The United Kingdom’s constitutional evolution spans over ten centuries. It lacks a single written constitutional document and is instead composed of both written and unwritten sources. There is a common expectation that a constitution should be contained in a single document adopted by the people or an equivalent assembly. However, in a broader sense, a […]
Unlike many modern written constitutions, the United Kingdom courts have not been in a position to protect fundamental rights against encroachment by Acts of Parliament. However, certain Acts of Parliament have declared fundamental rights, such as Habeas Corpus Legislation and more modern Anti-Discrimination Legislation. Ultimately, the Human Rights Act enabled citizens and subjects to challenge […]
From the 16th century onwards, Britain’s interests expanded considerably abroad. Territory acquired through conquest became an asset of the Crown, with legal authority vested in the Privy Council in the name of the Crown. Over the last 150 years, many British colonies have gained independence. The Colonial Laws Validity Act of 1865 confirmed that colonial […]
In 1603, King James VI of Scotland succeeded to the English Crown and became James I. Both countries retained their own constitutions and parliaments, remaining separate for over a hundred years. Scotland was ruled from London, with much of the governmental work being undertaken by the Scottish Privy Council on the King’s order. The Scottish […]
It is said that parliament is sovereign in the UK. Sovereignty, in this sense, refers to supreme legal and political authority. This principle is not provided for by legislation but is a longstanding and fundamental principle of the Constitution. Many countries that adopted written constitutions in modern times provide that the people are fully sovereign […]
UK legislation: The United Kingdom Westminster Parliament is the primary legislative body in the United Kingdom. The long-standing principle of parliamentary sovereignty remains. Powers of Westminster have been reduced in respect of the devolved administrations, although they owe their constitution and existence to Acts of Parliament. A public bill/act is one that applies generally. A […]
The separation of powers between institutions was a longstanding principle in constitutions worldwide. There should be three key independent entities within the state: the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary. The executive administers and enforces laws. The legislature is the lawmakers. The judiciary decides individual disputes in relation to the application of laws in individual […]
The rule of law, the meaning, and practical effect of the rule of law have been subjects of philosophical commentary for centuries in the context of the British constitution. The rule of law has been described in its practical manifestation to embrace the following principles. A person should not be punishable or made to suffer […]