After a closer examination of the Articles of Confederation, delegates disregarded the Articles, following the failure of their original form of government. Unwritten constitution is the result of long process and natural growth of political constitutions of the country. For example, it is an unwritten rule in Britain that the leader of the party with majority seats in parliament be appointed Prime Minister. Written constitutions are often the product of some dramatic political change such as a revolution as was the case of America and the gaining of independence by the Commonwealth Caribbean countries from Britain. B) Identify two advantages and two disadvantages of an unwritten constitution. The British constitution exists in every single piece of legislation ever passed in Parliament. We can see here that government is capable to enact laws, using the power of the Crown with the Parliament of course, which no other body can challenge, and the judiciary based in these statutes and laws can make also the precedents or else common. Currently, it is practiced in most of the homogeneous states in the world to foster unity and economic development. It should be noted, however, that this can also be a disadvantage of an unwritten constitution too. The United States is known for having the best form of government for people to be included and have a say in their beliefs. Minimizing conflict situations in both the government and society as a whole is one of the major advantages of the unwritten constitution. Compare and contrast written and unwritten constitutions. Which type of The Pros and Cons of an Unwritten Constitution in the UK | Bartleby We also have the responsibly to follow all the laws the government makes. How would you contrast Amazon's business design with that of Barnes ; Noble before Barnes ; Noble went online? A constitution establishes literal legitimacy, its the real deal. Non political judges are able to police the constitution to ensure that its provisions are upheld by other public bodies. Every government provides services for their citizens. Edeh Samuel Chukwuemeka ACMC, is a Law Student and a Certified Mediator/Conciliator in Nigeria. The Constitution is not an elitist document because of the equal benefits provided to man, the need of social classes, and the check of power. A Written Constitution: A Case Not Made - OUP Academic A constitution is a set of rules, which are generally written, it identifies the relationship between the different parts of the government, and also the relationship between the government and the citizens. As already stated, where the constitution is not written, the law is usually what the judiciary says it is. Please confirm - Politics - English - The Free Dictionary Language Forums Here come the advantages of the unwritten constitution. Simply put, an unwritten constitution is a type of constitution that is not contained or documented in a single document. Historically the United Kingdom has not had a definition of individual rights and freedoms. Neither is it definite. A significant disadvantage, however, is that controversies may arise due to different understandings of the usages and customs which form the fundamental provisions of the constitution. Unlike a unwritten constitution, a written constitution contained in a single document. Many people say that it does not matter whether a constitution is written or unwritten. So the responsibilities that goes with being British may never fully be understood by the average citizen because those rights are scattered across a host of different places. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Identify and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of written and unwritten types of constitutions. Major principle and key constitutional provisions are entrenched, safeguarding them from intervention by the Government of the day. Fortunately, this is possible because no difficult amendment procedures are needed to update unwritten practices that are no longer serving the interest of society. Not suitable for a federal system of government, Pillars of democracy: see the Major pillars of a democratic government, How to become a successful lawyer in the legal profession, Are lawyers liars? Another disadvantage of unwritten constitutions which has been commonly cited, is the lack of clarity leading to greater difficulty in enforcing the law. Samuel is bent on changing the legal profession by building Web and Mobile Apps that will make legal research a lot easier. On July 4, 1776 they signed a declaration this was the Declaration of Independence declaring these colonies a new independent nation. Last year the St. Vincent Government attempted constitutional reform, but needed a majority of seventy five percent of the voters in a referendum. Others politicians are also asked to publicly account because in those cases the media intervene to voice the grievances of the people. A constitution is literally a rule book. Need urgent help with your paper? A perfect example of democracy that truly respects the rights, freedom and aspirations of the people is in the United States where there is a written constitution. Business Administration It is a common sight to see judges at exclusive casinos in Trinidad and Tobago. There is irony in the fact that the United Kingdom today does not have a written constitution, yet historically it has had a rich heritage of pioneering constitutional charters and documentation. Your email address will not be published. As Americans, we also have responsibilities, stated in the Constitution. By way of conclusion, i must point the fact that an unwritten constitution is always the best type of constitution in time of emergency because it can be easily amended. States that have codified constitutions normally give the constitution supremacy over ordinary statute law. There is therefore a real danger of the emergence of dictatorship and abuse of human rights. The reverse is also true. A Bill of Rights place limitations on the Government and creates an area of freedom for the people. So, what is an unwritten constitution? The last disadvantage is the question of British sovereignty. The constitution is "the set of laws, rules and practices that create the basic institutions of the state". One of their hobbies is gambling, and it is well known that most gamblers are always in debt because the mathematical probability of all gambling games is designed for the players to lose most of the time. The very high costs involved in drafting and promulgating into law a written constitution do not come into play here. Save time and let our verified experts help you. Consensus building is necessary prior to the amendment of a written constitution. An unwritten constitution is flexible, it does not pose problems of amendment and it can easily be adapted to meet the changing social, economic and political development of the country. You can use it as an example when writing This may strengthen the populations feeling of belonging to the country as it creates a clearer sense of political identity. The requirement for lengthy and complicated procedures to precede the amendment of a written constitution does not arise here. Sometimes it is hard to do all the work on your own. Altogether these constitute the British constitutional Law. In a federal system, a person can compare political, social, and economic systems in different states and relocate to one they find more suitable. A crucial function of a constitution and a classic feature of democracy is the division of power among the three pillars of Government, i. e. the legislative, the executive and the judiciary. An unwritten constitution is usually unclear, uncertain or unintelligible. support@phdessay.com. In this essay, the author "African American defendants were sentenced to death at a significantly higher rate than similarly situated members of the racial groups." Easy and quick decision making in time of urgency, 3. The system allows economic, social, and political . Often times referred to as the framework of our nations government, the U.S. Constitution is open for interpretation and only serves as a guideline thus meaning that there is no correct or incorrect standpoint on the issue of relevancy. The reason is because the flexible nature of the constitution will allow an unnecessary alterations on the constitution. A lot of change was brought about for the everyday lives of all kinds of the people. An "unwritten" constitution is a problem or a miracle. For example, many Arab countries have written constitutions that sound wonderful (human rights, elections, etc.) It states many different things in it. Countries like the United Kingdom, Israel and New Zealand possess the unwritten constitution while countries like India, United States and states of the Commonwealth Caribbean possess the written constitution. But the meeting eventually ended up in creating the United States Constitution. First and foremost is Magna Carta (1215), the 'Great Charter of the Liberties of England'. One disadvantage of the written constitution is that it is more rigid and may therefore be less responsive and adaptable than an unwritten one. One of the key areas governments focus their attention on is public health care. Your email address will not be published. Advantages And Disadvantages Of An Unwritten Constitution This means that compared to the unwritten one, the written constitution is easier to amend. A historic constitution which in the years has a lot of changes and interventions from outsides powers, separations of three main bodies in the way that it works. 1. The constitution is "the set of laws, rules and practices that create the basic institutions of the state". Disadvantage of unwritten constitution? - Answers Also, easier amendment procedures associated with the unwritten constitution mean a lesser waste of money, time and other resources. Essay, If there is any part of this educating topic you do not understand or have doubts about, kindly let me know using the comment section. Based on this, I think it is clear that unwritten constitution has its own advantages (merits) and disadvantages (demerits). Such a change in the United Kingdom could easily be done in a matter of hours. Again, the relative ease of compromise and consensus building associated with the unwritten constitution allows it to avoid the frequent tensions in governments that operate under a written constitution. With 27 amendments now (the most recent added in 1992) we have a lot of rights as Americans. For them, an unwritten constitution allows for dictatorship and easy altering of the provisions of the constitution. The constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996 which is called the birth certificate of a new South Africa states the hopes and aspirations of the nation torn apart by apartheid. The above are the key advantages of the unwritten constitution over the written one. Type your requirements and I'll connect In the past in Trinidad and Tobago judges took bribes in the form of money, land, houses, and luxurious estates in order to drop charges, throw out a case or find some legal technicality or loophole to dismiss a case. Now that you have known some of the key advantages of an unwritten constitution, it will be wise to also discuss some of the disadvantages of an unwritten constitution. Some may claim that the Constitution is no longer relevant because it was written in 1787 therefore, it is outdated and cannot fit the many needs of modern day society and it is restricted to the minds of The Founding Fathers who constructed it rather than the people of the United States. The Parliament could easily fox a written constitution to serve itself and executive members without the public ever being aware of this. Here, the rules and regulations guiding the state is usually found in case law by the judiciary. Starting with the Rights of Citizenship in the Constitution because we got to know how the Constitution affects us and why we care about it. Leaves the state free to abuse it's . Advantages and disadvantages or written/unwritten - Quizlet Throughout the country there were public meetings and consultation with the people. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. On the other hand, the major disadvantages of an unwritten constitution are the possibility of frequent changes, inadequate protection of minorities, ease of manipulation and abuse, its indefinite nature and lack of clarity regarding the separation of the powers of government. (U.S Const., art. Long-held traditions are a part and parcel of the peoples culture. An advantage of the UK constitution is that it takes into account of changing views. In this case, the provisions of the constitution will become uncertain, and very difficult for anyone to decode what the purpose of a particular provision is. The challenge is to ensure that the executives do not wield its authority without being contained by the other branches. Advantages of the Unwritten Constitution (and Disadvantages) Can appear vague and uncertain - no single agreed source. This may not be based on any legal principle or statute. The Pros and Cons of an 'Unwritten' Constitution Thus it tends to bind them together. Also, a written constitution would prevent a government from interfering with any higher laws because there would be a higher law safeguarding the constitution. An unwritten constitution is not always clear because the constitution is not contained in one single document. Thus, an unwritten constitution is more likely to speed up the work of government, Advantages and Disadvantages of a Written Constitution, Why Conventions in a Constitution Are Important, Political Party Quiz for Government Students, 12 Reasons Why the Convention Peoples Party Dominated Ghanaian Politics from 1951 to 1966, WAEC 2021 Government Questions and Answers. The main disadvantage of an uncodified constitution is that it is harder to understand. This is one of the major feature of an unwritten constitution and it may not be suitable for a federal system of government. Established in 1787 The Constitution was a controversial document because it was a document that could both solve the nations hardships and warped the Republican foundation. A constitution is a body of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or organization is governed, especially when embodying the rights of subjects. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. On the other hand, one can argue, Disadvantages Of A Unwritten Constitution, An unwritten constitution is a problem or a miracle. What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Slow Food and Fast Food? Carbon-intensive sources of energy (i.e. They are what make it more suitable for homogeneous societies with political traditions dating far back into their history. By virtue a politician is accountable to the people and in a democratic country like Trinidad and Tobago if one is not satisfied by a Member of Parliament he can take action, as was the case when a Muslimeen member was disgruntled because his daughter could not attend a Catholic School with her traditional Muslim garb. 2. Lord Actions assumption was, power corrupts: absolute power corrupts absolutely. In the late 1770s the Thirteen Colonies of Britain wanted to separate and form their own nation. Answer (1 of 4): In a nation with an unwritten constitution, the constitution consists of tradition plus statute law. The 1689 Bill of Rights sets out the powers of the Parliament, but relies on the notion of residual freedom and the concept of parliamentary sovereignty. There are no limitations on the legislative body. Minor violations would go unnoticed because the average citizen is not aware of the various types of British laws. Explore how the human body functions as one unit in One of the disadvantages of the written constitution is that it is considered rigid. The new counter-terrorism measures appeared to erode civil liberties in the wake of the September 11th 2001 attack in New York, and the July 7th 2005 bombings of the subway in London. Rigidity: A written constitution is rigid and inelastic. The Government was not able to get this majority, so they are stuck within the confines of their old constitution. Written - cannot be changed easily to fit with contemporary values and ideas 2. This strong gun control laws enhances a lower crime rate but that is not always the case.. We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. 10 minutes with: Advantages and Disadvantages of an Unwritten Constituion, Explore how the human body functions as one unit in harmony in order to life //= $post_title Most British people would struggle to put their hands on what their rights are or in which text they can locate these literature. This can further increase the likelihood of disagreements and conflicts. The Constitution on one hand would give the people a voice and the other would control the nation through a monarchy system. Do you think unwritten constitutions are better than written ones? It can be used for implementing programmes that will improve the living standards of the citizenry. 48 Vitosha Boulevard, ground floor, 1000, Sofia, Bulgaria Bulgarian reg. Advantages and Disadvantages of a Written Constitution Its flexible nature allows for compromise between organs or government in appropriate situations for the interest of the country.
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