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Sources of the UK Constitution - Coggle Diagram
Sources of the UK Constitution
Conventions
A convention represents the accustomed way in which political activity is carried out. Conventions do not legally have to be carried out. Instead their constitutional significance derives from the force of tradition
Salisbury Convention - The House of Lord's are not allowed to oppose the second or third reading of legislation that was in the winning party's manifesto
Parliamentary Statue Law
Momentous Acts of Parliament contribute to the UK's uncodified constitution
Reforming Acts of Parliament - Scotland Act 1998 (Scottish Devolution), Human Rights Act 1998, Equality Act 2010, Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013
Parliament Act 1911 - this removed the House of Lords' right to veto, and this is significant as it is a constitutional change which established the principle that Parliament should reflect the democratic will of the public through the Commons.
This is a parliamentary bill which has been approved by both houses of Parliament and then given the royal assent
Common Law
This refers to the judgements made by judges in important legal cases. Sometimes referred to as 'judge-made law', common law cases set precedents to be followed in future cases
Landmark common law cases - Bushell's case (1670), Entick v Carrington (1765), Somerset v Stewart (1772)
Works of Authority
Texts of such profound and enduring political significance that they contribute to the constitution of the United Kingdom
Walter Bagehot's
The English Constitution
(1867) - explains the relationship between the monarchy, the legislature and the executive
A.V. Dicey's
Introduction to the Law of the Constitution
(1885) - explains how the British constitution rests upon the 'twin pillars' of parliamentary sovereignty
Etskine May's
Parliamentary Practice
(1844) - explains in minute detail how Parliament operates and is now in its 24th updates edition
Landmark Decisions
The Petition of Right (1628) - sets out core rights including freedom from arbitrary imprisonment and the requirement that Parliament grant taxation
The Bill of Rights (1689) - asserts the subordination of the Crown to Parliament as well as condemning 'illegal and cruel punishments'
Magna Carta (1215) - by recognising that limits can be placed on the authority of the Crown, has played a major role in the development of the principle of the rule of Law
Treaties
A written agreement made between two or more political entities.
Following the acceptance of the Treaty of Accession in 1972, the UK's constitution was radically changed since Parliament agreed to adopt legislation that had been enacted elsewhere
The UK has subsequently ratified a number of other EU treaties such as the Single European Act, the Maastricht Treaty and the Lisbon Treaty