Can Article 368 be repealed?

Asked by: Maxwell McClure  |  Last update: April 19, 2026
Score: 4.3/5 (7 votes)

Yes, Article 368, which outlines the Parliament's power to amend the Indian Constitution, can itself be amended or even repealed, but only if the amendment doesn't destroy the Constitution's "basic structure," a concept established by the Supreme Court in the Kesavananda Bharati case, meaning Parliament cannot remove fundamental rights or core democratic principles. While Parliament has broad amending power, the judiciary can strike down amendments that violate this basic structure, including attempts to remove judicial review or make the Constitution absolutely unamendable, as judicial review is considered part of that structure.

Can an amendment to the US Constitution be overturned?

There are two ways to repeal an amendment. One way is for the proposed amendment to be passed by the House and the Senate with two-thirds majority votes. Then, the proposed amendment would have to be ratified by three-fourths of the states. The second way to repeal an amendment is to have a Constitutional Convention.

Can a law be removed from the Constitution?

Repeal can occur through legislative passage or public vote. Implicit repeal can happen when a new law contradicts an existing one. Constitutional amendments are necessary to repeal constitutional provisions.

Has any constitutional amendment been repealed?

Roosevelt included a plan for repealing the 18th Amendment, and his victory that November led to the end of Prohibition. In February 1933, Congress adopted a resolution proposing the Twenty-first Amendment, which repealed the 18th Amendment and modified the Volstead Act to permit the sale of beer.

Can Parliament under Article 368 of the Constitution can destroy the basic structure of the Constitution by expanding its amending power?

The Court reiterated that while Parliament has the authority to amend the Constitution, it cannot use this power to dilute or destroy its Basic Structure. In light of this, Parliament cannot expand its amending power under Article 368 to an extent that it would destroy the Basic Structure of the Constitution.

Article 368: Constitutional Amendment | Sarmad Mehraj | Polity | UPSC CSE 2027 Strategy

21 related questions found

Does Article 368 affect fundamental rights?

If the State in its most comprehensive sense cannot make a law to take away or abridge Fundamental Rights, Parliament which is only one of the functionaries or agencies of the State cannot pass such a law under Article 368.

Is socialism part of the basic structure?

The court dismissed the pleas and held that 'socialism' and 'secularism' are integral to the basic structure of the Constitution.

What are the 4 unratified amendments?

These unratified amendments address the size of the U.S. House (1789), foreign titles of nobility (1810), slavery (1861), child labor (1924), equal rights for women (1972), and representation for the District of Columbia (1978).

How many votes does it take to change a constitutional amendment?

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Can the President and vice president be from the same state?

The Electors shall meet in their respective states and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President, ...

Which amendment gives the right to overthrow the government?

“From the floor of the House of Representatives to Truth Social, my GOP colleagues routinely assert that the Second Amendment is about 'the ability to maintain an armed rebellion against the government if that becomes necessary,' that it was 'designed purposefully to empower the people to be able to resist the force of ...

Can the Supreme Court get rid of a law?

The Supreme Court can strike down any law or other action by the legislative or executive branch that violates the Constitution. This power of judicial review applies to federal, state, and local legislative and executive actions. The Constitution does not specifically provide for the power of judicial review.

Who has the power to nullify a law?

Nullification and the Supreme Court. Definition: The theory that the states are the final arbiters of the limits of national authority and that each may veto the enforcement of federal laws it determines to be unconstitutional, at least within its own boundaries.

Can the Supreme Court reinterpret the Constitution?

When the Supreme Court rules on a constitutional issue, that judgment is virtually final; its decisions can be altered only by the rarely used procedure of constitutional amendment or by a new ruling of the Court. However, when the Court interprets a statute, new legislative action can be taken.

What are 5 things the president can't do?

The U.S. President cannot make laws, declare war, decide how federal money is spent, interpret laws, or overturn Supreme Court decisions; these powers are checked by Congress and the Judiciary, highlighting the system of checks and balances in American government. 

Can presidents change the Constitution?

The Constitution does not give a president the power to violate the Constitution, create or change congressional statutes, or override U.S. Supreme Court decisions—no matter what the EOs say.

What is the world's most difficult Constitution to amend?

Far from being a badge of honor, the distinction of topping the global charts on constitutional rigidity is cause for alarm. Ancient and virtually impervious to amendment, the United States Constitution has withstood all modern efforts to renovate its outdated architecture on elections, federalism, rights, and beyond.

What is the Godel loophole?

In his 2012 paper "Gödel's Loophole", F. E. Guerra-Pujol speculates that the loophole is that Article V's procedures can be applied to Article V itself. It can therefore be altered in a "downward" direction, making it easier to alter the article again in the future.

Has Article V ever been used?

Overview. Article V of the U.S. Constitution provides two avenues for amending the Constitution. One of those avenues – an Article V Convention – has never before been used, in part because it could put the entire Constitution on the chopping block.

What is the most controversial constitutional amendment?

The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976 is one of the most significant and controversial amendments to the Constitution of India, often referred to as the “Mini Constitution” due to the extensive and wide-ranging changes it introduced.

What is the only amendment that has been repealed?

Constitutional Amendments – Amendment 21 – “Repeal of Prohibition” Amendment Twenty-one to the Constitution was ratified on December 5, 1933. It repealed the previous Eighteenth Amendment which had established a nationwide ban on the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol.

Who is trying to change the Constitution?

Congress must call a convention for proposing amendments upon application of the legislatures of two-thirds of the states (i.e., 34 of 50 states). Amendments proposed by Congress or convention become valid only when ratified by the legislatures of, or conventions in, three-fourths of the states (i.e., 38 of 50 states).

Is socialism a democracy?

Democratic socialism is a left-wing set of political philosophies that supports political democracy and some form of a socially owned economy, with a particular emphasis on economic democracy, workplace democracy, and workers' self-management within a market socialist, decentralised planned, or democratic centrally ...

Does secularism mean anti-religion?

Secularism may encapsulate anti-clericalism, atheism, naturalism, non-sectarianism, neutrality on topics of religion, or antireligion. Secularism is not necessarily antithetical to religion, but may be compatible with it.

What is the difference between secular and socialist?

In Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala and S R Bommai vs Union of India, SC observed that secularism is a basic feature of the Constitution. Socialism denotes the State's commitment to the Welfare State, and its commitment to ensuring equality of opportunity.