sources of law

• What are the two main types of law distinguished in the English legal system?

  Civil law and criminal law
• What are the primary sources of law in the English legal system?

  Legislation, common law, law of the European Union, customs, and conventions
• What is the primary source of law in England and Wales?

  Legislation made by Parliament
• What is the process through which laws are passed by Parliament called?

  The legislative process
• What is the term for laws made by Parliament?

  Acts of Parliament or statutes
• What is primary legislation in the English legal system?

  Laws passed directly by Parliament
• What is secondary legislation also known as?

  Delegated legislation
• Why is delegated legislation important in the legislative process?

  It allows for detailed rules to be created without a full Act of Parliament
• What are statutory instruments?

  Examples of secondary legislation
• What does the doctrine of precedent refer to in common law?

  Legal principles established by previous cases
• What is the principle of stare decisis?

  The principle that courts follow precedents set by previous cases
• What are the three actions a judge can take regarding precedent?

  Apply, reject, or modify the precedent
• What is the ratio decidendi in a judicial decision?

  The legal reasoning that forms the basis of the court's decision
• What are obiter dicta?

  Comments made by judges that are not essential to the decision
• What act recognized the direct applicability of EU law in the UK?

  The European Communities Act 1972
• What are customs in the context of law?

  Traditional practices that have gained legal recognition over time
• How did EU law apply to the UK before Brexit?

  It was directly applicable and became part of UK law without needing Parliament's enactment
• What is retained EU law?

  EU laws that remain part of the UK's domestic legal system after Brexit
• What are conventions in the UK legal system?

  Unwritten rules guiding the behavior of political institutions
• Why are conventions important in the UK government?

  They are crucial to the functioning of government despite not being legally enforceable
• What implications did Brexit have on EU law in the UK?

  EU law no longer applies directly, but retained EU law continues to influence the legal system
• What is the role of the European Court of Justice in UK law?

  It provided rulings that influenced UK law while the UK was an EU member
• What is the significance of the Human Rights Act in the English legal system?

  It is an example of primary legislation that protects individual rights
• How does the concept of parliamentary sovereignty relate to EU law?

  Parliamentary sovereignty means Parliament can make or unmake any law, including those related to EU law
• What are the differences between vertical and horizontal direct effect in EU law?

  Vertical direct effect applies to state actions, while horizontal direct effect applies to private parties
• What is the nature of the UK's uncodified Constitution?

  It is not written down in a single document