Constitutional Law

The study of the fundamental principles by which a state or nation is governed and its powers are distributed among various branches of government.

What is the definition of constitutional law?

"Constitutional law is a body of law which defines the role, powers, and structure of different entities within a state, namely, the executive, the parliament or legislature, and the judiciary; as well as the basic rights of citizens and, in federal countries such as the United States and Canada, the relationship between the central government and state, provincial, or territorial governments."

What are the sources of law in constitutional law?

"These may include customary law, conventions, statutory law, judge-made law, or international rules and norms."

What does constitutional law deal with?

"Constitutional law deals with the fundamental principles by which the government exercises its authority."

What powers can constitutional principles grant to the government?

"These principles grant specific powers to the government, such as the power to tax and spend for the welfare of the population."

What limits can constitutional principles impose on the government?

"Constitutional principles act to place limits on what the government can do, such as prohibiting the arrest of an individual without sufficient cause."

Do all nation states have codified constitutions?

"Not all nation states have codified constitutions, though all such states have a jus commune, or law of the land, that may consist of a variety of imperative and consensual rules."

What are some examples of imperative and consensual rules?

"...customary law, conventions, statutory law, judge-made law, or international rules and norms."

What entities within a state are defined by constitutional law?

"The executive, the parliament or legislature, and the judiciary."

What are some aspects addressed by constitutional law in federal countries?

"...the relationship between the central government and state, provincial, or territorial governments."

Which countries base their constitutional law on a ratified document?

"In most nations, such as the United States, India, and Singapore, constitutional law is based on the text of a document ratified at the time the nation came into being."

What does the constitutional law of the United Kingdom rely heavily on?

"The constitutional law of the United Kingdom relies heavily on uncodified rules."

What are examples of uncodified rules in the UK's constitutional law?

"Several legislative statutes and constitutional conventions."

How do conventions and legislative statutes differ in their status within constitutional law?

"Their status within constitutional law varies."

Are the terms of conventions always agreed upon without any disagreement?

"The terms of conventions are in some cases strongly contested."

What is the role of constitutional law in the United States?

"...constitutional law is based on the text of a document ratified at the time the nation came into being."

Where can constitutional principles be found in India?

"In most nations, such as the United States, India, and Singapore, constitutional law is based on the text of a document ratified at the time the nation came into being."

What is the purpose of constitutional law in Singapore?

"...constitutional law is based on the text of a document ratified at the time the nation came into being."

What are the three branches of government defined by constitutional law?

"The executive, the parliament or legislature, and the judiciary."

What does the jus commune consist of in nation states without codified constitutions?

"All such states have a jus commune, or law of the land, that may consist of a variety of imperative and consensual rules."

How does constitutional law vary between different countries?

"Their status within constitutional law varies, and the terms of conventions are in some cases strongly contested."