Q. Consider the following statements:

A Constitutional Government is one which

  1. Places effective restrictions on individual liberty in the interest of State Authority
  2. Places effective restrictions on the Authority of the State in the interest of individual liberty

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  • 1 only
  • 2 only
  • Both 1 and 2
  • Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (b) 2 only

Notes:
  • The Constitutional Government is defined by the existence of a constitution.
  • It can be a legal instrument or merely a set of fixed principles generally accepted as the fundamental law of the polity, that effectively controls the exercise of political power.
  • In a constitutional government, the constitution is the supreme law of the land. Nothing can contradict it.
  • Most constitutions not only specify how the government is to be structured but also guarantee citizens a number of rights and liberties. 
  • The idea behind constitutionalism is the control of power by its distribution among several state offices. The power is delegated to state offices but the central power remains with the main government.
  • The Constitutional Government places effective restrictions on the Authority of the State in the interest of individual liberty.
  • The citizens have the freedom to live and work in a society as they want. However, the citizens are abided by certain rules to follow for the betterment of the overall functions of the society.
  • That is why citizens are given the fundamental rights that no one can deprive them of.
Types of Constitutional Governments
  • There are two main types of constitutional government in the world: unitary and federal.
  • Unitary Government:
    • A unitary constitutional government is one in which there is a strong central government and no real regional or state governments.
    • France is an example of a country that has this sort of government.
    • One of the benefits of a unitary style of government is that it provides for national cohesion. There is uniformity throughout the country with regard to laws, economic policy, etc. Unitary governments are often less bureaucratic due to the fact that there are no regional or state government agencies that need to interact and coordinate with the federal government.
    • One of the major downsides to unitary government is that it concentrates a great deal of power in one place. This can lead to animosity among people in certain regions.
    • Besides France, other countries with unitary styles of government include:
      • Italy
      • Sweden
      • The Netherlands
      • Poland
      • New Zealand
      • Japan
  • Federal Government:
    • In contrast to unitary governments, federal governments cede a great deal of power to their regions, provinces, cantons, or states. Supreme authority in federal systems rests in the federal government, but regional governments are allowed, to varying degrees, to make their own laws and pursue their own government policies.
    • The degree of autonomy found in regions, provinces, cantons, or states varies from one country to another.
    • Switzerland, for example, grants its cantons enormous independence to set their own laws. One reason for this is that different cantons use different official languages.
    • One of the main disadvantages to a federal government is that it increases bureaucracy.