sources of the UK constitution

statute law

written law passed by an act of parliament a law that is enforced in courts

representation of the people act 1918 (statute law)

gave women of property, over the age of 30 the right to vote

representation of the people act 1928 (statute law)

• full equality for voting

• women became the majority of the electorate

treaties

an agreement where international law that is entered into between two or more countries

EU withdrawl agreement

the UK will no longer be beholden to adhering to EU legislation

conventions

a regularly observes practice considered appropriate for a given set of circumstances - not legally branding

major works of authority

sources of guidance which are widely recognised and are therefore viewed as authoritative

Walter Bagehot, the english constitution 1867 (example of major works of authority)

• provided analysis of the role of the monarchy

• described the way in which the monarchy symbolises the unity of the nationla community

• principle of constiituonal monarchy firmly established in britain

magna carta 1215 (major constitutional documents)

“no free man shall be seized or imprisoned”

• the first docusmet to put in writing the principle that the king and his government was not above the law 

bill of rights 1689 (major constitutional document)

• set out foundational constitutional monarchy

• rights obtained by parliament include:

  • freedom from royal interference

  • freedom from taxation by royal prerogative

  • freedom to petition the king

the act of settlement 1701 (major constitutional document)

designed to secure protestant succession to the throne, and to strengthen the guarantees for ensuring parliamentary system of government

royal prerogative

a number of powers or privileged in the past performed by the monarchy but now performed by ministers on his or her behalf

exam of royal prerogative powers

• right to declare war

• dissolve parliament

common law 

a part of english law that is derived by cusomt and juducal precident than statues