Constitutional Milesones

Question 1

Magna Carta - Date, Source, Significance - then and now?

Answer 1

Date - 1215

Source - The royal charter of rights agreed between king John and Barons after their rebellion.

Significance then - First Formal attempt at limited the power of the monarch.

Significance now - Only four clauses remain unrepealed, kind of irrelevant today.

Question 2

Bill of rights - Date, Source, Significance - then and now?

Answer 2

Date - 1689

Source - Following the Glorious Revolution, new imported Monarchy from Holland had to agree to bill.

Significance then - Parliamentary privilege, power over Monarchy - gatherings/elections/free speech

Significance now - Continues to be cited in legal cases in the UK and in Commonwealth countries.

Question 3

Both Parliament acts - Dates, Sources, Significance - then and now?

Answer 3

Date - 1911 / 1949

Source - Both reduced HOL powers. 1911 Act came after HOL rejected 1909 peoples budget Act.

Significance Then:

• 1911 Act prevented HOL veto + delaying of bills for no more than 2 years.
• 1945 Act shortened delaying to only 1 year.

Significance Now:

• Still in use - Regular bills can only be delayed for 1 year, whereas money bills only 1 month.

Question 4

EU Communities Act - Dates, Sources, Significance - then and now?

Answer 4

Date - 1972

Source - Only 12 clauses long yet has big importance in development of UK constitution (+ UK into EEC)

Significance then - Meant all UK legislation has to conform with EU law - Impeded on Parl. Sovereignty.

Significance now - UK withdrawal act 2018 displayed that Parliament is yet again sovereign.