In depth notes on British Politics, covering the British Constitution, Parliament, Civil Service, Liberal Democracy, the Election Process and the Political System in Britain.
Usually a single and authoritative (definitive) document – enshrining the most basic principles of
governance.
Legal frame-work for governance
Defines functions / powers / competencies of a state and its institutions/agencies
Iterates the rights and duties of members (subjects/citizens)
And their relations to the ‘supreme authority’ of the state
Often a ‘founding’ document of the state as above
No ‘founding moment’ of the British state
Wales was ‘incorporated’ into English state by Henry 8 th
Scotland and Ireland incorporated by the Acts of Union 1707 and 1800
But grafted onto pre-existent English state emerging from pre-Norman roots
A peculiar constitution?
Not ‘unwritten’ but ‘uncodified’
‘Unknowable’
‘Peculiar’ but praised by visitors such as Voltaire for its ‘flexibility’
Few other examples in the world – Israel and New Zealand
Six key sources of the British Constitution
1. Statutes:
- Acts of Parliament (primary legislation) over-ride all other constitutional sources
- Even previous Acts of Parliament
- Except since 1973 some EU law takes precedence in certain areas
- Some examples: Act of Supremacy (1559)/ Representation of the People Acts – 1918 votes
for women / Freedom of information Act (2000)
2. Royal prerogatives:
- Derived directly from the Crown not parliament
- Now exercised more by ministers of the crown than the crown per se on ‘royal authority’
- Executed formally as Orders-in Council – referring to the Privy Council – advisers to the
Monarch
- Via Royal proclamations or Writs issued under the Great Seal -ancient symbol of
monarchical power that now resides with the elected government
- Used to symbolize the monarch's approval of important state documents
- Problem here is lack of parliamentary approval of important powers
- And their over-use…. e.g. the proposal to approve Brexit deal
3. The Common Law:
- Customs/ precedents established by judicial decisions; examples – freedom of speech,
Habeas Corpus, freedom of assembly etc.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller verityforster. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £9.16. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
