<P> "A legitimate constitution depended on whether the sovereign people authorized it, not whether a particular procedure was used or whether revolutionary conventions were free of other responsibilities, such as passing ordinary legislation . It was the people as the sovereign who authorized drafting those first (state) constitutions that gave them their legitimacy, not whether they used procedures that matched what was later understood to be necessary to create fundamental law ." </P> <P> American state constituent assemblies in the 19th and 20th centuries reflected many qualities of a citizen's movement . From the start of state American constitution - making, delegates to constitutional conventions studied earlier state models of constitutions . They often self - consciously "borrow (ed)" constitutional text and provisions from other states . They often used in their drafting and debates compact and pocket - sized compilations of all the existing American constitutions, so that the constituent's assembly could draw upon the latest in constitutional design . </P> <P> A few countries do not have an entrenched constitution which cannot be amended by normal legislative procedures; the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Israel are examples . In these countries there is no need to call constituent assemblies, and no provision to do so, as the legislature can effectively modify the constitution . If such a country decides to implement a constitution, presumably some sort of constituent assembly will have to be set up for the purpose . </P> <P> The constitution of New Zealand consists of a collection of statutes (Acts of Parliament), Treaties, Orders - in - Council, Letters patent, decisions of the Courts and unwritten constitutional conventions . Because it is not supreme law, the constitution is comparatively easy to reform, requiring only a majority of Members of Parliament to amend it . </P>

Discuss the circumstances which led to the formation of the constituent assembly