The Constitution (Definitions) Flashcards
Constitution
A body of fundamental principles that determines where power is located within a nation state and the rules by which it is governed, as well as the extent of the government’s authority and the rights that its citizens possess.
Uncodified Constitution
A constitution that is not contained within a single written document and is unentrenched.
Codified Constitution
A constitution that is contained within one single written document and is entrenched.
Unentrenched
Easily changed by a simple Act of Parliament.
Entrenched
Impossible to alter without complicated procedures requiring the agreement of more than just the legislature.
Parliamentary Sovereignty
This means that the Parliament is the supreme legislative body. Therefore it is free to enact any legislation for which it has a parliamentary majority, and no previous parliament can bind its successor.
The rule of law
The principle that the same laws apply equally to every citizen and the government is subject to the same laws.
Unitary
In a unitary state, power is centralised and the central government possesses absolute authority.
Federal
In a federal state, power is shared and dispersed as the central government is limited by the sovereign power of low levels of government, over which it has no authority.
Statute law
A parliamentary bill which has been approved by both houses of Parliament and then given the royal assent.
Common law
Judgements made by judges in important legal cases.
Convention
Represents the accustomed way in which political activity is carried out. They do not legally have to be carried out, they are derived from the forces of tradition.
Authoritative works
Texts of profound and enduring political significance that they contribute to the UK constitution.
Treaty
A written agreement between two or more political entities.
Devolution
A process of delegating power, but not sovereignty from the UK Parliament to specific regions of the country.
