What is a Constitution?
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This video explains in simple terms what a constitution is and why constitutions are important. It describes what constitutions do, and the key elements of a democratic constitution.
It begins by recognizing that effective government is necessary in order to have a well-functioning society in which certain basic human needs are met, but that if misrule and abuses of power are to be avoided, the government must be placed under strong constitutional constraints that protect the rights of citizens and give people a voice in the decisions that affect their lives. It then presents the constitution as a supreme law that both organizes and constrains power, defining the institutions of government and the relationship between them. The constitution provides publicly accepted ground-rules that are binding on the government, in order to ensure that power is rotated through regular elections, that human rights and the rule of law are respected, and that the people retain ultimate control of the state. Constitutions may serve to express national unity and to declare the identity of the nation, while protecting and recognizing the rights of minorities.