CIVICS NOTES (2020-21)

Class VIII
Chapter 25: The Indian Constitution and The Need for Laws

Q6. Explain the importance of constitution.

a) A constitution helps to outline the laws of the land. In other words, the legality of
laws is derived from the constitution.
b) This has a twin benefit because the government does not cross the boundaries
of law by enacting laws which would jeopardize the rights of the people.
c) Therefore most of the constitutions in the world are given supremacy over
ordinary statute law.
d) This means that if a law is enacted by the government which goes against the
principles of the constitution or opposes the spirit of the constitution, it is declared
null and void.

Q7. Why is dissent important?

a) ‘Dissent’ means to disagree or to oppose. Sometimes people protest against

laws which violate their freedom. 
b) Dissent is important because it is the people’s voice against unfair rules and laws
which may violate their rights.
c) The salt Satyagraha is a good example of this. It was a part of the civil
disobedience moment during India's struggle for freedom from colonial rule.

Q8. What is salt law? Why did Gandhi choose to break it?

a) The salt law gave the British a monopoly on the collection and manufacture of
salt.
b) The violation of the law was a criminal offence. The government imposed a tax
on salt which affected every member of the society.
c) Gandhiji chose to break or violate the salt law in a symbolic campaign. Salt is a
basic necessity of life and by breaking this law he wanted to show the repressive
nature of British laws.
d) On 12 March 1930 Gandhi, with 78 of his followers, marched from Sabarmati
ashram to Dandi, a small village on the coast of Gujarat.
e) On 6 April 1930, he picked up a handful of salt, saying, ‘With this I'm shaking the
foundations of the British Empire’.