Constitution and Government

Study Notes

Constitution

A constitution is a set of fundamental principles and rules that govern a country, state, or organization
It outlines the structure, powers, and limits of government, as well as the rights and duties of citizens
Constitutions can be written or unwritten, and may be codified in a single document or dispersed across multiple sources

Government refers to the system or group of people that exercise authority and control over a country, state, or organization
Types of government:
- Monarchy: a system in which a monarch holds supreme power
- Republic: a system in which power is held by the people or their elected representatives
- Democracy: a system in which power is held by the people, either directly or through elected representatives
Government functions:
- Executive: responsible for enforcing laws and policies
- Legislative: responsible for making laws
- Judicial: responsible for interpreting laws and resolving disputes

Legislation refers to the process of making laws
Types of legislation:
- Statutes: written laws passed by a legislative body
- Regulations: rules and guidelines created by executive agencies to implement statutes
- Case law: laws derived from court decisions and judgments
The legislative process:
1. Introduction: a bill is proposed and introduced to a legislative body
2. Debate: the bill is discussed and debated by members of the legislative body
3. Voting: the bill is put to a vote, and if approved, it becomes a law
4. Signing or veto: the head of the executive branch signs the bill into law or vetoes it
5. Enactment: the law takes effect, and is enforced by the executive branch

A set of fundamental principles and rules that govern a country, state, or organization
Outlines the structure, powers, and limits of government, as well as the rights and duties of citizens
Can be written or unwritten, and may be codified in a single document or dispersed across multiple sources

Refers to the system or group of people that exercise authority and control over a country, state, or organization
Types of government: monarchy, republic, and democracy
In a monarchy, a monarch holds supreme power
In a republic, power is held by the people or their elected representatives
In a democracy, power is held by the people, either directly or through elected representatives
Government functions: executive, legislative, and judicial
Executive: responsible for enforcing laws and policies
Legislative: responsible for making laws
Judicial: responsible for interpreting laws and resolving disputes

Refers to the process of making laws
Types of legislation: statutes, regulations, and case law
Statutes: written laws passed by a legislative body
Regulations: rules and guidelines created by executive agencies to implement statutes
Case law: laws derived from court decisions and judgments
The legislative process: introduction, debate, voting, signing or veto, and enactment
A bill is introduced to a legislative body
The bill is discussed and debated by members of the legislative body
The bill is put to a vote, and if approved, it becomes a law
The head of the executive branch signs the bill into law or vetoes it
The law takes effect, and is enforced by the executive branch