A constitution is a set of written rules that are accepted by all the people living together in a country. It determines the relationship between the people and the government, and it serves several functions, including:
- Generating a degree of trust and coordination necessary for different kinds of people to live together.
- Specifying who has the power to make decisions in a society and how the government will be constituted.
- Setting limits on what a government can impose on its citizens, which are fundamental and may never be trespassed.
The Indian constitution, for example, came into force on January 26, 1950, and contains 395 Articles and 8 Schedules, making it the longest national constitution ever adopted. It is the foundational legislation of the country, reflecting the fundamental principles upon which the countrys governance is based.
In summary, a constitution is a crucial document that outlines the fundamental principles and laws of a country, defines the rights and duties of citizens, and determines the relationship between the people and the government.