1780
1800
1820
1840
1860
1880
1900
1920
1940
1960
1980
2000
2020
September 30, 1987
October 14, 1992
October 11, 1972
October 5, 1988
October 5, 1921
Country | Date Ratified↓ | Word Count | |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | Sudan | August 4, 2019 | |
![]() | Cuba | April 10, 2019 | 12,893 |
![]() | Thailand | April 6, 2017 | 7,683 |
![]() | Ivory Coast | November 8, 2016 | 7,897 |
![]() | Central African Republic | March 27, 2016 | 9,767 |
![]() | Nepal | September 20, 2015 | 32,753 |
![]() | Tunisia | January 26, 2014 | 9,508 |
![]() | Egypt | January 18, 2014 | 22,626 |
![]() | Vietnam | November 28, 2013 | 11,344 |
![]() | Fiji | September 6, 2013 | 40,773 |
![]() | Zimbabwe | May 9, 2013 | 55,883 |
![]() | Turks and Caicos Islands | October 15, 2012 | |
![]() | Somalia | August 1, 2012 | 19,823 |
![]() | Haiti | June 20, 2012 | 18,488 |
![]() | Syria | February 27, 2012 | 8,154 |
![]() | Libya | August 3, 2011 | |
![]() | South Sudan | July 9, 2011 | 27,191 |
![]() | Hungary | April 18, 2011 | 15,247 |
![]() | Niger | November 25, 2010 | 14,806 |
![]() | Madagascar | November 14, 2010 | 15,759 |
![]() | Curacao | October 10, 2010 | |
![]() | Sint Maarten | October 10, 2010 | |
![]() | Kenya | August 27, 2010 | 48,818 |
![]() | Kyrgyzstan | June 27, 2010 | 14,327 |
![]() | Guinea | May 7, 2010 | 12,707 |
![]() | Dominican Republic | January 26, 2010 | 29,710 |
![]() | Angola | January 21, 2010 | 27,181 |
![]() | Bolivia | February 7, 2009 | 39,375 |
![]() | Falkland Islands | January 1, 2009 | |
![]() | Ecuador | October 20, 2008 | 54,555 |
![]() | Maldives | August 7, 2008 | 23,991 |
![]() | Bhutan | July 18, 2008 | 13,632 |
![]() | Myanmar | May 29, 2008 | 40,492 |
![]() | Montenegro | October 19, 2007 | 11,572 |
![]() | British Virgin Islands | June 15, 2007 | |
![]() | Gibraltar | January 2, 2007 | |
![]() | Serbia | November 8, 2006 | 19,891 |
![]() | DR Congo | February 18, 2006 | 19,285 |
![]() | Iraq | October 15, 2005 | 11,550 |
![]() | Mozambique | December 21, 2004 | 24,171 |
![]() | Afghanistan | October 9, 2004 | 25,800 |
![]() | Qatar | April 9, 2004 | 6,848 |
![]() | Rwanda | May 26, 2003 | 16,940 |
![]() | Timor-Leste | May 20, 2002 | 15,307 |
![]() | Bahrain | February 14, 2002 | 10,806 |
![]() | Comoros | December 23, 2001 | 6,185 |
![]() | Senegal | January 1, 2001 | 10,866 |
![]() | Vatican City | November 26, 2000 | |
![]() | Finland | March 1, 2000 | 12,640 |
![]() | Venezuela | December 20, 1999 | 37,344 |
![]() | Nigeria | May 29, 1999 | 66,263 |
![]() | Switzerland | April 18, 1999 | 16,484 |
![]() | Albania | November 28, 1998 | 13,826 |
![]() | Eritrea | May 23, 1997 | 6,753 |
![]() | Poland | April 2, 1997 | 19,602 |
![]() | South Africa | February 4, 1997 | 43,062 |
![]() | Gambia | January 16, 1997 | 43,465 |
![]() | Algeria | December 8, 1996 | 10,038 |
![]() | Oman | November 6, 1996 | 7,233 |
![]() | Ukraine | June 28, 1996 | 19,299 |
![]() | Chad | March 31, 1996 | 11,768 |
![]() | Cameroon | January 18, 1996 | 8,444 |
![]() | Bosnia and Herzegovina | December 14, 1995 | 5,454 |
![]() | Azerbaijan | November 12, 1995 | 17,354 |
![]() | Uganda | October 8, 1995 | 49,448 |
![]() | Kazakhstan | August 30, 1995 | 13,482 |
![]() | Georgia | August 24, 1995 | 11,490 |
![]() | Ethiopia | August 21, 1995 | 13,630 |
![]() | Armenia | July 5, 1995 | 13,786 |
![]() | Tajikistan | November 6, 1994 | 7,917 |
![]() | Moldova | July 29, 1994 | 12,818 |
![]() | Malawi | May 16, 1994 | 33,422 |
![]() | Belarus | March 15, 1994 | 13,278 |
![]() | Peru | December 31, 1993 | 19,216 |
![]() | Russia | December 12, 1993 | 12,908 |
![]() | Macau | March 31, 1993 | |
![]() | Andorra | February 2, 1993 | 8,740 |
![]() | Czech Republic | December 16, 1992 | 14,580 |
![]() | Uzbekistan | December 8, 1992 | 7,941 |
![]() | Lithuania | October 25, 1992 | 12,214 |
![]() | Togo | October 14, 1992 | 10,252 |
![]() | Slovakia | October 1, 1992 | 18,402 |
![]() | Djibouti | September 15, 1992 | 6,666 |
![]() | Estonia | June 28, 1992 | 11,344 |
![]() | Paraguay | June 20, 1992 | 25,461 |
![]() | Turkmenistan | May 18, 1992 | 5,735 |
![]() | Ghana | April 28, 1992 | 53,985 |
![]() | Burundi | March 9, 1992 | 17,574 |
![]() | Saudi Arabia | March 1, 1992 | 6,335 |
![]() | Mongolia | January 13, 1992 | 8,250 |
![]() | Mali | January 12, 1992 | 7,503 |
![]() | Slovenia | December 23, 1991 | 11,406 |
![]() | Romania | November 21, 1991 | 14,663 |
![]() | Equatorial Guinea | November 17, 1991 | 5,575 |
![]() | North Macedonia | November 17, 1991 | 13,486 |
![]() | Laos | August 14, 1991 | 4,820 |
![]() | Bulgaria | July 12, 1991 | 13,641 |
![]() | Mauritania | July 12, 1991 | 6,997 |
![]() | Colombia | July 4, 1991 | 46,902 |
![]() | Burkina Faso | June 11, 1991 | 10,030 |
![]() | Yemen | May 16, 1991 | |
![]() | Croatia | December 22, 1990 | 10,898 |
![]() | Benin | December 2, 1990 | 11,386 |
![]() | Hong Kong | April 4, 1990 | |
![]() | Namibia | February 9, 1990 | 24,198 |
![]() | Brazil | October 5, 1988 | 64,488 |
![]() | Suriname | September 30, 1987 | 12,488 |
![]() | Philippines | February 2, 1987 | 21,954 |
![]() | Nicaragua | January 1, 1987 | 20,535 |
![]() | Guatemala | January 14, 1986 | 28,692 |
![]() | Liberia | January 6, 1986 | 11,667 |
![]() | Aruba | January 1, 1986 | |
![]() | Guinea-Bissau | May 6, 1984 | 7,820 |
![]() | El Salvador | December 20, 1983 | 22,823 |
![]() | Saint Kitts and Nevis | June 23, 1983 | 49,643 |
![]() | China | December 4, 1982 | 10,960 |
![]() | Turkey | November 7, 1982 | 29,727 |
![]() | Honduras | January 20, 1982 | 23,434 |
![]() | Antigua and Barbuda | October 31, 1981 | 38,464 |
![]() | Belize | September 21, 1981 | 39,629 |
![]() | Guyana | October 6, 1980 | 46,221 |
![]() | Chile | September 11, 1980 | 25,821 |
![]() | Vanuatu | July 30, 1980 | 8,425 |
![]() | Palau | July 9, 1980 | |
![]() | Iran | December 3, 1979 | 16,179 |
![]() | Spain | December 6, 1978 | 17,608 |
![]() | Micronesia | October 1, 1978 | 5,271 |
![]() | Sri Lanka | September 7, 1978 | 40,085 |
![]() | Solomon Islands | May 31, 1978 | 31,826 |
![]() | Northern Mariana Islands | January 1, 1978 | |
![]() | Tanzania | April 25, 1977 | 35,651 |
![]() | Portugal | April 25, 1976 | 35,219 |
![]() | Trinidad and Tobago | March 29, 1976 | 32,567 |
![]() | Sao Tome and Principe | November 5, 1975 | 7,988 |
![]() | Papua New Guinea | September 16, 1975 | 58,490 |
![]() | Greece | June 11, 1975 | 26,989 |
![]() | Niue | October 19, 1974 | |
![]() | Pakistan | August 14, 1973 | 56,240 |
![]() | North Korea | December 25, 1972 | 7,364 |
![]() | Bangladesh | November 4, 1972 | 27,643 |
![]() | Panama | October 11, 1972 | 26,097 |
![]() | United Arab Emirates | December 2, 1971 | 11,557 |
![]() | Zambia | December 31, 2015 | 30,696 |
![]() | New Zealand | December 31, 2015 | |
![]() | Eswatini | December 31, 2004 | 48,604 |
![]() | Republic of the Congo | December 31, 2000 | 9,970 |
![]() | Sierra Leone | December 31, 1995 | 44,636 |
![]() | Cambodia | December 31, 1992 | 8,936 |
![]() | Lesotho | December 31, 1992 | 45,532 |
![]() | Seychelles | December 31, 1992 | 39,729 |
![]() | Cape Verde | December 31, 1991 | 32,132 |
![]() | Gabon | December 31, 1990 | 11,804 |
![]() | Grenada | December 31, 1990 | 33,737 |
![]() | Tuvalu | December 31, 1985 | 34,801 |
![]() | Canada | December 31, 1981 | |
![]() | Kiribati | December 31, 1978 | 26,080 |
![]() | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | December 31, 1978 | |
![]() | Marshall Islands | December 31, 1978 | 21,429 |
![]() | Saint Lucia | December 31, 1977 | 38,271 |
![]() | Dominica | December 31, 1977 | 36,080 |
![]() | Sweden | December 31, 1973 | |
![]() | San Marino | December 31, 1973 | |
![]() | Bahamas | December 31, 1972 | 41,835 |
![]() | Brunei | December 31, 1958 | 13,869 |
![]() | Israel | December 31, 1949 | |
![]() | United Kingdom | December 31, 1688 | |
![]() | Mauritius | March 12, 1968 | 37,320 |
![]() | Nauru | January 31, 1968 | 13,714 |
![]() | Barbados | November 30, 1966 | 34,144 |
![]() | Botswana | September 30, 1966 | 30,713 |
![]() | Singapore | August 9, 1965 | 40,076 |
![]() | Malta | September 21, 1964 | 31,820 |
![]() | Palestine | May 28, 1964 | |
![]() | Monaco | December 17, 1962 | 3,814 |
![]() | Morocco | December 14, 1962 | 15,897 |
![]() | Kuwait | November 11, 1962 | 8,197 |
![]() | Jamaica | January 1, 1962 | 38,048 |
![]() | Samoa | October 28, 1960 | 19,611 |
![]() | American Samoa | October 17, 1960 | |
![]() | Cyprus | August 16, 1960 | 37,006 |
![]() | France | October 4, 1958 | 10,180 |
![]() | Malaysia | August 27, 1957 | 64,080 |
![]() | Puerto Rico | July 25, 1952 | |
![]() | Jordan | January 11, 1952 | 10,239 |
![]() | India | November 26, 1949 | 146,385 |
![]() | Costa Rica | November 7, 1949 | 16,705 |
![]() | Germany | May 8, 1949 | 27,379 |
![]() | South Korea | July 17, 1948 | 9,059 |
![]() | Italy | December 22, 1947 | 11,708 |
![]() | Indonesia | August 18, 1945 | 5,915 |
![]() | Iceland | June 17, 1944 | 4,089 |
![]() | Ireland | December 29, 1937 | 16,007 |
![]() | Lebanon | May 23, 1926 | 6,296 |
![]() | Latvia | November 7, 1922 | 4,917 |
![]() | Liechtenstein | October 5, 1921 | 9,513 |
![]() | Austria | October 1, 1920 | 41,366 |
![]() | Mexico | February 5, 1917 | 57,087 |
![]() | Australia | January 1, 1901 | 17,318 |
![]() | Japan | February 11, 1889 | 4,998 |
![]() | Tonga | November 4, 1875 | 10,192 |
![]() | Luxembourg | October 17, 1868 | 5,601 |
![]() | Argentina | May 1, 1853 | 12,514 |
![]() | Denmark | May 25, 1849 | 6,221 |
![]() | Belgium | February 7, 1831 | 16,119 |
![]() | Uruguay | July 18, 1830 | 29,911 |
![]() | Netherlands | August 24, 1815 | 8,739 |
![]() | Norway | May 17, 1814 | 7,307 |
![]() | United States | June 21, 1788 | 7,762 |
A constitution is a legal document that outlines the government’s structure and the basic principles of ruling and governing a nation. Many countries have some sort of guidelines that function this way and can be in the form of a written or unwritten constitution. Without this set of rules, a state can’t function properly, and there would be anarchy. While the constitution doesn’t cover every issue, it’s mandatory to address fundamental matters like the distribution and the use of power.
A constitution addresses the legal, political, and social dimensions of a country. The legal dimension deals with the legislative process, the independence of the judiciary, the protection of human rights of citizens, the power of the Supreme court to invalidate legislation, and how to change the constitution. The document also addresses the political aspects relating to its governance, division, and separation of power between the three arms of government, the election process, and the relationship between the central, local, and provincial state entities. When it comes to the social dimension, the constitution declares certain ideals that are typical for its citizens.
A constitution can be codified or uncodified. A codified constitution is written in a single document and is often a product of drastic political change. Its legitimacy is tied to the process used to adopt it, and many countries with codified constitutions experience a high constitutional turnover. However, they give the constitution supremacy over ordinary statute law. This means if there’s a conflict between the codified constitution and a legal statute, all or part of the statute can be declared unconstitutional by the court.
On the other hand, an uncodified constitution is one where the fundamental rules take the form of customs, precedent, usage, and a variety of legal instruments and statutes. An understanding of this kind of constitution is obtained by the government, the judiciary, legal experts, or the government committees. Uncodified constitution is more adaptable, flexible, and resilient because all its elements may be (or maybe not) recognized by legislators and the courts as binding upon the government. It is this framework that’s sometimes referred to as an unwritten constitution. However, all the elements of an uncodified constitution are written in different official documents though not codified in one document.