• NateNate60@lemmy.world
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    6 hours ago

    A country doesn’t need a constitution. But a state without a constitution doesn’t exist. A constitution is just a set of rules that explains how state power is exercised. Sometimes, it goes something like “the king decides everything”. Sometimes, it goes “Parliament can make any law except one that a future parliament cannot unmake”. Sometimes, it goes “We, the people… [+4 pages of text]”. All of these are constitutions, even if they aren’t documents calling themselves “The Constitution™”

    • pressanykeynow@lemmy.world
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      6 hours ago

      As I understand you describe “constitution” as as just rules by which the society operates be they written or not, not the actual legal documents.

      With this description the US isn’t even a year old.

      • NateNate60@lemmy.world
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        4 hours ago

        You might be right on that count although I hope you aren’t. I think we’ll have to see what happens in the next three years before saying for sure though.