history and development

what is the most significant clause of the magna carta 1215 that remains relevant today?

justice and fair trials as equal access to justice has become a fundamental principle of the UK's legal system

what does the magna carta 1215 represent?

the first formal attempt to limit the powers of the monarch and place them under the rule of law

what are limitations of ther magna carta?

only 4 of the 63 clauses remain relevant today as later documents have proved more significant in developing the constitution

what are the key terms of the bill of rights 1689?

frequent parliaments, free elections and freedom of speech within parliament

how does parliamentary privilege as proposed by the bill of rights 1689 remain significant today?

it allows MP's to debate freely and raise important issues without legal consequences

how has the bill of rights 1689 been proven significant?

parliament has met every year since 1689 and now holds dominance over the monarchy

what are limitations of the bill of rights?

did not cover the rights of ordinary people as parliament consisted of wealthy male landowners in the undemocratic time

what was the aim of the act of settlement 1701?

to ensure a protestant succession to the throne

what does the act of settlement 1701 demonstrate?

how parliament gained control over the monarchy

what are limitations of the act of settlement 1701?

restricted the throne to one religious group, contradicting equality and failing to move Britain towards a modern democratic state

what did the parliament acts 1911 and 1949 reduce?

the power of the house of lords

what was the 1909 constitutional crisis which influenced the parliament acts?

the lords rejected the governments budget which demonstrated tensions between the elected commons and unelected lords

what were the key terms of the parliament acts 1911?

restricted the lords power to delay bills to 2 years and ended the absolute veto of the lords over legislation

how did the 1949 act modify the 1911 parliament act?

by reducing the lords delay period to 1 year

what did both parliament acts increase?

democratic accountability of Westminster as any bill passed by the commons would automatically become law after a year regardless of the lords opposition

what are limitations of the 1911 and 1949 parliament acts?

there is still failure in introducing any elected elements to the lords, and life peers were mot introduced until 1958

what did the european communities act 1972 enable?

the UK's accession to the european economic community

how does the european communities act 1972 show euroscepticism has a long history in British politics?

the act took up 300 hours of debate and was passed by just 309 votes

how was the european communities act significant for the British constitution?

legislation had to conform with european law which may be criticised as undermining parliamentary sovereignty

how was the limitations of the european communities act 1972 proved temporary?

EU membership did not change how the UK conducts domestic politics and the events of Brexit showed parliamentary sovereignty as temporary