You are on page 1of 2

(00:00):

Okay, so before we talk about, what a constitution is, let's first explain why we need one. Let's start by looking
at the fundamental things, we all need as human beings. These are a voice in the decisions that affect our lives
material well-being, such as food, shelter, and education

(00:33):
security and protection from violence, or descrimination and recognition and respect as individuals and
communities. To help meet these needs. People create government and delegate powers to them to exercise for
the common good of society. The problem though is that while government's need powers to perform their
functions, history tells us again and again

(01:01):
that power Without Limits can lead to corruption. Dictatorship and oppression, free fair and regular elections
might help ensure good government They allow people to select who they want and power and over time to vote
out those who perform badly. But we also need some basic rules to control how that power is used. So that those
who win elections still have to respect your rights

(01:32):
and promote your interest rather than using power for their own benefit. Just as in a game of football, they have
to be ruled and areferee. So ina democracy, there must be Rules by which all the players are bound. These rules
are provided in a constitution. The Constitution is a law but it's not just an ordinary law. A constitution is a
supreme law that establishes organizes and empowers thegovernment

(02:03):
and determines how other laws are made and implemented. It is also more difficult to change than ordinary laws
so that those in power cannot Make up the rules as they go along, football, wouldn't be fair if the winning team
could change the rules and democracy isn't fair. If those in power can just change the Constitution according to
their own whim. The Constitution harnesses, the energy and power of the state

(02:32):
ensuring that the people control the reins. This explains why when people are trying to establish a new fairer
Society, one of the, first things they do is write a new constitution. This is what Norway did in 1814, India in
1950, South Africa, in 1996 and Columbia in 1991, Indeed. Nearly all countries in the world have a constitution

(03:01):
to establish rules for using power. On the other hand, we have seen that when a democratic government is
illegally overthrown, one of the first things, the co-leaders do is set their sights on destroying the Constitution.
They don't want any inconvenient limits on their ability to rule by force. So, the Constitution, both organizes
and constrains power. Now, how does it do that? Well, there are several ways.

(03:31):
One way is to Define power between different political institutions. For example, sharing functions between a
president and a prime minister. Or between two houses of the legislature or between different levels of
government, the national level, the regional state, or provincial level, and the local level. A constitution defines
the powers of these institutions and regulates the relationship between them. It also ensures that power is
rotated.

(04:02):
One year, we may vote for one candidate or party, but after a few years, they are time will be up and we will
have the Chance to choose someone else. This means that no one person party or institution can accumulate too
much power or stay in power too long. It is important to maintain, a strict separation between the political
institutions on the one hand, such as the elected, Parliament and government.

(04:31):
And on the other hand, the permanent neutral institutions of the state such as the courts, the military, the police,
and the Civil Service. Constitutions. Also constrain Power by saying what government must and must not do.
For example, a set of constitutional rights May specify that you can't be tortured that you can't be imprisoned
without due cause, and that your freedom of expression can't be infringed other Provisions. May direct the
government to provide for basic human needs
(05:04):
such as education, Healthcare sanitation, or housing. Constitutions, don't only protect the majority. There may
be special Provisions for minorities and marginalized groups for their security, their participation in government
and protections for their identity and culture. Most constitutions also have a nation-building function, they seek
to embody National unity

(05:32):
and to reflect and declare the identity of the nation and its people. The Constitution announces to citizens to the
government itself and to the outside world, what the nation is, what it stands for, where it has come from, and
what its vision for the future, might be a good Constitution is just one step along the road to a peaceful
prosperous and Democratic Society. But it is a fundamental one

(06:01):
by sitting down The rules by which the state should be governed. A good Constitution, helps to ensure that the
Democratic aspirations of the people. All become and remain reality.

You might also like