Amendments Process: Change can come to the Constitution, but protections are in place to protect it from political whims and mass public hysteria. A federal system allows citizens to compare political systems and ‘vote with their feet’ by moving to a state they find more congenial. With this regard the Ethiopian federal state has promulgated a federal constitution which has come into effect as of the 21st day of August1995. Some advantages of a flexible constitution include: Its ability to change quickly in accordance with changes in the social and political environment of the society and the state. Federalism is the divided powers between authorities in the nation; the local, state and national. 7 The public funds will be allocated to real need of people. This was exemplified when the states led the struggle against the political broadcasts ban in 1991. A written constitution is usually interpreted strictly. Scale The origins of democracy can be traced to ancient and medieval city states where citizens were able to participate directly in political life. A constitution is a set of rules that establish duties and functions of the government and defines the basic principles to which society must conform. Confederal systems of governement tend to easily collapse, since there is the option to secede if so desired. Meanwhile, before going to the crux of this article, i would like to explain, briefly, what a written constitution is, with examples of some of the countries that has a written constitution in the world today. One of the major advantages of a written constitution is the fact that it can be easily consulted. Throughout history, it has been a political system where 2+ governments share authority over the same geographical area. 3.5 Advantages and Disadvantages of Federalism The benefits of federalism are that it can encourage political participation, give states an incentive to engage in policy innovation, and accommodate diverse viewpoints across the country. Other than that, it is incredibly divisive form of government where everyone is forced to compete with everyone else for priority. Toronto Detectives, Luisa Meaning In Hebrew, In fact, the ineffectiveness of the government may be as a result of the too many suits brought against it by the citizens. Federalism 3. Take for instance, in Nigeria there is the 1999 constitution which is the Supreme law. However, this law can make reference to other laws in Nigeria like the Land Use Act, National Youth Service Cops Act, Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act and so forth. 3. First, a federal constitution allows the various regions of a country to have laws that differ to some degree. 2. Mathis Airport Gravestones, Below are the merits of a written constitution: One of the major advantages of a written constitution is the fact that it can be easily consulted. It is very hard for a central authority to govern the entirety of a large country at once. Unlike an unwritten constitution where the rules are not contained in one document, it is often easier to interpret and understand the intention of the legislature (Law Making body) when the rules are contained in one document because reading all the sections of the constitution can help in interpretation of one section. Kettle Creek Malt Whiskey, Explain the disadvantages of federalism The federal design of our Constitution has had a profound effect on U.S. politics. Describe the primary differences in the role of citizens in government among the federal, confederation, and unitary systems. THE BENEFITS OF FEDERALISM Feb 14, 2019 Feb 14, 2019 by Editor in Chief. Clearview Regional High School, I enjoin you to read this topic carefully if you really want to grasp the information contained in it. Advantages and disadvantages of federalism The rationale for federalism Federalism is offered as an institutional solution to the problems associated with scale and diversity. Hope this article was helpful? When there is an urgent need for the constitution to be amended, it may not be possible where there is a written constitution. Further, its easier to give specific directions if you can narrow things down by state boundaries. Although, other laws may be incorporated into it by reference in its provisions. Korean Dog Meat Farm Rescue, Below are the merits and demerits (advantages and disadvantages)… Read More » Read the full details and features of the Richards constitution here. On one hand, this is a good feature of a written constitution. Understanding Federalism: Diffenent models-Different Challenges Advantages-Disadvantages By Dr. Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis Former Minister of Foreign Affairs At the roundtable discussion organized by the European Parliament Office in Cyprus: “Federal States in the EU: Challenges and Opportunities” 21 December 2015 1 but on the other hand it is a disadvantage of a written constitution because that will lead to slow government activities and may also lead to the ineffectiveness of the government due to the fact that it has to answer to all the actions brought against it by citizens of the state. This makes it difficult for dictators and tyrants leaders to change the constitution to whatever they want. Also read: Best science courses to study in the university 2020. Shey you don hear, abeg no thief our contents o! Splitting the country up into manageable chunks makes it easier to govern. More so, a written constitution makes it  very easy for citizens to make reference to the constitution as the only Supreme law of the land that should guide them but this will not be possible where the constitution is not documented in a single document. Supernatural Twin Bedding, A written constitution, with its rigid constitution is not suitable for every type of government. 19 Advantages and Disadvantages of Constitutional Monarchy. For example, there are no state National Guard that could be dispatched in emergency, troops would have to be mobilized from national authority. 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Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Another advantage and reason why most countries prefer a written constitution to an unwritten constitution is because, it cannot be easily tempered with. Where its provisions are inadequate, it may not favour some sections of the country, and it may lead to disaffection and violent outburst as it provisions cannot be quickly amended to address the grievances. So, what is a written constitution? Merits and Demerits of Richards constitution of 1946. In most heterogeneous countries of the world, written constitution is used to bring about a uniform law in the state so as to promote unity and growth in the state. Each entity is given the power to share control over the same geographic region as another entity. Read the full details and features of the Richards constitution here. It depends on the nature of politics and value of citizens of the country. Amendments Process: Change can come to the Constitution, but protections are in place to protect it from political whims and mass public hysteria. Thus, the court will be flooded with a lot of cases to handle. A disadvantage of a confederacy is that it encourages disunity since component units retain a considerable amount of power and take care of their own foreign policy. The disadvantages of using this type of system are it has slow government response. Coupled with this, citizens can also sue the government to ensure that it performs its governmental duties. There are two main advantages to having a federal constitution. In Nigeria, for instance, it is very difficult to tamper with the provisions of the constitution. It lays emphasis on rule of law. The socio-economic stability of a country depends on all these factors. 5 It could reduce tribal conflicts or help in address them as quickly as possible. Leeches Movie 2019, As I have stated before, a written constitution is not free from flaws. This definition also state that the rules are codified in a document known as the constitution. No Rest For The Wicked Meme, Why some people are crying that the constitution be amended, some comfortable with its provisions. New Zealand does not have a written consititution. Helpful in meeting emergencies since it can be easily amended. This is basically to aid researchers and legal scholars in their research works on the types of constitution. 3. It provides a system of equality to the government structure. This is where I will stop in today’s article. Describe the disadvantages of federalism. Federal decentralisation makes governments easier for the people to supervise and results in better decisionmaking. In Nigeria for instance, it is deemed that the Constitution of the country supports the Northerners more than the people in the south. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. What this means is that there is a federal government who is above all others, and smaller, more localized forms of governments that take control of local and regional issues. Now that you have known the merits of a written constitution, it is important to also highlight the demerits of this type of constitution too. Although, other laws may be incorporated into it by reference in its provisions. Weaknesses of the Constitution. Sajir Meaning, This is because the constitution is not easily amended and may take a long time which is not good. 1. Incubus 5e, A constitution is a framework of legislation and principles that govern a country or state. Cedartown High School Football Coach, 3. 2. Ten Advantages of a Federal Constitution: And How to Make the Most of Them sheds new light on the current constitutional debate by outlining why a federal system of government excels. 6. Federal Government Directory, Required fields are marked *. Henry County, Ohio Board Of Commissioners, Governance becomes easier. This is unlike an unwritten constitution because a written constitution is contained in one single document. The UK, on the other hand, appears to have an unwritten constitution. More so, It is simple to ascertain because it is found in one document and can be read and understood by the people to know their right and duties. It is indispensable to federalism. In fact, it requires the consent of almost every member of the state for the constitution to the changed. Bscholarly is an education and legal blog that is focused on disseminating Legal tips/news, Court judgments, Case Summaries, Admission News and school tips for scholars all over the world. The Advantipages And Disadvantages Of Federalism 738 Words | 3 Pages. Unless it is liberally interpreted by the courts and also timeously frequently amended in a spirit of give and take like the US constitution, such country may find itself in a strait Jacket as its rigid provisions will not meet present and future needs of the country. How have the political and economic relationships between the states and federal government evolved since the early 1800s? This is obviously the case in most African countries today. Strengths of the Constitution. Since component units are g… Just like I explained in the second point, when there is a comprehensively written constitution, it is usually difficult for dictators to rule the state. The advantages of an unwritten constitution far outweigh the disadvantages (40) You must make a judgement. Evidence comes in the form of the limited number of amendments since 1787. Disadvantages of an unwritten constitution. Carroll County Schools Coronavirus, advantages and disadvantages of constitution, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Henry County, Ohio Board Of Commissioners. Chief among them are economic disparities across states, race-to-the-bottom dynamics (i.e., states compete to attract business by lowering taxes and regulations), and the difficulty of taking action on issues of national importance. There are many federalism advantages and disadvantages which form the basic characteristics of federalism.These benefits and demerits affect the nation immensely. The communist governments were the only regimes in history ever to suppress the right of exit almost completely. of government they deem will be most receptive to their policy views. Evidence comes in the form of the limited number of amendments since 1787. Copyright © 2020 Bscholarly LLC | All Rights Reserved, Advantages of a written constitution (Merits), It is easy to understand the content of the constitution, It reduces clash of functions of the arms of government, Disadvantages of a written constitution (Demerits), It may not favour every part of the state. The federal division of powers hampers the rise of despotic central government and thus protects liberty. Difficult to ascertain the unconstitutionality of an act. advantages and disadvantages of a written constitution. 1. Accordingly, I have highlighted the advantages and disadvantages of the system. This brings us to another advantage of a written constitution, which is that it reduces the clash of functions of the arms of government. Costa Rica Animals, Take for instance, in Nigeria, the powers of the executive, legislature and executives are provided for in section 4, 5 and 6 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria respectively. It is easy for citizens to know when their rights have been breached, when the acts of government or public officials are unconstitutional, so that they can sue based on the provisions of the constitution. It is easy to refer to it when there is dispute and it helps to prevent the arbitrary and dictorial tendencies of rulers since boundary of their powers are known and they can be challenged and stopped. O'hare Airport Departures, 6 The federalism will bring government closer to the people and easy to identify the problems faced by people and to address them as soon as possible. Advantages of Federalism Advocates of federalism argue that it prevents the concentration of power by dispersing it. Written constitutions usually spell out the organs of government, their powers and duties and their relationship. Is Lax Open, Weaknesses of the Constitution. I have highlighted some of the advantages (merits) and disadvantages (demerits) of a written constitution. Lord Bamford House Barbados, Note that from time to time, I will update this work with more relevant information to the topic. 3. Greenville, Sc Inmate Search, It may encourage frequent litigation, as people can easily know when their rights have been breached: It is suitable for a heterogeneous state alone. In my view, the best type of constitution depends solely on the political nature of the state/country in question. It should be noted, however, that just as a written constitution has many advantages, it also has disadvantages. Keeping centralized power in check. Constitution is necessary for the coordinating of a state as it involves the fundamental rules and regulations in which a state exists . It is usually unclear and uncertain. 1. Written constitution are mostly rigid, with cumbersome amendment procedure, which leads to the problem of how to easily amend it to make it suit changing needs and time. Kindly drop a message in the comment box below if you found this article interesting. It reduces the incidence of friction between the various arms and organs of the government, since their powers and functions are clearly spelt out and limited by the constitution. The constitution has clearly stipulated in Article 1 and Article 46 that Ethiopia is a federal democratic state and … It is submitted by legal scholars that the ammendment procedure of a written constitution should not be too rigid, but reasonable with a sprinkling of justifiable safeguards to guard against frivolous, unjust and selfish amendments. Since the rights and obligations of the government are also contained in that single document known as the constitution, citizens will always know when their rights have been breached and they will always bring actions in the court. By doing this, no organ of government will be in control of excessive powers. Federalism Advantages and Disadvantages. Strengths of the Constitution. As I have already stated, a written constitution is best suitable in a heterogeneous society. THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF FEDERALISM Federalism is a form of government that allows for more than one central entity to have power. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Workingirls Streaming, Collecting small levy and fine is a more efficient task for the local or regional governments rather than the central government. Essential in a Federation: A written constitution is essential for a federation. Below are the merits and demerits (advantages and disadvantages)…. Your email address will not be published. Federalism’s Disadvantages Critics argue that federalism falls short in two ways: Prevents the creation of a national policy: The United States does not have a single policy on issues; instead, it has fifty-one policies, which often leads to confusion. One disadvantage of the written constitution is that it is more rigid and may therefore be less responsive and adaptable than an unwritten one. Ratified in 1788, the document contains 27 amendments is readily available to read online. It does not allow for flexibility. As we continue, i will discuss the disadvantages of a written constitution. what are the advantages or disadvantages of a federal system? Advantages: It defines the nation, its structure, and powers and lack of powers, and thereby guarantees order and (mostly) liberty. A written and rigid constitution is more suitable for a federal, multi-tier system of government, a diverse population with minorities and advantaged groups, a so forth in under to allay fear of misrule, marginalization and injustice. It is free from doubts and ambiguity. The Soviet authorities well knew that if their subjects should ever seize or be granted that right, the commun… Baby Tumbler Bottle, That mistake has been corrected. Sugar Ray Every Morning Release Date, Describe the advantages of federalism. Audl Rules, Thank you Lina Li. So far, i have explained the meaning of bicameralism or bicameral legislature. This common misconception stems from the fact that the l… © 2014 - 2020 | All Rights Reserved | OldNaija, advantages and disadvantages of richards constitution. This is unlike an unwritten constitution because a written constitution is contained in one single document. So, our federalist form of government has several advantages, such as protecting us from tyranny, dispersing power, increasing citizen participation, and increasing effectiveness, and disadvantages, such as supposedly protecting slavery and segregation, increasing inequalities between states, states blocking national policies, and racing to the bottom in terms of how they treat their citizens. 15 Advantages and Disadvantages of Federalism. Below are the demerits of a written constitution: The fact that a written constitution is difficult to amend is both an advantage and a disadvantage at the same time. Australia’s federal system is being attacked and undermined with debate focussing solely on its disadvantages. Also see: Features of Clifford Constitution of 1922. Disadvantages of an unwritten constitution. Baldwin County High School, 1. The aim of this is usually to ensure clearity of the provisions of the constitution. Learn More. In this article, i will disclose the advantages and disadvantages of a written constitution. These words of Charles Cotesworth Pinckney of North Caro-lina spoken in the closing debate of the Philadelphia Convention, September 15, 1787, are pertinent today to the suggestion sometimes One of the major advantages of a written constitution is the fact that it can be easily consulted. Disadvantages: It makes it damn hard for a despot to change the rules. This has indirectly contributed to the rivalries in the two regions. Features of democracy: 7 Key Features of a Democratic government, See the characteristics of customary law in Nigeria, Pillars of democracy: 4 major pillars of a democratic government. Land Conservancy Of Canada, In this way, a written constitution may help to ensure stability and also promote the principle of separation of powers amongst the organs of the government. A federal government presupposes the division of powers between the central government and the governments of the units. The advantages of an unwritten constitution far outweigh the disadvantages (40) You must make a judgement. For instance, a unitary system of government, which is usually small in size and good for a homogeneous population needs a flexible and easily amenable constitution for quick decision making of government. Effingham County Rebels Mascot, Arguably, the most well-known is the US constitution. DISADVANTAGES OF A FEDERAL CONS'TITUTIONAL CONVENTION Ralph M. Carson*?^g"C ONVENTIONS are serious things and ought not to be repeated." 5. Corroborating this definition, Politics.co.uk defines a written constitution as a formal document defining the nature of the constitutional settlement, the rules that govern the political system and the rights of citizens and governments in a codified form. That this right of exit is a political right as important but much older than the right to vote is obvious from the events leading up to the fall of the Soviet Union. Preveza Greece Map, Here, the laws of the state are not written down on different documents, they are all compied in one single document called the constitution. Disadvantages of a rigid constitution include: It doesn't keep pace with the fast-changing social environment It hinders the process of social development because of its inability to change easily It is a source of hindrance during emergencies Merits and Demerits of Richards constitution of 1946, Letter from Lt. Col. Ojukwu to Lt. Col. Victor Banjo commanding him to liberate Western Nigeria, Download Soyoyo by Musiliu Haruna Ishola Mp3, The Nigerian Independence Constitution of 1960, Comprehensive History of Ilorin and the Reign of Afonja, Today In Nigerian History: First Military Coup In Nigeria on Jan 15 1966, Ibini Ukpabi- The Long Juju of Arochukwu And A Passage of No Return, 30 Facts About Nigerian Leaders That Will Leave You Really Amazed, The Kano Riot of 1953 – Causes and Effects, Orishas (Deities) worshipped in Yoruba Land, A Picture Showing Valentine’s Day Celebration in 1965, Nigeria, The Igbo Landing – Story Of Igbo Slaves Who Rebelled Against Slave Traders And Committed Mass Suicide In U.S.A., 1803. Fear of a tyrannical national government was a motivating factor behind federalism, separation of powers, and the Bill of Rights. Since it is trying to take the place of federal and state governments, the unitary governments typical get bloated and bog… Technically speaking, however, the UK’s constitution is notunwritten. The people are given ... 2. A written constitution is thus a safeguard of individual liberty. It usually spell out the procedure for its amendment as may be necessary to meet the changing needs of the country. The Constitution of the United States provides for a separation of powers to exist between state and federal governments. Corroborating this definition, Politics.co.uk defines a written constitution as a formal document defining the nature of the constitutional settlement, the rules that govern the political system and the rights of citizens and governments in a codified form. Your email address will not be published. However the Britain constitution involves a written foundation such as the statutes. Advantages And Disadvantages Of The Britain Constitution 1449 Words | 6 Pages. Federalism is a system of government where power is divided between several different entities. 3.5 Advantages and Disadvantages of Federalism Learning Objectives By the end of this section, you will be able to: Discuss the advantages of federalism; Explain the disadvantages of federalism The federal design of our Constitution has had a profound effect on U.S. politics. 10. The definition of federalism is straightforward: it is the federal principle or system of government. Meanwhile, if you still have questions or contributions to make on the merits and demerits of a written constitution, please share it with us using the comment section. Several positive and negative attributes of federalism have manifested themselves in the U.S. political system. ADVANTAGES 1. When a centralized government is not the only power in a count… Federalism also comes with drawbacks. OldNaija Historical Exhibition Project. Frequently litigations leads to delays in government activities and it also presents the problem of interpretation of the provisions of the constitution among the judges, while the judges are liberal, visionary, forward looking and progressive, others may be conservative, timid or more executive than the executive in interpretating the constitution whereby slowing down the pace of legal reform and development of a country. Put in a different way, the best type of constitution for “Country A” may not be the best for “Country B“. Several positive and negative attributes of federalism have manifested themselves in the U.S. political system. It can be easily consulted. This is why there is still arguments amongst as to whether a written constitution is the best type of constitution or not. One of the reasons for this is because, it is easier and faster to consult or reference a written constitution. Since the rules and regulations guiding the state are not contained in one single document, there is always ... 2. This is the key characteristic of a written constitution. Every form of government has certain pros and cons. Unauthorized use or duplication of our contents without express and written permission from us is strictly prohibited. The written constitution is very clear and precise. 3. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full credit is given to OldNaija which must include appropriate and specific backlink to the original content on our website. THE DRAWBACKS OF FEDERALISM. Advantage And Disadvantages Of Federalism. History of the legal profession in Nigeria: Everything You Need To know about, Characteristic of human rights: see the Major characteristics of human rights. Stark economic differences across states have a profound effect on the well-being of … Below are some of the countries that have a written constitution in the world: I enjoin you watch the video below to understand the differences between a written and an unwritten constitution. Written constitution is usually rigid in nature because of its mode of amendment and it cannot be frivolously tampered with, although it can be amended when found necessary.