Difference between Written Constitution and Unwritten Constitution

PERTANYAAN

Please explain written and unwritten constitutions, and what are the differences between written and unwritten constitutions?

INTISARI JAWABAN

Sri Soemantri Martosoewignjo divides the constitution into two understandings, namely in a broad meaning and in a narrow meaning. The constitution in a broad meaning describes the entire constitutional system of a country, which is written and unwritten. While the constitution in a narrow meaning, is set forth in a document, such as the fundamental law/legislation.

One of the constitutional classifications is the written constitution and the unwritten constitution. Then, what is the definition of a written and unwritten constitution and what are the differences?

Please read the review below for a further explanation.

 

ULASAN LENGKAP

This article is an English translation of Perbedaan Konstitusi Tertulis dan Konstitusi Tidak Tertulis written by Nafiatul Munawaroh, S.H., M.H and was published on Monday, 7 August 2023.

This article below is an update of the article with the same title, written by David Christian, S.H., and was first published on Monday, 30 May 2022.

All legal information available on Klinik hukumonline.com has been prepared for educational purposes only and is general in nature (read the complete Disclaimer). In order to obtain legal advice specific to your case, please consult with Justika Partner Consultant.

Definition of Constitution

The term constitution comes from the French constituer, which means to form. What is meant by forming here is forming a state.[1]

Meanwhile, according to M. Solly Lubis, the term constitution which means forming is interpreted as the formation of a state, or compiling and declaring a state.[2]

According to Jimly Asshidiqie, in the Konstitusi dan Konstitusionalisme Indonesia, the concept of constitution also includes the notion of written rules, customs, and state conventions that determine the composition and position of state organs, regulate relations between state organs and rules about the relationship between state organs and citizens.[3]

While Sri Soemantri Martosoewignjo divides the constitution in two understandings, namely:[4]

1. In a broad definition, it describes the entire constitutional system of a country, which is a collection of rules that form, regulate or govern the state. Some of these rules are written as decisions of authorized bodies and some are unwritten in the form of usages, understandings, customs, or conventions.
2. In a narrow definition, they are set out in a document, such as a constitution.

A constitution is considered to be a law or fundamental rule of a state, in written or unwritten form that shapes the characteristics and concepts of government, containing fundamental principles to be observed as the basis of state life, control of government, regulation, division and limitation of the different functions of the departments as well as a broad elaboration of matters relating to the testing of sovereign power. Simplified, a constitution is a charter of delegation of authority from the people to the government.[5]

Written Constitution

In English, constitution means fundamental legislation/law. The word constitution is translated as fundamental law because of the Dutch and German custom of colloquially using the words grondwet (grond: basis; wet: law) and grundgesetz (grund: basis; gesetz: law). Both indicate the fundamental law as a written manuscript.[6]

Thus, a written constitution is a constitution set forth in a document or manuscript. The definition of a written constitution is like the definition of a constitution according to K.C. Wheare, which is the result of a selection of legal regulations governing the government of the country and has been compiled in a document.[7]

Wheare in his book Modern Constitutions (Konstitusi- Konstitusi Modern) disagrees with the division of written and unwritten constitutions. According to Wheare, a better distinction is a country that has a written constitution and does not have a written constitution. Or simply, countries that have a constitution and do not have a constitution. This is because Wheare tends to refer to the definition of a constitution as a written constitution.[8]

In the Indonesian context, the 1945 Constitution is an example of a written constitution that acts as the supreme law of the land. This is stated in Article 7 section (1) Law 12/2011.

Also read: Hierarchy of Laws and Legislation in Indonesia

The fundamental law as a written constitution, implements an idea of constitutionalism which basically states that the state as an organization of power must be limited in exercising its power so that there is no arbitrariness by the state against the people.[9]

Unwritten Constitution

In addition to the written constitution, there is an unwritten constitution (onschreven constitutie) which is also included in the notion of gerund-norms or basic norms or basic laws (basic principles).[10]

Continuing the explanation above, according to John Alder, the definition of an unwritten constitution is the values and norms of constitutional law that are considered ideal but are not written, must also be accepted as binding constitutional norms in the implementation of state activities.[11]

The values and norms in question can be in the form of collective thoughts and can also be in the form of realities of behavior that live in the society of the country concerned.[12] Examples of unwritten constitutions are generally manifested in the form of conventions.[13]

An example of a country that does not have a written constitution is England. However, the principles included in the constitution in England are stated in regular laws such as the bill of rights.[14]

Differences between Written and Unwritten Constitutions

Thus, to answer your question, the difference between written and unwritten constitutions lies in the writing of the text/manuscript. A written constitution is written in a text or several texts, while an unwritten constitution contains provisions regarding government that are not written in a specific text, but in many instances such as conventions or regular laws.[15]

Also read: Definition of Constitutional Convention and Examples in Indonesia

It should be noted here that it is impractical to make a principled distinction between written and unwritten constitutions. The term unwritten constitution is only used in contrast to modern constitutions which are usually written in a manuscript or several manuscripts. The emergence of written constitutions was due to the influence of the codification school.[16]

These are the answers we can provide, we hope you will find them useful.

Legal Basis:

Law Number 12 of 2011 on the Establishment of Laws and Regulations as amended by Law Number 15 of 2019 on Amendment to Law Number 12 of 2011 on Establishments of Laws and Regulations and secondly amended by Law Number 13 of 2022 on the Amendment to Law Number 12 of 2011 on the Establishment of Laws and Regulations.

Reference:

1. Astim Riyanto. Teori Konstitusi. Bandung: Yapemdo, 2000;
2. Ellydar Chaidir. Hukum dan Teori Konstitusi. Yogyakarta: Kreasi Total Media, 2007;
3. Janpatar Simamora. Mengkaji Substansi UUD NRI Tahun 1945 Dalam Hakikatnya Sebagai Hukum Dasar Tertulis. Jurnal Legislasi Indonesia, Vol. 12, No. 3, 2015;
4. Jimly Asshiddiqie. Pengantar Ilmu Hukum Tata Negara Jilid 1. Jakarta: Sekretariat Jenderal dan Kepaniteraan Mahkamah Konstitusi RI, 2006;
5. Jimly Asshidiqie. Konstitusi dan Konstitusionalisme Indonesia. Jakarta: Sinar Grafika, 2011;
6. C. Wheare. Konstitusi-konstitusi Modern. Cetakan kelima. Bandung: Nusa Media, 2015;
7. Solly Lubis. Hukum Tata Negara. Bandung: Mandar Maju, 2008;
8. Mahfud MD. Demokrasi dan Konstitusi di Indonesia. Yogyakarta: Liberty, 1993;
9. Miriam Budiardjo. Dasar-Dasar Ilmu Politik. Edisi Revisi, Jakarta: Gramedia Pustaka Utama, 2008;
10. Sri Soemantri Martosoewignjo. Prosedur dan Perubahan Konstitusi. Bandung: Alumni, 1987.

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[1] Astim Riyanto. Teori Konstitusi. Bandung: Yapemdo, 2000, p. 17.

[2] M Solly Lubis. Hukum Tata Negara. Bandung: Mandar Maju, 2008, p. 37.

[3] Jimly Asshidiqie. Konstitusi dan Konstitusionalisme Indonesia. Jakarta: Sinar Grafika, 2011, p. 17.

[4] Sri Soemantri Martosoewignjo. Prosedur dan Perubahan Konstitusi. Bandung: Alumni, 1987, p. 21.

[5] Ellydar Chaidir. Hukum dan Teori Konstitusi. Yogyakarta: Kreasi Total Media, 2007, p. 35.

[6] Miriam Budiardjo. Dasar-Dasar Ilmu Politik. Edisi Revisi. Jakarta: Gramedia Pustaka Utama, 2008, p. 169.

[7] K.C. Wheare. Konstitusi-konstitusi Modern. Cetakan kelima. Bandung: Nusa Media, 2015, p. 3.

[8] K.C. Wheare. Konstitusi-konstitusi Modern. Cetakan kelima. Bandung: Nusa Media, 2015, p. 23.

[9] Mahfud MD. Demokrasi dan Konstitusi di Indonesia, Yogyakarta: Liberty, 1993, pp. 28-29.

[10] Jimly Asshiddiqie. Pengantar Ilmu Hukum Tata Negara Jilid 1. Jakarta: Sekretariat Jendral dan Kepaniteraan Mahkamah Konstitusi RI, 2006, pp. 166-167.

[11] Jimly Asshiddiqie. Pengantar Ilmu Hukum Tata Negara Jilid 1. Jakarta: Sekretariat Jendral dan Kepaniteraan Mahkamah Konstitusi RI, 2006, p. 167.

[12] Jimly Asshiddiqie. Pengantar Ilmu Hukum Tata Negara Jilid 1. Jakarta: Sekretariat Jendral dan Kepaniteraan Mahkamah Konstitusi RI, 2006, p. 167.

[13] Janpatar Simamora. Mengkaji Substansi UUD NRI Tahun 1945 Dalam Hakikatnya Sebagai Hukum Dasar Tertulis. Jurnal Legislasi Indonesia, 2016, p. 6.

[14] Jimly Asshiddiqie. Pengantar Ilmu Hukum Tata Negara Jilid 1. Jakarta: Sekretariat Jendral dan Kepaniteraan Mahkamah Konstitusi RI, 2006, p. 148.

[15] Jimly Asshiddiqie. Pengantar Ilmu Hukum Tata Negara Jilid 1. Jakarta: Sekretariat Jendral dan Kepaniteraan Mahkamah Konstitusi RI, 2006, p. 148.

[16] Jimly Asshiddiqie. Pengantar Ilmu Hukum Tata Negara Jilid 1. Jakarta: Sekretariat Jendral dan Kepaniteraan Mahkamah Konstitusi RI, 2006, p. 148.