Originally Posted by
Antiganon
The problem with America's constitution isn't that it is written, the problem is that the process for amending it is incredibly arduous and we have some really Arcane provisions that would need to go thru that process.
Presumably the UK (or any country writing a constitution today with the benefit of hindsight regarding the US) could avoid those pitfalls.
A constitution should basically do 5 things:
1. Establish how the government is elected.
2. Establish a separation of powers between the legislature, courts, executive (or executive analog, e.g. a Prime Minister).
3. Establish inalienable rights for the citizenry which can't be taken away via simple legislation.
4. Establish how simple legislation and other day-to-day government business is handled at an abstract level.
5. Establish a process for amending the Constitution if it proves necessary to serve the people's interest in the future.
Once that basic framework is laid down in this can-be-changed-but-shouldn't-need-to-be document (as opposed to the US constitution, where the framers considered amendments to be a necessary and fairly common part of changing life in America moving forward), all the minutiae should then be handled by simple legislation in parliament that can be repealed or amended quickly with a basic majority should the situation arises.
Based on the OP, the only concern is have would be borrowing powers to the individual states. IMO the individual states should only be permitted to borrow from the federal government (and given broad leeway in doing so) while the federal government should be the only entity permitted to borrow from foreign entities. It's essentially a parent and child relationship.
You don't give a child the credit card to buy whatever they want without restriction. Mom and Dad keep the credit card and make those final decisions, because ultimately if the piper wants to be paid, they are coming after Mom and Dad, not the children.
I'm imagining a scenario where Wales is in default on debt to China and China decides to use it's military to collect. They won't be fighting Wales, they'd be fighting the entire UK.