Federal features of Indian constitution

1. Division/distribution of powers

1.1. Demarcates power

1.2. Not subordinate Coordinate bodies

1.3. Union list,State list,Concurrent list

1.4. Both centre and state make laws in concurrent list

2. Dual polity/govt.

2.1. Union and state govt. Sovereign power in respective fields

2.2. Union govt.- National importance e.g. Defence, Communication,Currency, Foreign affairs State govt.- Local importance like Law and order,Agriculture, Health

3. Written constitution

3.1. Federal constitution necessarily a written one

3.2. Specifies structure, function, organization,powers of both govts. and their limit

4. Supremacy of constitution

4.1. FIVE major areas , centre and state act in coordination to amend constitution

4.2. 1. - article 54,55- Presidential election - article 73 - extent of executive power of union - article 162 - extent of executive power of state 2. - chapter 4 of part 5 ch.4-Judiciary +part 5=SC - chapter 5 of part 6 ch.5 -Judiciary +part 6=HC - chapter 1 of part 11 ch.1- legislative , part 11 center state relationship = Talks about centre and state legislative relation 3. - Schedule 7 - distribution of legislative subjects b/w centre and state Union list , State list, Concurrent list 4 .- Representation of states in parliament 5. - Article 368- powers and procedures to amend constitution Spl. Majority in parliament and atleast half the states THE ABOVE POINTS SHOW THAT OUR CONSTITUTION IS HIGHKY RIGID

5. Rigidity of constitution

5.1. To maintain Division of powers and supremacy of constitution rigidty

5.2. Special areas....Joint action of center and state (special majority in parliament and half state)

6. Indipendent judiciary

6.1. 1. To protect supremacy of constitution by JR

6.2. 2. Settle disputes b/w centre and state Or b/w states

6.3. SC is the Final interpreter of constitution

6.4. To make judiciary independent - security of tenure to judges - fixed service conditions

7. Bicameralism

7.1. LOK SABHA- represents people RAJYA SABHA-represents states

7.2. RAJYA sabha less powerful, but maintains equilibrium by protecting state's interest against undue interference of centre