Is the Chinese Economy About to Fall Off a Cliff?

[Admiral Yi]

What differentiates "the constitution" from the greater body of law in the UK?

[crazy canuck]

What differentiates "the constitution" from the greater body of law in the UK?

The UK constitution can be found in a number of statutes, conventions and legal decisions interpreting them.  That body of law is different from the general law in that it deals specifically with how the realm is governed  - ie the Westminster Parliamentary system. 

[grumbler]

The Constitution specifically requires the states to have Republican forms of government.

And what are the characteristics of a Republican form of government?

For the intents of the writers of the constitution, it seems that sovereignty of the people, with elected representatives, was enough.  Not all republics feature the sovereignty of the people, of course; China is a case in point.  In the sense used in the Peoples' Republic of China, republic just means "not a monarchy nor a theocracy."