Features
In which we compare the written and unwritten constitutions of the United States and the United Kingdom, look at how parchment was produced, and talk to Professor Philippe Sands, expert in international law
The British Constitution
We are used to saying that the United Kingdom has an unwritten constitution. Unlike countries such as the United States, which has the oldest written constitution in the world, or the new Republic of South Africa that emerged in the 1990s, our country is not based on a founding document that tells us who we are and what we can do.
The US Constitution
Although the United Kingdom itself has never had a written constitution, many of the territories that have broken away from its rule throughout history have established their independence on the basis of such documents. Of these, the oldest – the oldest written constitution in the world, indeed – is that of the United States of America.
Parchment-making
King John of England authorised four handwritten copies of Magna Carta to be prepared on parchment and affixed with his seal - but what exactly is parchment, and how is it made?
ICONS meets Philippe Sands
Philippe Sands QC is a prominent barrister and a professor of law at University College, London, and an expert in international law and human rights. ICONS met him.
Where Can I See A Copy?
There are four original copies of Magna Carta in England, all with the great seal of King John. How did they come to be where they are?
