Common questions about Constitution

Short answers, pulled from the story.

What is the longest written constitution in human history and how many words does it contain?

The Constitution of India is the longest written constitution in human history, containing 146,385 words in its English version. This document stands in contrast to the Constitution of Monaco, which is the shortest with merely 3,814 words.

When was the United States Constitution ratified and how long has it remained in force?

The United States Constitution was ratified on the 21st of June 1788 and has remained in force for over two centuries with only minor revisions. This longevity is an anomaly compared to the average lifespan of a written constitution since 1789, which is approximately 19 years.

Who issued the earliest known code of justice and when was it uncovered?

Ernest de Sarzec uncovered evidence of the earliest known code of justice in 1877 during excavations in modern-day Iraq. This code was issued by the Sumerian king Urukagina of Lagash and predates the Code of Ur-Nammu of Ur from around 2050 BC.

What is the average lifespan of a written constitution since 1789 and how many fail to survive a single year?

The average lifespan of a written constitution since 1789 is approximately 19 years, and around 10 percent fail to survive even a single year. The French Constitution of 1791 serves as an example of a document that did not last more than 10 years.

When was the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Constitution passed and what distinction does it hold?

The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Constitution was passed on the 3rd of May 1791 and is considered the first constitution of its kind in Europe and the world's second oldest after the American Constitution. This document was drafted by leading minds of the Enlightenment in Poland, including King Stanislaw August Poniatowski and Stanisław Staszic.