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What are the main sources of the British constitutuiton?
Statute law, common law, royal prerogative, conventions,works of authority, international agreements
What is statute law?
Statute law is written law created by a government or legislative body. It is formal rules designed to solve specific issues. For example the Human rights act 1998
What is common law?
Common law is unwritten law based on court precedents, developed through judicial decisions.
What is the royal prerogative?
The royal prerogative is the special powers of the monarch that can be used without Parliament's approval, such as issuing passports and commanding the armed forces.
What are conventions?
Conventions are unwritten rules and practices that guide the behavior of political institutions. They are not legally binding but are followed by government officials to maintain order and stability
What are works of authority?
Conventions are unwritten rules and practices that guide the behavior of political institutions. They are not legally binding but are followed by government officials to maintain order and stability
What is the magna carta?
The Magna Carta is a historic document from 1215 that limited the power of the king and established certain legal rights for individuals.
What is the Bill of rights?
The Bill of Rights, passed in 1689, is a crucial document in British history that outlines the rights and freedoms of individuals, as well as the limitations on the powers of the monarchy and Parliament. It ensures fundamental rights like freedom of speech and the right to a fair trial, laying the foundation for modern democracy
What was the Act of Settlement?
The Act of Settlement 1701 decided who could become king or queen of England. It stated that only Protestants could be monarchs.
What was the european communities act 1972?
The European Communities Act 1972 was legislation that enabled the United Kingdom to join the European Economic Community (EEC) and provided for the application of European law in the UK.
What were the Parliament Acts of 1911 and 1949?
The Parliament Acts of 1911 and 1949 allow the House of Commons to bypass the House of Lords, with the 1911 Act reducing the Lords' power over financial legislation, enabling Commons to pass money bills without their approval, and the 1949 Act further limiting the Lords' ability to delay legislation.
What was the House of Lords act 1999?
Removed all but 92 hereditary peers from the lords and allowed for the introduction of nominated life peers
What was the Constitutional reform act 2005?
created a seperate supreme court, it replaced the law lords.
What was the freedom of information act?
Gave individuals greater access to information held by public bodies and national government
What was the Greater London Authority Act?
The Greater London Authority Act 1999 established the Greater London Authority (GLA), which consists of the Mayor of London and the London Assembly, responsible for strategic government in London.
What was the 2011 Fixed-term Parliaments Act?
The Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 established a five-year cycle for general elections in the UK, aiming to enhance political stability by limiting the Prime Minister's ability to call snap elections.
What was the human rights act 1998
A UK law that makes the rights set out in the ECHR enforcable in UK courts
How could the british constitution be reformed still further?
lowering the voting age to 16 across the uk
Making voting complusory
introducing an elected component to the house of lords
Introducing proportional representation
extending devolution
making more use of online voting
Does the british constitution favour individual or collective rights?
Tries to balance both but leans more towards collective rights
How can the effectiveness of a democratic constitution be judged?
How well it holds up civil liberties,promotes democracy and enables stable government
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