1. Constitutions & the Design of Government
Chapter 9
Constitutions
&
the Design of Government

2. Constitutions A set of rules by which power is distributed
Law determining the fundamental political principles of a government
Most organizations & states have one
Example: United States Constitution

3. Constitutions Vary in formality and specificity
Purposeful vagueness can be advantageous (as with US Constitution) because allows new administrations to change with the changing times

4. Designing a Constitution
Text should not break long-standing traditions of government in a state
Constitution should be relatively easy to change (example: Amendment process in United States)
There should be an incentive compatibility so that leaders want to follow the constitution.

5. Forms of Constitutional Organization
Unitary: A state in which no other governmental body but the central government has any areas of policy that are exclusively under its control
Federal: Local governmental authorities are set up and these localities are given certain decision making authority
Federation: Two governments (example: federal and 50 states in US) have some authority to govern people

6. Constitutionalism Rule of law
Faithful adherence and willingness to follow the intent of the Constitution