Constitutional Law-I is the paper that decides how well you can reason about power — who holds it, how it is limited, and how it is distributed. Here is the unit-wise list of the most important questions for the B.A.LL.B. 3rd Semester (New Course) paper Constitutional Law-I (LAW5202), arranged in the order of the official 2025 syllabus.
Who is this for? B.A.LL.B. 3rd Semester (new 2025 course) students preparing for the LAW5202 board examination — and LL.B. students of Constitutional Law (LAW304). Full marks 100 (40% internal + 60% board), pass marks 50%.
Unit-wise important questions
Unit 1: Introduction
- Define constitution and constitutional law. Distinguish between the two with examples. (15)
- Explain the nature and scope of constitutional law. (15)
- Explain the sources of constitutional law with reference to the Constitution of Nepal — constitution and its amendment, statutes, secondary legislation, judicial decisions, custom and convention, and the writings of constitutional experts. (15)
- “A constitution is the fundamental law of the land.” Discuss with reference to Nepal’s amendment procedure under Article 274. (10)
- Write short notes on: (a) constitutional convention; (b) judicial decisions as a source of constitutional law. (2×5)
Unit 2: Constitutionalism
- Define constitutionalism. Explain its essential elements. (15)
- Explain the varieties of constitutionalism: legal and political constitutionalism; liberal, socialist and developing constitutionalism. (15)
- “Constitutionalism is the doctrine that government must be limited by law.” Examine with reference to Nepal’s constitutional practice. (15)
- Distinguish constitutionalism from the mere existence of a constitution. (10)
Unit 3: Rule of Law
- Explain the concept and evolution of the rule of law. (15)
- Explain Dicey’s basic principles of the rule of law and critically evaluate them. (15)
- Evaluate the state of the rule of law in Nepal. (15)
- Write short notes on: (a) equality before the law; (b) the rule of law versus the rule by law. (2×5)
Unit 4: Separation of Power and Checks and Balances
- Explain the doctrine of separation of power and the principle of checks and balances. (15)
- Compare separation of power and checks and balances under presidential and parliamentary constitutions. (15)
- How are separation of power and checks and balances maintained in Nepal under the Constitution of Nepal, 2072? (15)
- “The Nepalese Constitution blends separation of power with inter-organ cooperation.” Discuss with examples. (10)
Unit 5: Classification of Constitution
- Explain the classification of constitutions: written and unwritten, rigid and flexible, federal and unitary, republican and monarchical, parliamentary and presidential. (15)
- Distinguish between a rigid and a flexible constitution with reference to their amendment procedures. (10)
- “Classifying constitutions is analytically useful but imperfect.” Examine with examples. (10)
Unit 6: Unitary and Federal System
- Explain the features of a unitary system and the distribution of power in it. (10)
- Explain the features and the meaning and types of federalism. (15)
- Explain the structure of the state and the division of state power under the Constitution of Nepal. (15)
- Explain the basic features of Nepalese federalism. (15)
- Discuss the interrelations between the federal, provincial and local levels in Nepal. (15)
- Critically examine the merits and demerits of federalism in the Nepalese context. (15)
How to answer Constitutional Law-I questions well
- Quote the article: constitutional law answers should pin every claim to an article of the Constitution of Nepal, 2072 (e.g., Art. 25 on property, Art. 51(k) on foreign policy, Art. 274 on amendment, Parts 5–7 on structure of state).
- Use comparative material deliberately: Dicey for rule of law, Montesquieu for separation of powers, K.C. Wheare for federalism — one authority, precisely deployed, earns more than a catalogue of names.
- For “Nepal” questions, structure by organ: legislature, executive, judiciary — then the constitutional bodies and the inter-governmental relations between the three levels.
- Conclude with a reasoned view: questions like “evaluate”, “critically examine” and “merits and demerits” require your own assessment, not just description.
Free resources
Start with the free Unit 1: Constitutional Law-I Unit 1 (free). Unit 1 of every subject is free to read on this site.