Word: unwritten
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...pomp and circumstance are not meaningless pageantry. Parliament's ritualized opening is a reminder of the enduring roles of British tradition, of the monarchy and of the two houses of Parliament. All contribute to an unwritten constitution etched in customs and laws but not contained in a single document. The constitution has evolved in this way, says Historian Philip Norton, because, since the Norman invasion in 1066, there has been no point at which the system "has been completely swept away, allowing those in power to sit down and create from first principles a new and clearly delineated form...
...precise constitutional tenets are loosely defined, but basically they are laws adopted by Parliament, common law, international agreements, and "conventions," or unwritten rules that have developed over the centuries. For example, in theory the monarch has the right to withhold assent to any bill passed by Parliament. The last time that happened was in 1707, when Queen Anne vetoed the Scottish Militia Bill. Constitutional experts believe such an exercise in magisterial power today would cause a political crisis, possibly leading to the end of the monarchy...
Many Britons point out that an unwritten constitution gives their country more flexibility than it would have with a written document. Making any change in the law of the land is as simple as passing an act of Parliament. Over the centuries, Parliament has become the arbiter of British rights and freedoms because the courts lack the jurisdiction to rule on the validity of legislation...
...World: From giant India to tiny Grenada, more than 160 countries have written charters modeled on the U.S. version. Britain: For a unique set of reasons, an unwritten constitution rules the isles. Soviet Union: A basic law guaranteeing rights and freedoms is faithfully observed, but not when it clashes with the interests of the state...
Helms could not visit the Soviet Union until now. He began his intelligence career with the OSS in 1943 and headed the CIA from 1966 to 1973. For 30 years he was the one who ran the spies. The unwritten but iron rule of the CIA was that no man who holds the secrets puts himself into a hostile environment...