Select World Constitutions (Vol. 2)

Each of the 192 states in the world has its systems of laws enshrined in its Constitution. Each Constitution has certain identifiable characteristics depending upon the system of government preferred by its framers, like democracy, monarchy, republic, autocracy, federal or religious state, etc. There are different systems and procedures within each of these categories on the basis of which each state can be identified and studied. The general features of the Constitution include, inter alia, the relative importance of legislative, executive and judicial branches of government along with the purposes or ideals sought to be achieved by the state such as freedom of the individual, equality, maintenance of public order and promotion of civil liberties. However, in many new states formed after the breaking up of large empires, the political theories have been put on the back-burner, and new set-ups that facilitate rapid economic growth are now being preferred. Many new as well as old states are now giving precedence to a combination of different constitutional theories to suit their socio-political, religious and economic heritage.