Constitutions

• protects peoples rights
• stops the abuse of power
• stops dictators
• makes the rules clear
• makes sure everyone in the political system knows what they should/n't do
• preserves traditions and core values in a country
• makes sure the democracy stays in place
• makes it transparent for all citizens what the rules are and can ensure that the government isn't overstepping its power
• rules will make sure that the system has balance and that the government can't pass laws that are unfair or unsafe
• Constitution: the fundamental or basic law which establishe the framework of government
• a set of rules determining where sovereignty lies in a political system and establishing the relationship between the government and governed
• The UK Constitution is uncodified and unentrenched - it isn't written in a single organised document and the rights aren't protected
• Codification:

  • has to be contained in a single document
  • has a single source and was therefore created at one moment in history even if it has since been ammended
  • the constitutional laws contained in it must be clearly distinguished from other, non-constitutional laws
• entrenchment:

  • the device that protects a constitution from short-term ammendments
  • a country must make sure that any proposed constitutional change meets two tests - 1. there is widespread popular support 2. it is in the long-term interests of the country
  • constitutional rules are safeguarded from future government or legislature under entrenchment
• codified constitution = entrenched