Constitution of Uk Essay Example for Free

Constitution of Uk EssayAs Pryor mentioned, a Constitution is a written document setting out a system of insane asylum principles according to which a nation is constituted and governed, and, most particularly, by which is sovereign power is located (Pryor, 2008, pp. 4). Therefore, make-ups limit the governments powers, protect peoples rights, and infer the genuineness of the state. The constitution of Great Britain hasnt been brought together into a single document like other commonwealth countries such(prenominal) as France it is non written or codified. Britains constitution is made up of common righteousnesss, Parliament acts, and customs and traditions. But Britain does ca-ca some important constitutional documents from the Act of Parliament such as the Magna Carta (1215) which aimed to protect citizens against arbitrary power and guaranteed the right to a fair trial and trial by jury (Barnett Diamantides, 2007, p.33), and Bill of Rights (1689) the Lords and Common s, previous to the coronation of queen William and Queen Mary had framed a bill which contained a declaration of the rights which they claimed in behalf of the people, and was in consequence called the Bill of Rights (Jean Louis de Lolme, 1853, pp. 50).Britain has no written constitution because the coarse has been stable for too long. The governing elites of many European nations, such as France and Germany, contrive been forced to draw up constitutions in response to popular uprising or war (Morris, 2008). In addition, since the current situation has been working well for a long time, why to change it? Besides, the constitution can be changed or adjusted by acts of Parliament, or by an agreement. Since it is flexible, effective amendments in laws can be easily made.A.V. dodgy explained that a flexible constitution is one chthonian which e truly law of every description can legally be changed with the selfsame(prenominal) ease and in the same manner by one and the same carca ss (Dicey, 1885, pp.65). It is also very valid for Great Britain not to have a written constitution so not to limit the power of the executive director branch the main executive branch being the parliament. Without the laws of the country written in a formal document where people can check them, it is very difficult to know the limits of the government. Hence, an unwritten constitution preserves the parliaments sovereignty. Moreover, without a written constitution, the parliament is able to inspect the ministers in favor of the public.Albert Venn Dicey, who was a law professor in London School of Economics and a constitutional scientist, said that it is actually advantageous for Britain not to have a written constitution. He mentions that the peoples rights and democracy have been long respected in the constitutional arrangements of Great Britain. He called it (the respect of people) as the The Rule of virtue which is the security given under the English constitution to the right s of individuals looked at from various points of view (Dicey, 1885, pp. 107). Dicey summarized this rule in three main points. According to Dicey in his book The Law of the Constitution, no man will be punished except if the law allows it. Secondly, every man, regardless of his status, is subject to the law (no person is above the law). Thirdly, peoples liberty and rights are respected, and consequently, there is no need for the Bill of Rights (Dicey, 1885, pp. 110-115).A country might have a constitution, hardly may not enjoy constitutionalism. According to Kuper and Kuper Constitutionalism is a political condition in which the constitution functions as an effective and significant limit on government (The Social Science Encyclopedia, 1996, pp. 134). For constitutionalism to occur the constitution must constrain the government hence, any government that is constitutional can be referred to as trammel government (The Social Science Encyclopedia, 1996, pp. 134). In many regions, s uch as the European Union, constitutionalism is maintained by the Court of Justice, or judicial reviews.According to Kuper and Kuper, these practices arent required in the British system because the most important constitutional precepts are maintained and enforced more informally through well-established popular attitudes and the bulwark of politicians (The Social Science Encyclopedia, 1996, pp. 134). Furthermore, there are countries with a written constitution such as Middle-eastern countries, but dont practice constitutionalism. It is the executive body that rules and sets the laws, and in addition, there is no limit to its power.Furthermore, an opposition party or a judiciary, those who make sure that constitutionalism is practiced, and maintain constitutional limits are actually not independent of government, because they are controlled by kindly or economic interests aligned with the government (The Social Science Encyclopedia, 1996, pp. 134). Hence, counterbalance if there is a written constitution that can limit the governments power, those who enforce constitutional laws may be in line with the government. A constitution might be naught but a symbol or tool in order for governments to acquire both internal and external legitimacy, and for the public to respect the political and social rules. In the case of Britain, the people chose the anniversary of Magna Carta as the new national day, which shows that the people believe that the power of their ruler is bound. Magna Carta didnt work in practice but it set a precedent. It advanced the cause of liberty, constitutionalism and parliamentarianism.. (The Telegraph, 2006).Reading in the news, the idea of forming a written constitution in Great Britain is being addressed by the current Prime Minister Gordon Brown in order to increase the democracy in Britain. But what must and must not be include in the constitutions? So, since this system has been working in Britain for centuries, and there is a body (t he Parliament) that has some power over the prime minister, the system must not be tampered with. The well functionality of the system, the stability of the country, and the great flexibility in making and terminating laws are some of the reasons why Great Britain has an unwritten constitution. To sum everything up, Great Britain does not have a written constitution, but they do have other forms of constitutional documents. This system has been working well for a very long period of time, and even without a constitution, constitutionalism (which is limiting the governments power) is still being practiced to some extent.BibliographyAdam Kuper, Jessica Kuper (ed.) The Social Science Encyclopedia (London Routledge, 1996). A.V. Dicey Introduction to the ingest of The Law of the Constitution (London Macmillan, 1885). John Louis De Lolme The Constitution of England (London Henry G. Bohn, 1853). Judith Pryor Constitution (London Routledge, 2008).Hilaire Barnett Marinos Diamantides Sourc es of the Constitution, Public Law. Published on 2007 by University of London, accessed from http//www.londonexternal.ac.uk/current_students/programme_resources/laws/subject_guides/public_law/public_chs1to4.pdfNigel Morris The Big Question Why doesnt the UK have a written constitution, and does it matter? published on 14/02/2008, accessed from http//www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/the-big-question-why-doesnt-the-uk-have-a-written-constitution-and-does-it-matter-781975.html No author Magna Carta is favoured date for British Day, published on 30/05/2006, accessed from http//www.telegraph.co.uk/global/main.jhtml?xml=/global/2006/05/30/nmagna30.xml