Sources of Modern Scots Law Flashcards
What are the two MOST important sources of Scots Law?
Statute or Legislation & Common Law
What are the sources of Statute or Legislation?
- Acts (Laws) of the parliament (Westminster & Scottish Parliament)
- Delegated Legislation
What are the sources of Common Law?
- Judicial Precedent or case law
- Institutional writings
- Custom
What happened in 1603?
The Union of Crowns
In Roman Law what is a Deductive Approach?
This means the rules of the law are derived from institutional writings and applied to different cases.
In Anglo/American (Common Law)
what is an Inductive Approach?
This means the decision in a case leads to a principle in law.
What happened in 1707?
The union of parliaments
What type of system does Scots Law follow?
A mixed hybrid system. Influenced by Roman & Common Law
What 3 sources does legislation that is binding in Scotland come from?
- The UK Parliament
- The Scottish Parliament
- The Royal Prerogative
Who makes up the UK Parliament?
- The House of Commons
- The House of Lords
- The Monarch (Queen)
What is a Bill?
A proposed Law
What types of Bills are there in the UK parliament?
- Public Bill
- Private Bill
Who does a Public Bill apply to?
This applies to society as a whole
Who does a Private Bill apply to?
Applies to a small group of people or a particular organisation, body
Who must both types of Bills go through in the UK or become an Act (Law)?
- House of Commons
- House of Lords
- Royal Assent
What are stages of a Bill in Westminster?
1- First reading 2- Second Reading 3- Committee Stage 4- Report Stage 5- Third Reading
What happened in 1997?
The Referendum. Creation of Scottish Parliament.
What are the 3 Scotland Acts (Dates)?
- Scotland Act 1998, 2012, and 2016
When was the Scottish Parliament General Election?
6/5/1999
What does a Sovereign Parliament mean?
This means that the parliament is the supreme legal authority in the UK which can create and end any law. A principle of UK constitution.
What does devolved powers mean?
This means that the UK has given the Scottish parliament the right to legislate in devolved matters such as Education.
What are Reserved powers/matters?
These are areas where only the UK parliament has the right to legislate.
What is the Sewel Motion?
Scottish Parliament can ask Westminster to pass laws.
What happens with a Sewel Motion?
Westminster will introduce a Bill/ Act which covers the whole of the UK.