Context: South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) faced a search for allies to help it form a new government on Saturday after it lost its three-decade-old absolute majority in a watershed election.
Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries.
So let us briefly go through the comparison:
| Aspect | Indian Constitution | South African Constitution |
| Government | - Structure: Bicameral Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) | - Structure: Bicameral Parliament (National Assembly and National Council of Provinces) |
| - Executive: President (ceremonial) and Prime Minister (executive) | - Executive: President (both head of state and government) | |
| - Legislative Process: Complex, with significant involvement of both houses and various committees | - Legislative Process: Involves both houses, with emphasis on representation and cooperation across provinces | |
| Federation | - Division of Powers: Enumerated in the Union, State, and Concurrent lists (Seventh Schedule) | - Division of Powers: Powers shared across national, provincial, and local governments |
| - State Autonomy: States have significant legislative and executive autonomy | - Provincial Autonomy: Provinces have limited autonomy, with strong central oversight | |
| Rights | - Fundamental Rights: Include equality, freedom, right against exploitation, cultural and educational rights, etc. | - Bill of Rights: Comprehensive, covering civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights |
| - Directive Principles: Non-justiciable guidelines for state policy aimed at social and economic democracy | - Justiciability: Socio-economic rights are enforceable by the judiciary | |
| Judiciary | - Supreme Court: Apex court with wide appellate jurisdiction and authority over constitutional matters | - Constitutional Court: Apex court for constitutional issues, with a strong role in protecting the Bill of Rights |
| - Appointment of Judges: Collegium system involving senior judiciary members | - Appointment of Judges: Judicial Service Commission, ensuring a transparent and inclusive process | |
| - Judicial Review: Robust power to review laws and executive actions for constitutionality | - Judicial Review: Equally robust, with the Constitutional Court having the final say on constitutional matters |