Indian and USA are two large democracies. Examine the basic tenets on which the two political systems are…

Question

Indian and USA are two large democracies. Examine the basic tenets on which the two political systems are based.

Ghissu Editorial · Accepted Answer

India and the USA share popular sovereignty, a supreme written Constitution, fundamental rights and judicial review, but India built a parliamentary, centripetal federation while the USA built a presidential system with separated powers. India's ministers answer to the Lok Sabha under Article 75(3), whereas the US President serves a fixed term.

**Introduction**

India and the USA, the largest and oldest constitutional democracies, both begin with "We the People", yet the American framers feared concentrated power while India's framers sought unity and social transformation.

**Tenets the Two Democracies Share**

1. **Popular sovereignty**: Both have elected heads of State and universal franchise, in India from 1950 under Article 326.
2. **Constitutional supremacy**: Judicial review, born in Marbury v. Madison (1803), is part of India's basic structure (Minerva Mills, 1980).
3. **Rights and federalism**: The Bill of Rights and Part III protect liberty, and both divide power between Centre and states.

**Tenets on Which the Systems Diverge**

SKETCH: comparison | India vs USA: Core Tenets
a: India
b: USA
- Parliamentary, fused powers :: Presidential, separated powers
- Holding-together federation :: Coming-together federation
- Single citizenship :: Dual citizenship
- Integrated judiciary :: Dual court system
- Procedure established by law :: Due process of law

1. **Executive accountability**: India's ministers answer collectively to the Lok Sabha under Article 75(3); the US President's fixed term buys stability at the risk of gridlock, as the 35-day shutdown of 2018-19 showed.
2. **Nature of the Union**: Article 3 lets Parliament reshape States and Article 248 gives it residuary powers, while Texas v. White (1869) made American states indestructible and the Tenth Amendment reserves residuary powers to them.
3. **Amendment limits**: India's flexible Article 368 is bounded by Kesavananda Bharati (1973); Article V's rigidity has allowed only 27 US amendments.

**Way Forward**

1. **Mutual learning**: India can borrow Congressional-style committee scrutiny of Bills and act on the Punchhi Commission's (2010) proposals on Governors and the Inter-State Council.

**Conclusion**

Both rest on popular sovereignty, constitutional supremacy and rights, but India chose a parliamentary, centripetal design and the USA separated powers with strong states. Each fits its society, and shared constitutionalism sustains both.

Indian and USA are two large democracies. Examine the basic tenets on which the two political systems are based.

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