A Trip Around the WorldA Trip Around the WorldPart OnePart One

Do citizens in all countries have the same rights and responsibilities?

In most countries, aIn most countries, a

CONSTITUTIOCONSTITUTIONNis the basic document of is the basic document of

citizenship.citizenship.

What is a constitution?

Tells what a country’s values areTells what a country’s values are

Tells how a country’s government operatesTells how a country’s government operates

Tells what rights and responsibilities a Tells what rights and responsibilities a country’s citizens havecountry’s citizens have

A A constitutionconstitution. . . . . .

Let’s see how constitutions from some other countries compare to ours…

Region:Region:

Capital City:Capital City:

Language:Language:

Population:Population:

Area:Area:

AsiaAsia

New DelhiNew Delhi

Hindi & EnglishHindi & English

1.17 billion1.17 billion

3.29 million sq miles3.29 million sq miles

Introducing. . . Introducing. . .

Indian Students

Street View

An old palace known as the Taj Mahal

Performers in traditional Indian dress

India has one of the longest

constitutions in the modern

world.

This is only the Preamble! There are 444 articles in the Constitution of India!

It lays out specific rights, much like the

U.S. Constitution.

COMPARE COMPARE IT!IT!Freedom of SpeechFreedom of Speech

The United States Constitution The United States Constitution says:says:

India’s Constitution says:India’s Constitution says:

““Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech…”speech…”

““All citizens shall have the right to freedom of speech All citizens shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression;and expression;

Nothing…shall…prevent the State from making any law Nothing…shall…prevent the State from making any law [that] imposes reasonable restrictions on [this right] in [that] imposes reasonable restrictions on [this right] in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, [or] public order, decency, or morality…” States, [or] public order, decency, or morality…”

COMPARE IT!COMPARE IT!Freedom of the PressFreedom of the Press

The United States Constitution The United States Constitution says:says:

India’s Constitution saysIndia’s Constitution says::

““Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom.. of Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom.. of the press…”the press…”

““All citizens shall have the right to freedom of speech All citizens shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression…”and expression…”

There is no separate “freedom of the There is no separate “freedom of the press” in India’s constitution.press” in India’s constitution.

““Freedom of speech” works double Freedom of speech” works double duty!duty!

COMPARE IT!COMPARE IT!Freedom of ReligionFreedom of Religion

The United States Constitution The United States Constitution sayssays::

India’s Constitution saysIndia’s Constitution says::

““Subject to public order, morality and health…all persons Subject to public order, morality and health…all persons are equally entitled to… the right freely to profess, are equally entitled to… the right freely to profess, practice, and propagate religion.”practice, and propagate religion.”

““Congress shall make no law respecting an Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”thereof…”

COMPARE IT!COMPARE IT!Equality Under the LawEquality Under the Law

The United States Constitution The United States Constitution says:says:

India’s Constitution says:India’s Constitution says:

““No State shall…deny to any person within its jurisdiction No State shall…deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”the equal protection of the laws.”

““The State shall not deny to any person equality before The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India.” territory of India.”

BUT WAIT!BUT WAIT!

The United States Constitution The United States Constitution says:says:

India’s Constitution says:India’s Constitution says:

““It shall be the duty of every citizen of India…to strive It shall be the duty of every citizen of India…to strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievement…”higher levels of endeavour and achievement…”

Should the United States amend its constitution to say what Should the United States amend its constitution to say what India’s constitution says? India’s constitution says?

xx

Region:Region:

Capital City:Capital City:

Language:Language:

Population:Population:

Area:Area:

EuropeEurope

BerlinBerlin

GermanGerman

81.7 million81.7 million

137,846 square miles137,846 square miles

Introducing. . . Introducing. . .

Germans showing their patriotismA small town in Germany

The large city of FrankfurtThe German National Team

(Soccer – they call it football!)

Germany is made up of many

states, similar to the United

States.

Also like the United States, Germany has a

constitution.

COMPARE COMPARE IT!IT!Freedom of SpeechFreedom of Speech

The United States Constitution The United States Constitution says:says:

Germany’s Constitution says:Germany’s Constitution says:

““Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech…”speech…”

““Every person shall have the right freely to express and Every person shall have the right freely to express and disseminate his opinions in speech, writing, and pictures disseminate his opinions in speech, writing, and pictures and to inform himself without hindrance from generally and to inform himself without hindrance from generally accessible sources.” accessible sources.”

““[This right] shall find [its] limits in the provisions of [This right] shall find [its] limits in the provisions of general laws, in provisions for the protection of young general laws, in provisions for the protection of young persons, and in the right to personal honor.”persons, and in the right to personal honor.”

COMPARE COMPARE IT!IT!Freedom of the PressFreedom of the Press

The United States Constitution The United States Constitution says:says:““Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom.. of Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom.. of the press…”the press…”

““Freedom of the press and freedom of reporting by means of Freedom of the press and freedom of reporting by means of broadcasts and films shall be guaranteed. There shall be no broadcasts and films shall be guaranteed. There shall be no censorship.censorship.

Germany’s Constitution says:Germany’s Constitution says:

[This right] shall find [its] limits in the provisions of general [This right] shall find [its] limits in the provisions of general laws, in provisions for the protection of young persons, and in laws, in provisions for the protection of young persons, and in the right to personal honor.the right to personal honor.

Whoever abuses the freedom of expression, in particular the Whoever abuses the freedom of expression, in particular the freedom of the press …in order to combat the free democratic freedom of the press …in order to combat the free democratic basic order shall forfeit [this] basic right.” basic order shall forfeit [this] basic right.”

COMPARE COMPARE IT!IT!Freedom of ReligionFreedom of Religion

The United States Constitution The United States Constitution says:says:

““Freedom of faith and of conscience, and freedom to Freedom of faith and of conscience, and freedom to profess a religious or philosophical creed, shall be profess a religious or philosophical creed, shall be inviolable. The undisturbed practice of religion shall inviolable. The undisturbed practice of religion shall be guaranteed.”be guaranteed.”

Germany’s Constitution says:Germany’s Constitution says:

““Congress shall make no law respecting an Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”thereof…”

COMPARE COMPARE IT!IT!Equality Under the LawEquality Under the Law

The United States Constitution The United States Constitution says:says:““No State shall…deny to any person within its jurisdiction No State shall…deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”the equal protection of the laws.”

““All persons shall be equal before the law.” All persons shall be equal before the law.”

Germany’s Constitution says:Germany’s Constitution says:

BUT BUT WAIT!WAIT!

The United States Constitution The United States Constitution says:says:

““Men and women shall have equal rights. The state shall Men and women shall have equal rights. The state shall promote the actual implementation of equal rights for promote the actual implementation of equal rights for women and men and take steps to eliminate women and men and take steps to eliminate disadvantages that now exist.”disadvantages that now exist.”

Should the United States amend its Should the United States amend its constitution to say what Germany’s constitution to say what Germany’s constitution says? constitution says?

xx

Germany’s Constitution says:Germany’s Constitution says: