Transcription 21/6/2025, 1:32:56 p. m.

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Component 1: UK Political System 9 of 63 The Constitution • Introduction In the modern world, the political system of a state is organized according to rules and practices laid down in a constitution. The purpose of a constitution is to set out the powers and responsibilities of the different institutions of government and to describe the relationships between these institutions and between the government and the citizens. The USA, Germany, and France are examples of countries where a single document performs this role. The UK constitution, on the other hand, consists of a collection of written and unwritten elements. It has many sources rather than just one. • The Development of the UK Constitution The UK constitution is different from those of most of its neighbors because, for a long period, the country has not undergone a fundamental, transforming change, such as a revolution or a military defeat followed by occupation by a foreign power. Instead, the political system of the UK has evolved gradually and, at least since the civil wars of the 17th century, without dramatic breaks in continuity. This contrasts, for example, with the United States, whose constitution dates fr...