1.1 - The Nature and Sources of the UK Constitution

Question 1

Development of the Constitution - The Magna Carta - When and what?

Answer 1

• 1215
• Established the rule of law and that the monarch should operate within this framework of the law

Question 2

Development of the Constitution - The Bill of Rights - When and what?

Answer 2

• 1689
• Declared P to be a sovereign body and that it would have the final word on legislation and gov finances

Question 3

Development of the Constitution - The Act of Settlement - When and what?

Answer 3

• 1701
• Established the legal rules governing the succession to the throne and established the monarch’s position as the ruler of the whole of the UK

Question 4

Development of the Constitution - Parliament Act 1 - When and what?

Answer 4

• 1911
• Devalued the power of the HoL - removed its powers to regulate public finances and could only delay legislation for two years - it could also no longer indefinitely veto proposed legislation

Question 5

Development of the Constitution - Parliament Act 2 - When and what?

Answer 5

• 1949
• Reduced the Lords’ period of delay from two years to one year

Question 6

Development of the Constitution - The European Communities Act - When and what?

Answer 6

• 1972
• The Act that originally brought the UK into the European Community, what would later become the EU

Question 7

Development of the Constitution - The European Notification of Withdrawal Act - When and what?

Answer 7

• 2017
• The Act that gave P consent to the UK’s leaving the EU

Question 8

What are the five aspects of the nature of the UK constitution?

Answer 8

• Unentrenched
• Uncodified
• Unitary
• Parliamentary sovereignty
• The rule of law

Question 9

Nature of the UK constitution - Unentrenched

Answer 9

An unentrenched constitution has no special procedure for amendment

Question 10

Nature of the UK constitution - Uncodified

Answer 10

An uncodified constitution is not contained in a single written document - instead the constitution has evolved and is made up of a number of different sources

Question 11

Nature of the UK constitution - Unitary

Answer 11

A unitary political system is one where political power lies firmly in one place - EG UK Parliament

Question 12

Nature of the UK constitution - Parliamentary sovereignty

Answer 12

The principle that P can make, unmake, or amend any law - it cannot bind its successors nor be bound by its predecessors

Question 13

Nature of the UK constitution - The rule of law

Answer 13

The principle that all people and bodies, including gov, must follow the law and can be held accountable if they do not

Question 14

What are the five main sources of the UK constitution?

Answer 14

• Statute law
• Common law
• Conventions
• Authoritative works
• Treaties

Question 15

Five main sources of the UK constitution - What is statute law?

Answer 15

Laws passed by Parliament - EG Nationalities and Borders Act 2022

Question 16

Five main sources of the UK constitution - What is common law?

Answer 16

The development of laws through historical useage and traditions - EG the offence of murder being treated as a crime

Question 17

Five main sources of the UK constitution - What are conventions?

Answer 17

Unwritten rules that are considered binding on all members of the political community - EG PM exercising monarch’s powers to appoint and dismiss ministers

Question 18

Five main sources of the UK constitution - What are authoritative works?

Answer 18

A work written by an expert describing how a political system is run - it is not legally binding but is taken as a significant guide - EG A V Dicey introducing Parliamentary sovereignty

Question 19

Five main sources of the UK constitution - What are treaties?

Answer 19

Formal agreements with other countries, usually ratified by Parliament - EG ECHR