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UPSC Prelims 2021 Paper-1 📅 10 Oct, 2021

Constitutional government means

A
a representative government of a nation with federal structure
B
a government whose Head enjoys nominal powers
C
a government whose Head enjoys real powers
D
a government limited by the terms of the Constitution
Result Summary
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APEDIA

UPSC Prelims
2021 • 10 Oct, 2021 • Paper-1
Constitutional government means
Correct Answer
a government limited by the terms of the Constitution
Philosophical Definition: The bedrock concept of 'constitutionalism' is deeply rooted in the necessity of establishing checks on absolute authority. It is funda......
💡 Analysis & Explanation
Philosophical Definition
The bedrock concept of 'constitutionalism' is deeply rooted in the necessity of establishing checks on absolute authority. It is fundamentally an anti-thesis to despotism or dictatorship.
Functional Mechanics
A constitutional government does not merely imply having a written document; it dictates that the powers of the state apparatus (executive, legislative, and judicial) are heavily circumscribed. The government cannot act arbitrarily but must operate rigidly within the predefined limits, rules, and boundaries mandated by the fundamental law of the land.
Irrelevant Variables
Whether the government is federal, unitary, possesses a nominal head, or a powerful executive is entirely secondary to the core premise of functional limitation.
Conclusion
The definitive hallmark of this system is that state power is strictly constrained by constitutional perimeters.