Key concepts pl

Unwritten Constitution

The UK's constitution is not contained in a single written document; it derives authority from statutory law, common law, constitutional conventions, and influential works.

Parliamentary Sovereignty

The doctrine stating that Parliament is the supreme legal authority in the UK, able to make or repeal any law without being overridden by other bodies.

Judicial Review

The process by which courts review administrative actions to ensure compliance with the law, grounded in principles such as illegality, irrationality, and procedural impropriety.

Devolution

The process of transferring legislative powers from the UK Parliament to devolved legislatures in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, affecting the distribution of power.

Political Accountability

The requirement that public officials justify their actions; involves individual and collective responsibility among ministers to Parliament.

Two types of responsibility

• Individual: Ministers are directly answerable for their conduct and decisions.

• Collective: The entire cabinet is collectively accountable to Parliament.

Human Rights Act (HRA)

Legislation that incorporates the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law, allowing individuals to challenge public authority actions that violate their rights.

Constitutional Conventions

Unwritten rules guiding political behaviour in the UK that, while not legally enforceable, are essential for the functioning of the constitutional system.

Constitutional role of the courts

Courts serve as guardians of the constitution by reviewing administrative and legislative actions to ensure compliance with the law. They enforce the limits on executive power, safeguard rights, and act as a check on both the executive and legislative branches

The grounds for judicial review

• Illegality

• Irrationality

• Procedural Impropriety

• Legitimate Expectations