Political Science 1020E Lecture Notes - Lecture 23: Legal Certainty, John Stuart Mill, Constitution
26 Jan 2016
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
A constitution sets out the formal structure of the state, specifying the powers and institutions of central government, and its relationship with other levels of government (which we will examine later). In addition, constitutions express the rights of citizens and in so doing create limits on government. In general, the arrangement of a constitutions includes: A preamble which seeks popular support for the document with an inspiring declaration of principle and, sometimes, a definition of the state"s purposes; An organizational section which sets out the powers of government institutions; A bill of rights which covers individual and perhaps group rights. Procedures for amendment which define the rules of revising the constitution. In general, constitutions are a deliberate creation, designed and built by politicians. Are the work of men men did not wake up on a summer morning and find them sprung up. (1861)
