Lesson 02: The Constitutions

Welcome to Lesson 02: "The Constitutions." In this session, we'll study the
importance of constitutions in democratic societies and compare the
constitutional arrangements of the United Kingdom (U.K.) and the United
States (USA).

Objectives:
Here are our objectives for this lesson:
• Recognize the importance of constitutions in democratic societies

• Understand the significance of a constitution as the fundamental framework

defining government powers and citizens' rights in a democracy.
• Identify key features and characteristics of the constitutions of the U.K. and the
USA
• Learn about the unique elements that distinguish the constitutional arrangements
of the U.K. and the USA.
• Explain the significance of parliamentary sovereignty, judicial review, flexibility,
federalism, separation of powers, and individual rights in the U.K. and U.S.
constitutions
• Gain insight into specific aspects of both constitutions and their impact on
governance and individual rights.

Let's start.

Read the text about the Constitution of the United Kingdom and the United States
carefully, then do the following tasks.
Text:
Constitutions of the United Kingdom and the United States: A Comparative Study

Constitutions form the bedrock of any democratic society, serving as the fundamental
framework that defines and organizes the powers and rights of the government and its citizens.
The United Kingdom and the United States, two prominent Western democracies, each possess
unique constitutional arrangements reflecting their historical, cultural, and political
backgrounds. This reading passage explores the evolution, characteristics, and key differences
between the Constitutions of the U.K. and the USA.
The United Kingdom's Unwritten Constitution:
Unlike many other nations, the United Kingdom possesses an unwritten constitution,
which is not enshrined in a single document. Instead, it is an amalgamation of statutes, legal
conventions, historical documents, and court decisions that have developed over centuries. The
Magna Carta of 1215, the Petition of Right of 1628, and the Bill of Rights of 1689 are some of
the pivotal historical documents that contributed to shaping the U.K.'s Constitution.
Key Features of the U.K.'s Constitution:
1. Parliamentary Sovereignty: The cornerstone of the U.K.'s Constitution is the principle of
parliamentary sovereignty, which grants the British Parliament the supreme legal authority to
enact, modify, or repeal laws without limitations.
2. No Judicial Review: Unlike the United States, the U.K.'s courts do not have the power of
judicial review, meaning they cannot invalidate laws based on their constitutionality. However,
the Human Rights Act of 1998 enables British courts to assess the compatibility of legislation
with the European Convention on Human Rights.
3. Constitutional Flexibility: Due to its unwritten nature, the U.K.'s Constitution allows for
greater flexibility and adaptability to changing circumstances, as it can evolve through legal
conventions and political practices.
The United States Written Constitution:
In stark contrast, the United States has a written constitution adopted in 1787. Framed in
the aftermath of the American Revolution, the U.S. Constitution reflects the Founding Fathers'
intent to establish a system of government that safeguarded individual freedoms and
established a balance of power.
Key Features of the U.S. Constitution:
1. Federal System: The U.S. Constitution establishes a federal system of government, dividing
powers between the national (federal) government and individual state governments. This
distribution of authority is critical in maintaining a balance between centralization and
decentralization.
2. Separation of Powers: The U.S. Constitution incorporates the separation of powers among
three branches of government: the legislative branch (Congress), the executive branch
(President), and the judicial branch (Supreme Court). This system prevents any one branch
from becoming too powerful.
3. Bill of Rights: The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution make up the Bill of Rights,
guaranteeing individual liberties such as freedom of speech, religion, and the right to a fair
trial. These rights are protected from infringement by the government.

While both the United Kingdom and the United States have democratic systems, their
approaches to constitutional arrangements differ significantly. The U.K.'s unwritten
Constitution emphasizes parliamentary sovereignty and flexibility, while the USA's written
Constitution stresses federalism, separation of powers, and the protection of individual rights.
Understanding the nuances and divergences between these two constitutional systems enriches
our appreciation of the diverse paths that democracies can take in shaping their governance.
Source: Chatgpt

Do Task 01:
The objective of this task is to assess your comprehension of the text. By
determining whether the statements are true or false, you'll demonstrate your
understanding of the key concepts related to the constitutions of the U.K. and
the USA.

Do Task 2
In this task, you'll be recalling information from the text and applying it to answer multiple-
choice questions. The objective is to test your ability to recall specific details about the
constitutions of the U.K. and the USA as presented in the text.
 References and Additional Sources:

For more details, here are some references:

• E. Wade and G. Philips, Constitutional Law, Longman, re-issued 1998.

• Hanson and M. Walles, Governing Britain, Fontana, 1997.
• J. Dewey, Democracy and Education, Macmillan, 1916.
• M. Shaw, Anglo-American Democracy, Routledge and Kegan, 1968.
• S. Benn and R. Peters, Social Principles and the Democratic State, Allen and Unwin,
1959.
• T. Paine, The Rights of Man, Everyman, 1998.