 3 is correct: India has a single constitution, that governs governance at both the Centre and in the states. On the other hand, each state in America has its own constitution in addition to a common constitution which is applicable to the entire USA.
| Important Tips The Indian Constitution is not based on American Model but based on Canadian Model. The reason why India adopted Canadian model was because: • The way federal governments are formed is by way of disintegration and not by the way of agreement amongst the states coming together like in American Federation • The States have no right to secede from the federation. Giving this right would have further strengthened the “fissiparous tendencies” in newly born Nation which was reeling under the aftereffects of Partition. Thus, to avoid such secession tendencies a Strong Centre was created. |
