Sovereign

• can acquire foreign territory and if necessary, cede a part of the territory in favour of a foreign state subject to constitutional requirements - Maganbhai Ishwarbhai Patel vs. Union of India, 1970

Jawaharlal Nehru

" It is an agreement by free will to be terminated by free will"

Socialist

• Democratic socialism not Communist socialism
• a blend of Gandhism and Marxism, leaning towards Gandhian ideologies

Secular

• added by 42nd Constitutional Amendment act , 1976
• Articles expressing it
  • 14, 15, 16
  • 19
  • 21
  • 25 to 28
  • 44
  • 45
• positive concept of secularism
• No state religion - Bal Patil vs Union of India, 2005
• all religions have same status

Dr. Radhakrishnan, second president of India

in his "Recovery of Faith" says , " Not one religion should be given preferential treatment status… This view of religious impartiality…"

Democratic

• doctrine of popular sovereignty
• possession of supreme power by the people

Devices of Direct Democracy

Referendum

• it is a direct vote by the entire electorate on a specific proposal, law or policy.
• The outcome is typically binding on the government

Types

Compulsory referendum

• required for certain issues, like constitutional amendments

Optional referendums

• initiated by a specific number of citizens demanding a vote on a law passed by the legislature.

Countries using referendums

• Switzerland - rountine
• Italy - National referendums are used , especially for repealing legislation
• United Kingdom - for Brexit in 2016

Initiative

• It is a process by which certain number of citizens can propose new legislations or constitutional amendments.
• If the proposal meets the signature threshold, it is put to a popular vote
• Empowers the citizens to proactively set the legislative agenda rather than simple react to laws passes by officials

Countries that use this

• Switzerland - citizens can force a vote on constitutional amendments by collecting signatures - currently 100,000 within 18 months
• United States of America - some state have this provision to empower their citizens
• Italy
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• some parts of Germany

Recall

• It is procedure allowing voters to remove an elected official from office before the expiration of their term, usually via a direct vote
• initiated when the voters are dissatisfied with the conduct or performance of the official.

Countries that use this

• United States of America - the famous 2003 California gubernatorial recall
• Switzerland - for local officials.

Plebiscite

• It is a direct vote of all the electorate on a question of major national importance often concerning the sovereignty or constitutional issues
• The results may be advisory or binding.
• Used for measuring public support or legitimising policy decisions

Countries that use this

• Switzerland - the term “plebiscite” overlaps with referendum, especially in non-English sources.
• France
• Australia

Countries Practising Direct Democracy (2025)

• Switzerland stands as the most comprehensive practitioner of direct democracy, utilizing all four devices at national, cantonal, and communal levels.
• Uruguay, Italy, Taiwan, Slovenia, Malta, Lithuania, Slovakia, and some U.S. states have significant traditions or provisions for direct democratic mechanisms at various levels.

Also means

• Democracy also means social and economic democracy not only political democracy

BR Ambedhkar

"Political democracy cannot last unless there lies at the base of it social democracy"

Liberty, Equality and Fraternity - form a union of trinity without Equality, Liberty would produce supremacy of the few over the many without Liberty, Equality would kill individual initiative.

Republic

Democratic polity

1. Monarchy

• Head of state is hereditary like King or Queen
• Ex: Britain

2. Republic

• Head of state is elected - President
• Ex: India , USA
• Vesting of political sovereignty in people
• absence of any privileged class

Justice

Distributive justice ( from Russian revolution, 1917)

Social justice

• Equal treatment of all
• absence of any privileges

Economic justice

• elimination of glaring inequalities in wealth, income and property

Political justice

• equal political rights
• equal access to all political offices
• equal voice in government

Liberty

• of
  • thought
  • expression
  • belief
  • faith
  • worship
• absence of any restraints on the activities of individuals
• providing opportunities for the development of individual personalities
• not absolute, but qualified
• From french revolution (1789 - 1799)

Equality

• absence of any special privileges
• provision of adequate opportunities without any discrimination
• equality of status and opportunities
• From french revolution (1789 - 1799)

Civic equality

Article 14 -18

Political equality

Article 325, 326

Economic equality

Article 39

Fraternity

• dignity of the individual
• unity and integrity of the nation
• sense of brotherhood
• single citizenship
• - Article 51A - Fundamental Duties