ARE CONSTITUTIONS NECESSARY? Does a state need a book of rules by which to operate? And who are those rules for, anyway?

The article examines the diverse roles and interpretations of constitutions across different historical and political contexts. It highlights the UK's uncodified constitution as a flexible cultural symbol shaped by imperial legacy, contrasting with the United States' codified Constitution, which serves as a legal framework balancing federal and state powers but whose interpretation by the Supreme Court has sometimes limited its democratic impact. The Cambodian Constitution, despite authoritarian realities, remains a contested site for both government control and opposition resistance. Additionally, the French Revolution illustrates how constitutions can reflect and reinforce prevailing political identities and exclusions, raising enduring questions about whom constitutions serve and how they function in times of crisis.