PGC (Team Teaching w/ Dr. Tangco) - Kinds of Constitutions

Constitutions can be classified in three ways.  Each classification has two possible kinds.  Hence a particular state's constitution will have three traits.

A.  According to the origin - how was the constitution created?

1. Cummulative - The constitution is the product of years of adding and changing to the law.  No convention (meeting of representatives) created the law.  Rather as the state evolved, the rules was also compiled and developed.
2. Conventional or enacted - The basic way of making a constitution follows enactment (the process wherein the people or their representatives approve the law).  In this process a Constituent Assembly (composed of the present lawmakers) or Constitutional Convention (composed of newly elected representatives) will meet and draft the law for approval by the people through a Plebiscite.

B.  According to the form 

1. Written - Most laws are generally in a written form.  Like the Philippine constitution, it is a written document.
2. Unwritten - Certain states have oral traditions and customs.  These compose their constitution.  The policies are passed down from generation to generation.  The most common example is the constitution of England wherein many customs of government are unwritten.

C.  According to the ease of amendment

1. Rigid or Inelastic - The constitution is not easily changed.  If policies need to be changed, it will take a complex process.  And the vote required for the approval requires a higher number than majority (majority equals one-half plus one).
2. Flexible or Elastic - The constitution can easily be changed.  Simple process and the number of votes required is simply majority.