CSS Law (Constitutional) Constitutional History of Pakistan Syllabus

Constitutional History of Pakistan syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Constitutional History of Pakistan in CSS Law (Constitutional), not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Pre-Independence Constitutional Development

   3 topics

   • Constitutional Development in the Subcontinent
   • Government of India Act 1935
   • Indian Independence Act 1947
2. 2

   Foundational Documents

   3 topics

   • Objectives Resolution 1949
   • Work of the First Constituent Assembly
   • Dissolution of the Constituent Assembly
3. 3

   Constitution of 1956

   3 topics

   • Salient Features
   • Islamic Provisions and Federal Structure
   • Causes of Abrogation
4. 4

   Constitution of 1962

   3 topics

   • Salient Features
   • Presidential System and Basic Democracies
   • Fundamental Rights and Amendments
5. 5

   Constitution of 1973

   3 topics

   • Salient Features
   • Distribution of Powers Between Federation and Provinces
   • Federal Legislative Lists
6. 6

   Constitutional Disruptions and Instruments

   5 topics

   • Martial Laws and Military Interventions
   • Legal Framework Order 1970
   • Provisional Constitution Order 1981
   • Revival of the Constitution Order 1985
   • Legal Framework Order 2002
7. 7

   Constitutional Amendments

   4 topics

   • Eighth Amendment and Article 58(2)(b)
   • Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments
   • Seventeenth Amendment
   • Eighteenth Amendment

Constitutional History of Pakistan flashcards for CSS Law (Constitutional)

18 of 51 cards from the Constitutional History of Pakistan deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. Which two key documents authored by the British Parliament are considered the immediate constitutional foundations on which Pakistan's early governance was built?

   The Government of India Act 1935 (as the interim constitution) and the Indian Independence Act 1947.

2. What was the Morley-Minto Reforms (Indian Councils Act 1909) most significant contribution to constitutional development in the subcontinent?

   It introduced separate electorates for Muslims, granting them the right to elect their own representatives.

3. Which reform act of 1919 introduced 'dyarchy' in the provinces of British India?

   The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (Government of India Act 1919).

4. Define 'dyarchy' as introduced by the 1919 reforms.

   A dual system of government dividing provincial subjects into 'transferred' subjects (administered by ministers responsible to the legislature) and 'reserved' subjects (administered by the Governor).

5. What were the Nehru Report (1928) and the Fourteen Points (1929) in the context of constitutional development?

   The Nehru Report was the Congress proposal for a constitution that rejected separate electorates; Jinnah's Fourteen Points (1929) were the Muslim counter-demands safeguarding minority and provincial rights.

6. On what date did the Government of India Act 1935 receive royal assent?

   2 August 1935.

7. What form of government at the centre did the Government of India Act 1935 propose, and was it ever implemented?

   An All-India Federation comprising provinces and princely states; the federal (central) part was never implemented because insufficient princely states acceded, though the provincial part came into force in 1937.

8. Under the Government of India Act 1935, into how many provinces was British India divided?

   Eleven provinces.

9. How many lists divided legislative powers under the Government of India Act 1935, and what were they?

   Three lists: the Federal List, the Provincial List, and the Concurrent List.

10. What office was created at the provincial level by the Government of India Act 1935 in place of dyarchy?

    Provincial autonomy under a fully responsible ministry, with the Governor retaining special 'discretionary' and 'special responsibility' powers; dyarchy was instead introduced at the centre.

11. Which 1935 Act feature is most criticised as giving the Governor-General and Governors override authority over elected governments?

    The extensive 'discretionary powers' and 'special responsibilities' reserved to the Governor-General and Governors.

12. On what date did the Indian Independence Act 1947 receive royal assent and on what date did the partition take effect?

    It received royal assent on 18 July 1947, and partition took effect on 15 August 1947 (Pakistan celebrated 14 August 1947).

13. Under the Indian Independence Act 1947, what title and authority did each new dominion's legislature receive?

    Each dominion's Constituent Assembly was given full sovereign power to make laws and to frame its own constitution, also acting as the federal legislature until then.

14. Which body determined the boundaries between India and Pakistan under the 1947 settlement, and who chaired it?

    The Boundary Commission, chaired by Sir Cyril Radcliffe (the Radcliffe Award).

15. Until a new constitution was framed, which document served as Pakistan's interim constitution after 1947 and with what modifications?

    The Government of India Act 1935, adapted by the Indian Independence Act 1947 (with the office of Governor-General as head of state).

16. Who moved the Objectives Resolution and on what date was it passed?

    Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan moved it; it was passed by the First Constituent Assembly on 12 March 1949.

17. According to the Objectives Resolution 1949, in whom does sovereignty over the entire universe belong, and how is authority exercised by the state?

    Sovereignty belongs to Almighty Allah alone; the authority He delegated to the State of Pakistan is to be exercised by the people within the limits prescribed by Him, as a sacred trust.

18. Name three core principles guaranteed in the Objectives Resolution 1949.

    Democracy, freedom, equality, tolerance and social justice as enunciated by Islam; enabling Muslims to order their lives according to Islam; and safeguarding the legitimate rights of minorities (any three).

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