The UK Constitution Flashcards
The nature and sources of the UK Constitution
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What are the key historical documents
Magna Carta 1215 Bill of rights 1689 Act of settlement 1701 Acts of Union 1707 Parliament Acts 1911 Parliament Acts 1949 European Communities Act 1972
What’s did the Magna Carta 1215 do?
No one should be deprived of liberty or property without due process of the law
What did the Bill of Rights 1689 do?
Set out limits of royal power, establishes free and fair elections to parliament, the basic rights of citizens and the supremacy of parliament
What did the Act of Settlement 1701 do?
The right of parliament to decide the succession of the throne
What did the Acts of Union 1707 do?
Scotland and England were now united, and a single parliament exists in Westminster
What did the Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949 do?
HoLs could not delay financial bills, and vetoing legislation was replaced by delaying it by one year
What did the European Communities Act 1972 do?
EU law would take precedence over UK law as the UK joined the European Community
Unentrenched constitution
It can be altered relatively easily, by simple majority vote in parliament
