Uk Constitution Flashcards
What’s a Constitution
A Constitution is a set of laws that which outline how a country should be governed and includes who has power and how the power is exercised
What’s a codified constitution
The constitution is created within one document . Countries with a codified constitution would be USA, France and Germany
What’s an un codified constitution
The constitution is not written in one document a country with an un codified constitution is Uk
What’s the Uk different sources in the constitution
Acts of Parliament (statute law)
Common law ( decisions made by judges)
Conventions( customs and traditions that have developed over time)
International treaties
How is power exercised in the uk
The uk is made of three arms;
Legistaure
Executive
Judiciary
The person with highest power is the monarch who has ultimate power through royal progative
Example of things the monarch can do
Raise taxes
Declare war on
However over the last 800 years the monarchical power has chipped away and now power resides with parliament and the government which is formed from it
What’s a key principle in British constitution
PARLIAMENTARY SOVEREIGNTY
This means parliament has ultimate and absolute power
Parliament is the ultimate law making body in our country
What does parliament do
They debate vote and approve any new laws they can also overturn any previous laws
What makes up uk parliament
An elected House of Commons, an unelected House of Lords and the monarch
What makes up government
Members of the largest party in the commons and led by the prime minister and the cabinet. It’s their job to enforce the law
What is the judiciary
The third arm of the state, the judiciary is made up of the courts they apply and interpret laws set out by parliament
What’s at the top of our judiciary
The Supreme Court
What’s devolution
Since 1997 power has increasingly been given to nations in the uk. One example would be Sennedd cymru or Welsh parliament
