Constitution

Most state constitutions contain the following elements:

· the principles upon which the constitution is based, such as the rule of law

· the nature of political institutions, including their roles, powers, limitations and how their members are elected or appointed

· the relationships between institutions, the distribution of power between them and the ways in which powers are distributed between the central authority and regional and local elements of the state

· the rights and duties of citizens and the ways in which these are safeguarded

· how laws are made and enforced

· how the constitution can be amended

· the geographical components of the state

· the relationship between the state and external organisations such as the European Union (EU)