UNIT 1: Introduction to constitutionalism Flashcards
What is a constitution?
-political document that sets out political, economic and social laws for the nation
-principles of how the country will be governed
-between government and citizen
What do constitutions do?
-create a system of government
-constitutes
What are the five functions of a constitution?
-sets up state or political order (e.g. democracy communism)
-limitation of state e.g. elections for pm every 5 years
-sets out the role of powers and what they do e.g. institutions
-offers symbolic function
-gives country legal legitimacy
What is constitutionalism?
-belief in the constitution
-maintaining democratic protection for the individual, separation of powers, accountable government
What is legal constitutionalism?
-holding those in power to judicial review consequently keeping them in check
What is political constitutionalism?
-the government being held to account through political means e.g. by the leader of the opposition
What is transformative constitutionalism?
-process of moving the state towards a change in social, political, legal or economic systems
What is constitutional liberalism?
-is a form of government that upholds the principles of classical liberalism and the rule of law