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 starter activity

 starter activity. Preambles. The preamble to a constitution introduces the reader to the main ideas behind the document. Read these 3 preambles. What do they have in common? Which should be adopted by the UK?. What is a constitution?.  Aims.

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 starter activity

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  1. starter activity Preambles The preamble to a constitution introduces the reader to the main ideas behind the document. Read these 3 preambles. What do they have in common? Which should be adopted by the UK?

  2. What is a constitution?  Aims To define what we mean by the term ‘constitution’ To analyse the purpose and content of constitutions To identify the main characteristics of the UK constitution.

  3.  Your task Read Watts p.150 and in your own words write a brief definition of a constitution. Magna Carta, still a source of the UK constitution

  4. Constitutions • Establish clear rules & principles for governing a country • Relationship between organisations • Limitations on powers • Political & non-political bodies, e.g. charities have constitutions • Often include statements on rights of individuals, e.g. preamble

  5.  Your task Read p. 150-1 and list the reasons why countries need constitutions. Which is the most important reason?

  6. Purposes • Legitimacy • Protect freedom • Encourage stability • Draw attention to goals & values, e.g. US Constitution • Set out spheres of influence, e.g. in federal systems • Create a fresh start UN logo

  7.  Your task Read p. 151-2 and note the differences between: written and unwritten constitutions; flexible or rigid; unitary or federal constitutions. Note the differences between these types of constitutions: monarchical & republican; presidential & parliamentary; constitutions based on sovereignty of parliament or people

  8. Written v. unwritten • Britain lacks a written or codified constitution • Constitutional rules are written, e.g. in statutes, but gathered into single document

  9. Flexible or rigid • Altered by majority in legislature, e.g. New Zealand & UK • Rigid constitutions laws are fundamental and amendments very difficult, e.g. US constitution amended 27x since 1776

  10. Unitary or federal • Britain, Israel, France & Ireland have unitary constitutions • Suited to smaller countries with limited cultural, ethnic & linguistic diversity • Power concentrated in hand of central govt. • Federal system: power divided between centre & regional authorities, e.g. US

  11. Monarchical v. republican • Constitutional monarchies, e.g. Britain & Holland; monarch is head of state with limited powers • Republic: no hereditary head of state, leader elected by people

  12. Presidential v. parliamentary • Presidential: separation of powers, executive is separate from legislature • Parliamentary: executive chosen from legislature, e.g. PM & Cabinet drawn from MPs

  13. Sovereignty of parliament v. people • Sovereignty means having the authority to govern • Britain: Parliament primary law-making body • US: people are sovereign, e.g. US Constitution (1787), ‘We the people of the US do ordain and establish this Constitution’

  14. • Do you think it is time Britain’s constitution should be written in a single document? • What are strengths / weaknesses of rigid and flexible constitutions • Should Britain become a federal country? • Should Britain become a republic? • What is the danger of Britain not having ‘separation of powers’? • Which is better, the sovereignty of the parliament or its people?

  15.  Your task • Read Watts p.153-4 and create a scales chart highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of having an uncodified constitution. Do the weaknesses outweigh the strengths? Write a judgement paragraph at the bottom of your chart.

  16. Strengths • UK Parliament is sovereign: AV Dicey, parliament has is supreme law-making body • Constitution can be easily amended; no one parliament can bind its successors • Rule of law: no one is above the law; innocent until proven guilty; essential liberties derive from judicial decisions based on common law • Executive is accountable to legislature

  17. Weaknesses • No single document • Federal system offers more power to regions, e.g. Scotland and Wales • Rule of law not always upheld, e.g. not everyone is equal before the law; judicial decisions are now enshrined in Human Rights Act (1998) • Lack of separation of powers leads to abuse, e.g. Cash for Honours scandal

  18.  Homework • Read Watts p.154-5 and draw a tree and on each branch list and explain the different sources of the UK constitution.

  19.  Plenary • Write the preamble to your own constitution of the United Kingdom.

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