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Multiple Choice

What is the correct term for the British constitution: unwritten or uncodified?

Uncodified is the best term. The British constitution isn’t contained in a single written document; instead, it rests on a mix of statute law, common law, and constitutional conventions. Because there isn’t one formal code that sets out every rule, it’s described as uncodified. People sometimes say it’s unwritten, since much isn’t in a single text, but that wording can be misleading because parts of it are actually written in statutes and case law. A codified constitution would mean a single, official document, which Britain does not have, and “partly unwritten” implies a clearer split than the standard description.

Uncodified is the best term. The British constitution isn’t contained in a single written document; instead, it rests on a mix of statute law, common law, and constitutional conventions. Because there isn’t one formal code that sets out every rule, it’s described as uncodified. People sometimes say it’s unwritten, since much isn’t in a single text, but that wording can be misleading because parts of it are actually written in statutes and case law. A codified constitution would mean a single, official document, which Britain does not have, and “partly unwritten” implies a clearer split than the standard description.