sources of the constitution

Question 1

sources of the constitution

Answer 1

1. parliamentary statutes
2. common law
3. conventions
4. works of authority
5. EU laws/treaties

Question 2

parliamentary statutes

Answer 2

• laws created by Parliament in the form of Acts of Parliament
• statute law is the supreme source of constitutional law in the UK because Parliament is sovereign.
  example: HRA 1998

Question 3

common law

Answer 3

• development of laws through historical usage and traditions
• mostly replaced by statutes
• example: royal prerogative

Question 4

conventions

Answer 4

• rules or norms of behaviour that are considered to be binding but are not codified
  example: the monarch must give their assent to the Acts of Parliament

Question 5

works of authority

Answer 5

• works that have become references for knowing who can do what under the UK constitution
• hold no legal authority
• example: Dicey’s twin pillars of rule of law and P.sov

Question 6

EU laws + treaties

Answer 6

• brexit means that this source has been removed