Edexcel AS/A-level Politics Student Guide 2: UK Government
A 16-page document outlining the key features, advantages, disadvantages, sources of a constitution. The document also discusses the impact that the Rule of Law and Constitutional Reforms have had on the Constitution, whilst outlying the pros and cons throughout. An excellent and in-depth resource ...
A Level: Government and Politics (Pearson/Edexcel)
Component 2, Chapter 1: Constitution
What is a Constitution?
What is the purpose of a constitution?
• Constitutions are designed to set out the rules and regulations within which
governments operate
• They establish the composition, powers and functions of the institutions of the
state, regulate the relations between these institutions, and enshrine the legal
rights and duties of citizens
• 'Constitutionalism' is the situation when a government is regulated by a
constitution
• Countries, societies, clubs and charities can also have constitutions - sort of like
a rule book
Common elements of a constitution
• Length of time between elections
• Eligibility to vote
• Rights and duties of citizens
• Extent and limit of government power
• Powers of the judiciary (courts and judges)
• How new governments are formed
• Role and powers of legislature (law making institution - parliament, congress)
• Role and powers of the head of state (the Queen)
• Relationship between central government and local government
To enable the passing, execution and upholding of the law…
• Legislature - passes the laws
• Executive - executes or uses the laws
• Judiciary - upholds or enforces the law
Features of the UK constitution
Limited
• A form of government in which government power is subject to limitations and
checks, providing protection for the individual; the opposite of arbitrary
government
• Solution to the problem of power
• Without a constitution the government could do whatever it wants - oppressing
minorities, violating freedoms etc.
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