UPSC Prelims 2020 GS Paper I · Q7 of 99 Polity & Governance easy

A constitutional government by definition is a

  1. (a) government by legislature
  2. (b) popular government
  3. (c) multi-party government
  4. (d) limited government ✓ UPSC's answer

Why the answer is (d)

• A constitutional government is one whose powers are defined and restrained by a constitution — by definition a limited government — option (d).

• Constitutionalism means rule of law, separation of powers, protected rights and judicial review that prevent arbitrary exercise of power.

• Government by legislature (a), popular government (b) and multi-party government (c) describe who governs or how they are chosen, not the limitation of power; an elected majority can still be unlimited without constitutional restraints.

• Hence option (d).

Why the other options are wrong

(a) government by legislature
Legislative government is a form, not the defining feature.
(b) popular government
Popular election does not by itself limit power.
(c) multi-party government
Multi-party systems are about competition, not constitutional limits.

Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2020, held on 4 October 2020. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.

Reading the answer is not the same as getting it right under a clock. Practise this question with UPSC's negative marking, and anything you miss goes into an error notebook until you get it right twice.

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