Constitution - Types of Constitution

len Alfred Ajibola - Tue, 31st December, 2019 @ 12:48

Topics in Government

Concept, Advantages and Disadvantages of Multi-Party System Concept, Advantages and Disadvantages of Two-Party System Pressure Group: Types of Pressure Group Characteristics of Pressure Group Constitution - Types of Constitution Government - Scope of Government Government - Characteristics of Government Government - Importance of Government One-Party System explained Multi-Party System explained with its Characteristics Party System: Zero Party System Two-Party System explained with its Characteristics Democracy and Types of Democracy Democracy - Characteristics of Democracy Government - Types and Forms of Government Government - Functions of Government What is Government? Definitions of Government Organs, Arms or Branches of Government and their Functions Constitution: Meaning, Qualities and Importance of Constitution Pressure Group in Nigeria - Types and Examples

Academic Questions in Government


The absence of government in a country or state is referred to as _____.

  • A. chaos
  • B. doom
  • C. oligarchy
  • D. autocracy
  • E. anarchy
  • F. meritocracy


  • A. John F. Kennedy
  • B. Martin Luther King Jr.
  • C. Aristotle
  • D. George W. Bush
  • E. Kamala Harris
  • F. Abraham Lincoln


  • A. plutocracy
  • B. timocracy
  • C. technocracy
  • D. meritocracy
  • E. richocracy
  • F. autocracy


  • A. Malta
  • B. Latvia
  • C. Moldova
  • D. Estonia
  • E. Georgia
  • F. Uzbekistan

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Types of Constitution:

Constitution is the supreme law in a country or state and it specifies how such (nation, country or state) should be governed.

Please read on the Introduction to Constitution, Qualities and Importance of Constitution here.

The constitution can be put into various types based on the following headings:

1. A constitution can be written or unwritten.

  • Written Constitution

A written constitution will contain a document or series of document merged in the form of a book.

The written constitution is enacted by a constituent assembly and can be amended based on how the amendment process had been defined in the constitution itself.

Note: The constituent assembly that put forth the constitution will usually comprise of the legislative and executive arms of government.

Please read on the Arms of Government and their respective Functions here.

Written constitutions are codified, meaning that the constitutional document is the supreme law of the country and can only be amended or judged by a constitutional court through the judiciary.

Countries like Nigeria, United States of America and France all utilizes a written constitution.

  • Unwritten Constitution

An unwritten constitution is uncodified, meaning that its foundation and evolution is based on historical laws and concepts on the countries in which they govern.

Unwritten Constitution is not written into a book nor enacted by a constituent assembly. The people of the country know their constitution and have come to embrace it.

The United Kingdom makes use of an unwritten constitution.

Note: Some parts of an unwritten constitution are actually written in a book but such books may not be considered to be a legal document.

Please read on the Meaning of Government with it's various Definitions here


2. A constitution can be flexible or inflexible. (Inflexible constitution is sometimes referred to as a Rigid constitution).

The flexibility of a constitution determines the level of ease at which such constitution can be amended. For example, the constitution of Nigeria and United States of America is inflexible (or rigid) because it very difficult to make changes on it.

  • Inflexible or Rigid Constitution

To amend a rigid constitution, the legislature will first need to pass the amendment bill, usually with the approval of 2/3rd majority of its constituent members.

The people of the nation may influence the passing of the amendment bill, thus a rigid constitution is often considered to reflect the will of the people.

Please read on Democracy and its Characteristics here

Advantages of a Rigid Constitution

  1. It is stable for an administration’s continuity.
  2. It is perfect for a federation.
  3. It prevents dictatorship by any of the arms of government.
    Please read on Dictatorship as a Form of Government here.
  4. The political party in power cannot easily manipulate the constitution for their political gains.
    Please read on Multi-Party System, its Characteristics, Advantages and Disadvantages here.

Disadvantages of a Rigid Constitution

  1. It cannot keep up with a constant changing environment.
  2. Its difficulty to amend and can cause a revolt by the people.
    Please read on Pressure Groups and their Characteristics here.
  3. It may hinder developmental progress because of its difficulty in amendment.
    You can read on the Importance of Government here.


  • Flexible Constitution

A flexible constitution can be easily amended because it does not require complex procedures.

The British constitution is a typical example of a flexible constitution.

With a simple majority, the British parliament can make or amend the laws of the constitution.

Advantages of a Flexible Constitution

  1. It can easily be modified with regards to the present political and social environment of a nation.
  2. It is constantly developed and always up to date.
  3. It decreases the chances of revolt by the people.
    Please read on the Types of Democracy here.

Disadvantages of a Flexible Constitution:

  1. It is unstable.
  2. The frequent amendment of a constitution is not good for a federation.


3. The presidential, parliamentary, federal and unitary constitutions are also considered as types of constitution.

  • Presidential Constitution

In a presidential constitution the president is the head of the execute arm of government. The president is also considered as the head of all states present within a country. (That is; the president is the Head of States).

Note: The president is not a member of the judiciary, senate or house of representative.

  • Parliamentary Constitution

In a parliamentary constitution, the prime minister is the head of the executive arm of government; and the members of the legislative arm of government is accountable to him or her.

Please read on the Characteristics of Government here.

  • Federal Constitution

The federal Constitution is seen in countries like Nigeria and USA.

There is a central government and a state government. The president heads the central government while the various governors head each of their respective state within the country.

This type of constitution provides for the legislative competence under the central and state government.

  • Unitary Constitution

The unitary constitution is practiced by the United Kingdom. The nations involved are centrally governed.

At present, it appears to be shifting into the federal type of constitution because some power are gradually tilting into the hands of the other constituents’ nations of the United Kingdom, which includes Wales, Northern Island and Scotland.


4. Other types of constitution are the evolved and enacted constitutions.


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Amazing facts in Government




Other forms of government includes:

  1. Oligarchy
  2. Colonialism
  3. Monarchy
  4. Communism
  5. Federalism
  6. Dictatorship
  7. Democracy
  8. Meritocracy
  9. Autocracy
  10. Aristocracy 

Please read on the various forms of government here


According to Abrahim Lincoln,



Please read on the fundamental Human Rights here.

