I'm almost feeling glad we don't have a written Constitution here. They don't really seem too reliable a safeguard.

I believe the old Soviet Constitution introduced by Stalin was a pretty freedom-enhancing document too. On paper. Saddam's Constitution look pretty good for that matter. Here's a link to it in fact. For example:

Article 22 [Dignity, Personal Integrity, Arrest, Home]

(a) The dignity of man is safeguarded. It is inadmissible to cause any physical or psychological harm.
(b) It is inadmissible to arrest a person, to stop him, to imprison him or to search him, except in accordance with the rules of the law.
(c) Homes have their sanctity. It is inadmissible to enter or search them, except in accordance with the rules of the law.

Or:

Article 26 [Expression, Association]
The Constitution guarantees freedom of opinion, publication, meeting, demonstrations and formation of political parties, syndicates, and societies in accordance with the objectives of the Constitution and within the limits of the law.

At least without a document to lean on you know you can't let up on the bastards chipping away at your freedom.