Procedural achievements of the Constitution
Topic: Preamble and the Philosophy of the Constitution · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 10 "The Philosophy of the Constitution"
Meaning
The procedural achievements of the Constitution are about how it was made, not what it says. Class 11 NCERT names two:
- Faith in political deliberation. Many groups were under-represented, yet the makers tried to include everyone. They were ready to change their own views. They justified decisions by reasons, not self-interest, and they valued disagreement.
- Compromise and accommodation. A compromise is bad when a value is traded for mere self-interest. It is fair when one value is partly given up for another, in free discussion among equals. NCERT sees deciding the biggest issues by consensus, and not by majority vote, as morally good.
Example
Seats for SCs and STs in legislatures were reserved, but only for a fixed time under Art. 334. This balanced social justice against the goal of a common national life. Fundamental rights with reasonable restrictions are another example of such a balance.
Don't confuse with
- Substantive achievements of the Constitution: these are its contents, such as liberal individualism, social justice, group rights, universal franchise and asymmetric federalism. Procedural achievements are about the process.