Key Historical Documents

• Magna Carta 1215: put a limit on taxes and promoted fair trial and quick justice, introduced the principle of habeas corpus (no illegal imprisonment), promised protection of church rights
• Bill of Rights 1689: provided sovereignty to parliament by limiting royal perogative, democracy and freedom of speech, basis of future constitutional statutes
• Act of Settlement 1701: no foreign person may be an MP or Privy Councillor, no one receiving money from the crown may be an MP, only protestants may be monarch
• Acts of Union 1701: Scotland's coinage, taxes, trade, parliament and flag became one with England's
• Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949: abolished the power of the Lords to veto and could only delay legislation by 2 years (1911) then 1 (1949), money bills by 1 month, length of parliament reduced from 7 to 5 years

  • Salisbury Convention: prevents lords voting against manifesto legislation
• European Communities Act 1972: the UK agreed to 'pool sovereignty' to the EU on certain issues, some EU laws apply directly in the UK without further Parliamentary legislation