Constitution definitions and concepts

Impacts of constitutional changes (5)

• Representation

• Accountability

• Power dispersal

• Participation

• Legitimacy

Sources of the UK constitution (5)

• Statute

• Common law

• Authoritative works

• Convention

• Treaties

Purposes of the constitution (4)

• Defines the relationship between government and citizen

• Creates institutions

• Defines the powers of institutions

• Defines the relationship between institutions

Representation

acting or speaking on behalf of others

Accountability

The government (or someone in power) is made to explain actions, have limits on actions or be removed from power because of those actions

Power dispersal

decision making is spread across different institutions

Participation

take part in the political process

Legitimacy

to have support of people and/or the law

Statute law

acts passed by parliament

common law

legal principles from judgements about how the state functions (practical application of state law)

Conventions

traditions, customs and agreements about how the state functions

Authoritative works

Books and textbooks (written by experts) that discuss how the UK constitution works

Treaties

Agreements made between UK and foreign states institutions

Statute which are make up part of the UK constitution

• Magna carter, 1215

• Bill of Rights, 1689

• Act of Settlement, 1701

• Act of Union, 1707

• Parliament acts, 1911 + 1949

Magna Carter, 1215

No one can be derived of liberty without legal rights

Bill of Rights, 1689

Protection of parliament from powers of the monarchy; free elections, freedom of speech in parliament and regular meetings of parliament

Act of Settlement

parliament has the right to decide the line of succession

Act of Union, 1707

Created the United Kingdom

Parliament acts, 1911 + 1949

restrict powers of the House of Lords

Authoritative works which make up part of the UK constitution

• Parliamentary practice, Erskine May - 1844

• The English constitution, Walter Bagehot - 1860s

The English constitution, Walter Bagehot - 1860s

describes the powers of the crown, the prime minister and parliament

Parliamentary practice, Erskine May - 1844

members of parliament still follow its rules today as it is regularly updated

Common law which make up part of the UK constitution

• Miller v the Prime Minister

• Entick v Carrington

Miller v the Prime Minister

courts ruled that the government doesn’t have the right to suspend or prevent parliament from carrying out its functions

Entick v Carrington

courts ruled that the government must respect the Rule of Law

Functions of Parliament

Conventions which make up part of the UK constitution

• PM must be a member of House of Commons

• The king must invite who has the confidence of the House of Commons to become PM

Treaties which make up part of the UK constitution

The UK is a member of NATO