Study online at https://quizlet.com/_e2jj1k
1. Constitution - Set of rules and principles by which a state is governed
- Define the powers of the government
- Define relationships between political institutions
- Outlines rights of citizens
- Only time this isn't abided by is generally in a major national emergency
2. What is suprema- The constitution is the supreme authority in the state, all laws and actions by state
cy of constitu- bodies must conform to it.
tional law? (NOTE: This is NOT the case in the UK - synoptic link to US)
3. Codification - In a codified constitution, rules and principles are clearly written down in a single
document.
- An uncodified constitution is made of many sources, including written and
unwritten.
4. Fundamental law Constitutional law that is set above regular stature in terms of status, and protected
against regular laws passed by legislation (a constitutional - supreme - court hold
people accountable to these laws)
5. Entrenchment - Special arrangements put into place for amending a constitution, to make it
harder to change.
(E.g. US constitution - synoptic link)
(Our constitution is not very strongly entrenched, because it can be easily changed
through Act of Parlt.)
6. Flexibility Where the rules that entrench a constitution are weak, that constitution is said to
be flexible.
7. Anti-constitution- Actions that are likely to undermine the constitution's authority, and may threaten
alism the state (e.g. terrorism, other illegal activity)
8. Unconstitutional - Action by the legislature/government that contravenes the rules of the constitu-
action tion
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