8.1 - Nature and Sources Flashcards
What year was the Act of Settlement?
1701
What act reduced the amount of time the HoL could delay a bill?
1949 Parliament Act
When were the three Representation of the People Acts?
- 1918
- 1928
- 1969
What year was the Magna Carta?
1215
What year was the Bill of Rights?
1689
What did the 1911 Parliament Act do?
- Prevented HoL delaying money bills
- Prevented HoL delaying bills over 2 years
What did the 1949 Parliament Act do?
Prevented HoL delaying bills over 1 year
What act gave EU law priority over UK law?
1972 European Communities Act
List:
The 5 main principles of the UK constitution
- Unentrenched
- Uncodified
- Unitary
- Parliamentary Sovereignty
- Rule of law
List:
The 5 sources of the UK constitution
- Statute Law
- Common Law
- Conventions
- Authoritative works
- Treaties
Define:
Statute Law
Legislation created by parliament
Define:
Common law
Law made by customs and judicial precidences
Define:
Conventions
Customs and practices that are accepted as the way of doing things
Define:
Treaties
Agreements signed with other countries
What did the Bill of Rights establish?
The power of the monarch is reliant on parliament
What did the Magna Carta establish?
- No one in above the law, including the King
- Everyone has the right to a free and fair trial
What did the Act of Settlement establish?
- Only a protestant could become Monarch
- Gave Parliament control over the line of succession
What did the Acts of Union establish?
- 1701 - Union of Scotland with England
- 1801 - Union of Ireland with the UK
Define:
Parliamentary sovereignty
- Parliament holds ultimate power and authority
- No parliament can bind its successor
Define:
Rule of law
- Everybody can be held accountable under the law
- Everyone has the right to a fair trial
Define:
Unitary
All power in the UK government is held in Westminster
Define:
Unentrenched
The UK constitution can be easily changed
Why is statute law the most important?
All other sources of law are overriden by it
2 examples of statute law?
- 2005 Constitutional Reform Act created a supreme court
- 1918 Representation of the People act widened the franchise
1 Example of common law?
Royal prerogative
1 Example of a convention?
Prime Minister is the leader of the largest party
2 examples of treaties?
- 1972 treaty entering UK into the EEC
- 1992 Maastricht Treaty established the EU
