Q. The founding fathers preferred the British type of parliamentary system over other forms of government due to which of the following reasons:
1. Preference to stronger executive to promote national spirit in the country
2. Familiarity with the British parliamentary System and constitutional traditions
3. Need to Avoid Legislative–Executive Conflicts
4. Homogenous society required Parliamentary system to build a united India
How many of the above statements are correct?
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Unlike the American Constitution, the Indian Constitution provides for the Parliamentary form of government. The parliamentary system of government is the one in which the executive is responsible to the legislature for its policies and acts.
Statement 2 and 3 are correct: A plea was made in favour of US presidential system of government in the Constituent Assembly. But the founding fathers preferred the British parliamentary system due to the following reasons:
Familiarity with the System: The Constitution-makers were somewhat familiar with the parliamentary system as it had been in operation in India during the British rule. K.M. Munshi argued that, ‘For the last thirty or forty years, some kind of responsibility has been introduced in the governance of this country. Our constitutional traditions have become Parliamentary. After this experience, why should we go back and buy a novel experience.
Need to Avoid Legislative–Executive Conflicts: The framers of the Constitution wanted to avoid the conflicts between the legislature and the executive which are bound to occur in the presidential system prevalent in USA. They thought that an infant democracy could not afford to take the risk of a perpetual cleavage, feud or conflict or threatened conflict between these two organs of the government. They wanted a form of government that would be conductive to the manifold development of the country.
Statement 1 and 4 are incorrect: India is one of the most heterogeneous States (not homogeneous state) and most complex plural societies in the world. Hence, the Constitution-makers adopted the parliamentary system as it offers greater scope for giving representation to various section, interests and regions in the government. This promotes a national spirit among the people and builds a united India. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar pointed out in the Constituent Assembly that ‘a democratic executive must satisfy two conditions: stability and responsibility. The British system gives more responsibility but less stability. The Draft Constitution in recommending the parliamentary system of Executive has preferred more responsibility to more stability
