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| Scottish independence: What's a constitution and should it be written? | Scottish independence: What's a constitution and should it be written? |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| What is a constitution? | What is a constitution? |
| In short, it's a declaration of what a country stands for, and usually outlines the rights of citizens and the role of government. The UK is in a small club when it comes to written constitutions - only two other states don't have one: New Zealand and Israel. In the last 25 years more than 20 countries have become independent sovereign territories, and each one has written a constitution. India has the world's longest, containing 117,369 words in its English translation. | In short, it's a declaration of what a country stands for, and usually outlines the rights of citizens and the role of government. The UK is in a small club when it comes to written constitutions - only two other states don't have one: New Zealand and Israel. In the last 25 years more than 20 countries have become independent sovereign territories, and each one has written a constitution. India has the world's longest, containing 117,369 words in its English translation. |
| Why doesn't the UK have a written constitution? | Why doesn't the UK have a written constitution? |
| The reasons are linked to the UK's piecemeal approach to democracy, which has evolved over hundreds of years. Under the UK's "unwritten" system, parliament represents the people and is not bound by other laws or statutes. | |
| The Magna Carta, written in England in 1215, is the closest thing to a written constitution. This document has had a huge influence on the UK's parliamentary democracy, and the formation of written constitutions around the world. | The Magna Carta, written in England in 1215, is the closest thing to a written constitution. This document has had a huge influence on the UK's parliamentary democracy, and the formation of written constitutions around the world. |
| Some say not having a written constitution is advantageous, as it offers greater flexibility to how institutions such as government, the judiciary and legislature can be reformed. Critics point out that some of the world's most repressive regimes have had written constitutions. | Some say not having a written constitution is advantageous, as it offers greater flexibility to how institutions such as government, the judiciary and legislature can be reformed. Critics point out that some of the world's most repressive regimes have had written constitutions. |
| What would Scotland's written constitution say? | What would Scotland's written constitution say? |
| In its White Paper for Independence, the Scottish government said it would create a constitutional convention with people and organisations from all walks of Scottish life having the opportunity to participate. | In its White Paper for Independence, the Scottish government said it would create a constitutional convention with people and organisations from all walks of Scottish life having the opportunity to participate. |
| It says the European Convention of Human Rights, which the UK is currently signed up to, would be embedded in the constitution. The paper also proposes a number of other rights around equality of opportunity, public services, healthcare and welfare, education, employment, rights for children and military force. A ban on nuclear weapons being based in Scotland is also proposed. | It says the European Convention of Human Rights, which the UK is currently signed up to, would be embedded in the constitution. The paper also proposes a number of other rights around equality of opportunity, public services, healthcare and welfare, education, employment, rights for children and military force. A ban on nuclear weapons being based in Scotland is also proposed. |
| Which country has the oldest constitution? | Which country has the oldest constitution? |
| San Marino, which has a population of just over 30,000, is thought to have the oldest written constitution, which goes back to 1600. It was written in Latin and has six books, covering subjects such criminal law, civil law, sanitation, food hygiene and roads. In 1974, a declaration of rights for citizens was added. | |
| Which country has the newest constitution? | Which country has the newest constitution? |
| South Sudan - the world's newest state, which seceded from Sudan in 2011 - has a constitution which came into force on the country's independence day, 9 July 2011. The fledgling country had been fighting for independence since the 1960s, and held a referendum in January 2011. | South Sudan - the world's newest state, which seceded from Sudan in 2011 - has a constitution which came into force on the country's independence day, 9 July 2011. The fledgling country had been fighting for independence since the 1960s, and held a referendum in January 2011. |