A constitution is a
set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These
rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is. When
these principles are written down into a single document or set of legal
documents, those documents may be said to embody a written constitution; if they are written down
in a single comprehensive document, it is said to embody a codified constitution.
Constitutions
concern different levels of organizations, from sovereign states to companies
and unincorporated associations. A treaty which establishes an international organization is also its constitution, in that it
would define how that organization is constituted. Within states, a constitution defines the
principles upon which the state is based, the procedure in which laws are made
and by whom. Some constitutions, especially codified constitutions, also act as
limiters of state power, by establishing lines which a state's rulers cannot
cross, such as fundamental rights.
An example is the constitution of
the United States of America.
The Constitution of India is the longest written constitution of
any sovereign country in the world, containing 444 articles
in 22 parts, 12 schedules and 118
amendments, with 117,369 words in its English-language translation, while the United States Constitution is the shortest written constitution,
containing seven articles and 27 amendments, and a total of 4,400 words.
There are
many reasons why a constitution is important. Firstly, the people have the
right to choose their own form of government. Furthermore, there are many
different types of government in the world and therefore different countries
need different forms of government to suit their particular circumstances and
traditions. This means that the people of a country should choose the style
that they think right for their country and rulers have no right to impose a
form of government different from the one that the people chose.
Also, the
people have the right to put enduring limits on their government. Once the
people have chosen their form of government, then the rulers may not thereafter
change it. By choosing the form of government, the people have the right to
limit the government officials, who may not depart from the rules laid down by
the people. The people typically put several kinds of limits on officials. Firstly,
they divide power among different parts of the government. Secondly, they
sometimes divide powers between the central government and more local
governments such as provinces. Thirdly, they require that the government
respect the people’s individual rights. Finally, they require that the
government shall be accountable to the people through regular and free
elections.
In addition,
once the people have chosen a form of government and limits on the government,
they have the right to entrench those rules in a constitution. The people
create and limit the government; the government is like the servant or the
child of the people. In the constitution, the people give instructions to their
servant, the government. A constitution must therefore be as clear and specific
as possible, or else the instructions will be vague. For that reason, the
constitution is typically a written document.
