11.3: Core Institutions of the State and How They Interrlate Flashcards
The doctrine of parliamentary supremacy / sovereignty means
Parliament is supreme to
make or unmake any laws
Constitutional conventions are?
Key source of British constitution but they are non-legal and non-enforceable rules. Cannot be enforced by the courts just have political consequences if breached
The royal prerogative gives power to
historically, the Crown
but they are currently exercised by government ministers and the executive branch of the government
Parliamentary privilege
ensures MPs can speak freely in debates without interference from the courts
What is the UK’s constitution?
Unwritten in the sense that it is not contained in one document - made up of many sources ie. a combination of legislation, case law and conventions
Can a predecessor of parliament bind a future parliament?
No
Parliament is supreme but
the government is not
government is answerable to Parliament
Reserved powers are
UK-wide matters, such as defence, trade and foreign
policy.
Conventions are
not law but they govern political custom
not enforceable by the courts but social norm
For example, by
convention, rather than by law, the monarch gives the Royal Assent to any legislation passed
by both Houses of Parliament and the Prime Minister must be a member of the House of
Commons.
Who are the royal prerogatives exercised by?
Most of the royal prerogative powers are exercised by the government of the day.
The office of the Prime Minister is a
(along with other examples of conventions)
creation of convention
no law which requires the PM be appointed. Cabinet is a product of convention. Courts cannot rule on the validity of the law and the bill must receive royal assent to become an act of parliament
