The Constitution of a State

The Constitution of a State

A constitution is a set of rules and principles on how a country is

governed. Competition for political power in most countries is fierce,

so rules are needed to control the competition for power to ensure it

takes place within satisfactory limits.

Professor KC Wheare defines the constitution of a state as:

…the whole system of a government of a country, the collection of

rules, which establish and regulate or govern the government.

(Barnett, P7)

An older definition, that of Thomas Paine, reveals a more complex set

of ideas:

A constitution is not the act of a government, but of a people

constituting a government, and a government without a constitution is

a power without right…A constitution is a thing antecedent to a

government; and a government is the only creature of a constitution.

(Barnett, P7)

To look at the Constitution of the United Kingdom requires an

awareness of a variety of historical, legal, and political factors,

which, have gradually evolved over centuries. It would be difficult

to understand or appreciate the British Constitution, as it exists

today, without attempting to gain knowledge of its history, evolution

and development.

Although constitutions are thought of as a relatively recent

development, and the British Constitution is largely uncodified, it is

made up of major statutory sources. These sources are separated into

two categories. One category of legal sources, the other Non-legal.

The evolution of the British Constitution and its Legal sources can be

traced back to the Bill of Rights of 1689 and the Act of Settlement of

1701; it can even go ...

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Party, particularly outspoken was its current leader Mr Micheal

Howard. Concerned that we would become part of a ‘United States of

Europe’ and the effect it could have on British businesses. It will

however allow those states that wish for closer relations to do so,

for instance the states that have joined the single European currency,

The Euro.

The EU Constitution will only become law if it is ratified in all

25-member states. This must be within two years of it being signed.

If this progressed it could be possible to have a common foreign

policy. Particularly useful as we live under constant threat from

terrorism, would be a common defence policy. With many in

disagreement over the war in Iraq for example, and the best defence

and protection from terror, one common defence policy is unlikely.