Constitutional Law Flashcards
Marbury v Madison
Possibility for US Supreme Court to invalidate laws which contradict the constitution
Thoburn v Sunderland CC
Laws - constitutional hierarchy of statute - some statutes should not be subject to implied repeal
Reference to the Amendment to the Constitution of Canada
While the court will recognise the existence of conventions, they are not subject to their jurisdiction and cannot be enforced
Madzimbamuto v Lardner-Burke
Although UK Parliament could legally legislate for Rhodesia, it would contradict conention
AG v Jonathan Cape (Crossman Diaries)
Court will discuss conventions as potential interpretive aids but will not enforce them like laws
Crichel Downs
Four categories of accountability to government
1) Explicit order made by minister - must protect civil servant (responsible)
2) Civil servant acts in accordance with minister’s policies (responsible - resign)
3) Official makes a mistake or delay, but not on an important issue (accountable)
4) Official has taken reprehensible action of which minister disapproves and has no knowledge (accountable)
McGonnell v UK
Judiciary must be independent from administrative body that made the decision
Duport Steels v Sirs
Diplock - it cannot be too strongly emphasised that the British Constitution is firmly based on the separation of powers: Parliament makes the laws, the judiciary interprets them
Burmah Oil v Lord Advocate
If courts go too far in their interpretive duty, Parliament can always legislate to reduce impact
Magor and St Mellons v Newport Corporation
Judicial activism ‘fills in the gaps’ vs ‘naked usurpation of the parliamentary role’
R v R
Court ‘restated the old law correctly’ by making marital rape a crime
Airedale NHS Trust v Bland
Courts intervened to allow the victim’s life support to be switched off - Parliament would have taken too long
Malone v MPC
Judicial deference - courts were unwilling to create new categories of privacy rights
R (Nicklinson) v MoJ
Courts reluctant to rule on assisted suicide - matter for elected body
Sirros v Moore
Judges are immune from suit in regards to their judgement
Ex parte Venables v Thompson
Certain judicial roles can be exercised by Home Secretary - must act objectively and fairly
R (Evans) v AG
A decision of a court is binding and cannot be ignored or set aside by anyone, including the executive
R (Anderson) v SoSHD
Reduction in judicial power of Home Secretary
M v Home Office
Home Secretary criticised for ignoring a court order - equally binding on the executive
R (Jackson) v AG
Hope - Step by step the English principle of the absolute legislative sovereignty of Parliament is being qualified. The rule of law enforced in courts is the ultimate controlling factor of our constitution
Steyn - Parliamentary sovereignty should not be uncontrolled force within the constitution - courts may have to intervene in cases of conflict between PS and RoL
R (Corner House Research) v SFO
Bingham - all persons are bound by and entitled to the benefit of laws publicly made, generally taking effect in the future and publicly administered by the courts
IRC v Rossminster
Denning advocated that laws should be inherently moral to be legal
Wilberforce - inviolability of implemented laws