Sources of UK Constitution
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The UK Constitution is an unwritten constitution and does not exist in a single document or a set of documents. Rather, it is made up of a number of sources that include:
Statutes: These are laws passed by Parliament that have a constitutional significance. Examples include the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Scotland Act 1998.
Common law: This refers to the body of legal precedent established by court decisions over time. This is particularly significant in relation to the powers of the Crown, Parliament, and the judiciary.
Conventions: These are unwritten rules and practices that have developed over time and are regarded as binding. Examples include the principle of collective responsibility and the practice of appointing the Prime Minister from the party with the most seats in the House of Commons.
European Union law: The UK was a member of the European Union (EU) until 2020, and during this time, EU law had a significant impact on the UK Constitution. EU law took precedence over UK law, and the UK Parliament was required to give effect to EU laws.
Works of authority: These are writings by constitutional experts, such as legal scholars and judges, that have influenced the development of the UK Constitution. Examples include works by A.V. Dicey and Walter Bagehot.
Acts of Parliament: These are laws passed by the UK Parliament that have a constitutional significance, such as the Parliament Acts of 1911 and 1949, which define the relationship between the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
Treaties: International treaties that the UK has ratified can have a constitutional significance, as they may impact on the powers and rights of the UK government and citizens. Examples include the Treaty of Lisbon and the European Convention on Human Rights.
It is important to note that the sources of the UK Constitution are not fixed and may change over time as new laws are passed, new practices develop, and new international obligations are undertaken.
Statutes: These are laws passed by Parliament that have a constitutional significance. Examples include the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Scotland Act 1998.
Common law: This refers to the body of legal precedent established by court decisions over time. This is particularly significant in relation to the powers of the Crown, Parliament, and the judiciary.
Conventions: These are unwritten rules and practices that have developed over time and are regarded as binding. Examples include the principle of collective responsibility and the practice of appointing the Prime Minister from the party with the most seats in the House of Commons.
European Union law: The UK was a member of the European Union (EU) until 2020, and during this time, EU law had a significant impact on the UK Constitution. EU law took precedence over UK law, and the UK Parliament was required to give effect to EU laws.
Works of authority: These are writings by constitutional experts, such as legal scholars and judges, that have influenced the development of the UK Constitution. Examples include works by A.V. Dicey and Walter Bagehot.
Acts of Parliament: These are laws passed by the UK Parliament that have a constitutional significance, such as the Parliament Acts of 1911 and 1949, which define the relationship between the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
Treaties: International treaties that the UK has ratified can have a constitutional significance, as they may impact on the powers and rights of the UK government and citizens. Examples include the Treaty of Lisbon and the European Convention on Human Rights.
It is important to note that the sources of the UK Constitution are not fixed and may change over time as new laws are passed, new practices develop, and new international obligations are undertaken.
