Written constitution
Topic: Making of the Constitution: Constituent Assembly, Sources and Salient Features · NCERT: Class 7, Ch 9 "From the Rulers to the Ruled: Types of Governments"; Class 7, Ch 10 "The Constitution of India: An Introduction"; Class 9, Ch 6 "Democracy"
Meaning
A written constitution is one in which the basic rules of the state are set down in a single document. It is also called a codified constitution. India and the USA have written constitutions. India's is the longest written constitution in the world. When it was first adopted, it had a Preamble, 395 articles, 22 parts and 8 schedules. Today it has 25 parts and 12 schedules. A written text makes the rules clear, known to all and enforceable, and it lets courts test laws against it.
Example
India's Constitution grew through amendments. New parts were added: Part IVA (Fundamental Duties), IXA (municipalities), IXB (co-operative societies) and XIVA (tribunals). Part VII was repealed in 1956. It is long for several reasons: India's size and diversity, the GoI Act 1935 used as a model, one document for both the Union and the states, and detailed rules on bodies such as the Election Commission.
Don't confuse with
- Uncodified constitution: the rules are spread across many laws, conventions (settled practices) and court rulings instead of one document. Britain is the example, with the Magna Carta 1215, the Bill of Rights 1689 and the Parliament Acts of 1911 and 1949.