Sources and Salient Features of the Indian Constitution

The Government of India Act, 1935 — roughly 250 of the original 395 articles, including the federal structure, office of Governor, emergency provisions and public service commissions.

Parliamentary government, rule of law, single citizenship, cabinet responsible to the legislature, the Speaker's office, writs and bicameralism.

Fundamental Rights, judicial review, independence of the judiciary, impeachment of the President, removal of judges, Vice-President as Rajya Sabha chair and the preamble style.

Directive Principles of State Policy, nomination of members to the Rajya Sabha, and the method of electing the President.

Canada's model gives residuary powers and a strong Centre to the Union — the framers, facing princely states and Partition, wanted a union that could not be dismembered.

They feared judges striking down social reform legislation as the US Supreme Court had done in the Lochner era; the phrase came from Japan. Due process was later read in via Maneka Gandhi (1978).

He said nothing can be truly new in a constitution framed so late in history; the only new things are the variations made to remove faults and suit the country's needs — i.e. selective adaptation, not plagiarism.

Originally 395 Articles, 22 Parts, 8 Schedules; today about 470 Articles, 25 Parts and 12 Schedules — the lengthiest written constitution in the world.

It covers both Union and states in one document, inherits the detail-heavy 1935 Act, adds special provisions for diverse groups (SCs, STs, North-East, J&K historically), and lawyers dominated the Assembly.

Article 368 offers three amendment routes: simple majority for some provisions, special majority (two-thirds present and voting) for most, and special majority plus ratification by half the states for federal provisions.