Outline six disadvantages of an unwritten constitution

Answer Details

An unwritten constitution is one whose principles and rules are not codified into a single document but are found scattered in conventions, customs, judicial decisions, statutes and historical documents, as in Britain. Its main disadvantages are as follows.

1. Uncertainty and vagueness: Because the rules are not gathered in one document, it is often difficult to know exactly what the constitution says, leading to confusion and disputes.
2. Easy to manipulate: Since much of it rests on unwritten conventions, an unscrupulous ruler can easily bend, ignore or manipulate the rules to serve selfish ends, which may pave the way for dictatorship.
3. Difficulty of reference: The absence of a single authoritative document makes it hard for citizens, lawyers and courts to consult and cite the constitution.
4. Not suitable for a heterogeneous or federal state: It cannot clearly define and share powers between levels of government, so it is unsuitable for federations or societies with diverse ethnic groups such as Nigeria.
5. Lack of protection for fundamental rights: The rights of citizens are not clearly and firmly entrenched, making them vulnerable to erosion by government.
6. Difficult for new or developing states to adopt: It depends on long-established traditions and mature political conventions which young nations do not yet possess.