# A question for non-Americans - does your country revere your constitution like America does? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 12, 2025, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-non-americans-does-your-country-revere-your-constitution-like-america-does/1014221 "2025-02-12T06:39:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-non-americans-does-your-country-revere-your-constitution-like-america-does/1014221/21 "2025-02-12T13:49:36Z")
> [@PatrickLondon](#): > > We may not refer to it constantly, but we understand it when we see it. Indeed. We don’t talk about it in our every day, but when Boris Johnson was trying to go all Trumpy and suspending Parliament, suddenly we had an awful lot of commentary about it being unconstitutional. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-non-americans-does-your-country-revere-your-constitution-like-america-does/1014221/22 "2025-02-12T13:59:56Z")
And a Supreme Court decision saying the prorogation was unconstitutional. Parliament resumed. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-non-americans-does-your-country-revere-your-constitution-like-america-does/1014221/23 "2025-02-12T14:05:37Z")
> [@Kropotkin](#): > > Thus the defiant declaration of British patriots, “you can have my weir when you take it from my cold, dead hands!” Newfoundlanders have a constitutional right to be able to buy margarine. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-non-americans-does-your-country-revere-your-constitution-like-america-does/1014221/24 "2025-02-12T14:42:16Z")
“You can have my oleorine when you pry it…” ---
**Author:** ![keeganst94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a6a055/32.png) [@keeganst94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/keeganst94)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-non-americans-does-your-country-revere-your-constitution-like-america-does/1014221/25 "2025-02-12T14:47:18Z")
I was certain you were joking about that… but nope (warning, pdf). [" **The British North America Act, 1949 (12-13 Geo.** **VI, c.** **22) brought Newfoundland into the Canadian Confederation**. Section 46 of the schedule to that act covered the understanding as to the continued manufacture and sale of margarine in Newfoundland."](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/NFLDS/article/download/540/885/0&ved=2ahUKEwip8J2drr6LAxUIvokEHTlqJW8QFnoECBQQAw&usg=AOvVaw1RTcDFnjJDVPwgxwL35Gtq) From a lovely publication “Margarine in Newfoundland History”. For anyone curious who doesn’t want to click the link, apparently margarine was banned elsewhere in Canada, but was a necessary staple in Newfoundland, which wasn’t suitable for much dairy production. The point became moot when the Supreme Court struck down margarine bans as unconstitutional that same year. ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-non-americans-does-your-country-revere-your-constitution-like-america-does/1014221/26 "2025-02-12T14:50:56Z")
Brave Hungarian peasant girl, who forced King John to sign the Pledge at Runnymede and close the boozers at half past ten. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-non-americans-does-your-country-revere-your-constitution-like-america-does/1014221/27 "2025-02-12T14:52:15Z")
> [@Kropotkin](#): > > “You can have my oleorine when you pry it…” Wouldn’t that be sorta messy and slippery? ---
**Author:** ![JoseB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/joseb/32/1530_2.png) [@JoseB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoseB)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-non-americans-does-your-country-revere-your-constitution-like-america-does/1014221/28 "2025-02-12T14:54:00Z")
Spaniard here. Our constitution dates from the late 1970s, after Franco died. It was approved in referendum on December 6, 1978 - a day that has been a national holiday since then. We look at our constitution in a kind of strange way… on the one hand we think that it has been one of the most important things to arise from the post-Franco transition into democracy. On the other, we feel a bit cynical because the 1978 constitution has been the n-th constitution to be promulgated in Spain… with all the previous ones having been diluted and ignored (by governments that only wanted the parts that were favorable to their own political positions) or outright torn out (by authoritarian kings and by dictatorships that took power at different times in our history). It is true that this one seems to be enduring, and we appreciate it a lot. But I would not say that we “worship” it. It is well written, as it was written through a consensus of learned people from across the whole political spectrum, trying to prevent the abuses of power that characterized the Franco dictatorship. One thing that happens is that it is tremendously hard to amend. The drafters of the constitution were aware of how often previous constitutions had been amended to accomodate the wishes of whoever was in power at the time, and on purpose they made the amendment process hard, and spanning at least two separate administrations (the amendment process begins during one administration, and is only ratified by the administration that is in power after the next general election - the amendment process also requires decisive majorities in congress and senate, a referendum, and confirmation of the amendment at the next administration). ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-non-americans-does-your-country-revere-your-constitution-like-america-does/1014221/29 "2025-02-12T14:54:13Z")
No more so than constitutional law, from what I hear! ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-non-americans-does-your-country-revere-your-constitution-like-america-does/1014221/30 "2025-02-12T14:55:05Z")
> [@keeganst94](#): > > From a lovely publication “Margarine in Newfoundland History”. Thanks for that link. Very interesting background. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-non-americans-does-your-country-revere-your-constitution-like-america-does/1014221/31 "2025-02-12T15:00:34Z")
> [@Kropotkin](#): > > No more so than constitutional law, from what I hear! That’s the beauty of it! ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-non-americans-does-your-country-revere-your-constitution-like-america-does/1014221/32 "2025-02-12T15:15:05Z")
> [@JoseB](#): > > One thing that happens is that it is tremendously hard to amend. The drafters of the constitution were aware of how often previous constitutions had been amended to accomodate the wishes of whoever was in power at the time, and on purpose they made the amendment process hard, and spanning at least two separate administrations (the amendment process begins during one administration, and is only ratified by the administration that is in power after the next general election - the amendment process also requires decisive majorities in congress and senate, a referendum, and confirmation of the amendment at the next administration). Canada’s amendment process requires Quebec to agree with the other provinces, so I think we’ve got you beat! ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-non-americans-does-your-country-revere-your-constitution-like-america-does/1014221/33 "2025-02-12T15:30:00Z")
That last amendment is a beauty. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-non-americans-does-your-country-revere-your-constitution-like-america-does/1014221/34 "2025-02-12T16:45:58Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > Canada’s amendment process requires Quebec to agree with the other provinces, so I think we’ve got you beat! Nope. No province has a veto for matters under the general formula, which requires 2/3 of the provinces, having at least 50% of the population, plus the feds. There are some things that require unanimous consent, so Quebec is in the same position on that one as all the other provinces. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-non-americans-does-your-country-revere-your-constitution-like-america-does/1014221/35 "2025-02-12T16:57:32Z")
I might not have been entirely serious in my response. 🙂 However, in practice, given the fallout from Meech Lake and Charlottetown, the chances of any constitutional change proceeding without Quebec seem pretty low. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-non-americans-does-your-country-revere-your-constitution-like-america-does/1014221/36 "2025-02-12T18:44:08Z")
> [@Jegpeg](#): > > Some people say the UK doesn’t have a constitution, but it really has an uncodified constitution. > > The supreme court and its predecessors have established constitutional principles such as the sovereignty of parliament, the rule of law, and democracy. The UK supreme court is a relatively recent development (or invention) and does not have anything like the powers of the US supreme court. > **[Supreme Court of the United Kingdom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_the_United_Kingdom)** > > The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom (initialism: UKSC) is the final court of appeal in the United Kingdom for all civil cases and all criminal cases originating in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as some limited criminal cases from Scotland.\[a\] As the United Kingdom's highest appellate court for these matters, it hears cases of the greatest public or constitutional importance affecting the whole population. > The Court usually sits in the Middlesex Guildhall in Westminster, tho... It has had nothing to do with establishing government principles historically. However this is really off-topic from the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-non-americans-does-your-country-revere-your-constitution-like-america-does/1014221/37 "2025-02-12T21:02:05Z")
Germany: Unlike the US, our constitution (the Grundgesetz, adopted in 1949) is not considered as fundamental to the existence of the _nation_, but pretty fundamental to the existence of the postwar order. A few differences to the US - The section on fundamental human and civil rights (articles 1-20) were put in the beginning for a reason, because the experience of the Nazi period shows that the rights of people are most important, and the state exist in service of those rights. - Outspoken respect for, and pride in the Constitution is very much a centrist thing (for a very wide value of centrist), because the Constitution safeguards liberal democracy, and both the extreme Left and the extreme Right oppose liberal democracy. - The Constitution is a _safe_ thing to be proud of, among the wide political spectrum where expressions of national pride are otherwise very much suspect. - The Constitution’s prestige is enhanced by a Constitutional Court with teeth and with proven mechanisms against being suborned by any one party, however powerful. The safeguards against packing the court are: Half of the judges are elected by the federal parliament (Bundestag), with a two thirds majority The other half are elected by the state chamber (Bundesrat), also with a two thirds majority Judges are limited to one term of 12 years, and must retire at age 68 This has proven effective against any attempt to pack the Court. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-non-americans-does-your-country-revere-your-constitution-like-america-does/1014221/38 "2025-02-12T21:42:24Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > That last amendment is a beauty. 80% Yes to mandatory retirement of High Court and Federal Court justices at age 70. Previously it was life tenure. Rationale: - a perceived need ‘to maintain vigorous and dynamic courts’ - a need to open up avenues for ‘able legal practitioners’ to achieve judicial positions - a growing community belief in a compulsory retiring age for judges - avoiding ‘the unfortunate necessity’ of removing a judge made unfit for office by declining health. ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-non-americans-does-your-country-revere-your-constitution-like-america-does/1014221/39 "2025-02-12T21:55:16Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > How many countries even have an official written constitution? > > It is, I think, common knowledge that the UK does not, for example. IIRC three countries don’t have a formal written constitution: Britain, New Zealand, and Israel. Most countries created one upon independence, revolution. or some other significant event. Not sure why Israel didn’t, maybe they couldn’t agree on one? ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-non-americans-does-your-country-revere-your-constitution-like-america-does/1014221/40 "2025-02-12T22:17:15Z")
I’m loving this conversation and learning so much. Thanks everyone! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-non-americans-does-your-country-revere-your-constitution-like-america-does/1014221.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-non-americans-does-your-country-revere-your-constitution-like-america-does/1014221.md?page=3)