Sources of law

• What are the two main types of law discussed?

  Civil law and criminal law
• What is the primary source of law in England and Wales?

  Legislation made by Parliament
• What are acts of Parliament also known as?

  Statutes
• What is the process for legislation to be enacted by Parliament?

  It goes through readings and committee scrutiny
• What is Royal Assent?

  Formal approval of legislation by the monarch
• What is primary legislation?

  Law made directly by Parliament
• What is secondary legislation also known as?

  Delegated legislation
• What is the purpose of secondary legislation?

  To create detailed rules without full Acts
• What are statutory instruments?

  Forms of secondary legislation
• How does delegated legislation provide flexibility?

  It allows quick responses to specific issues
• What is common law?

  Law developed by judges' decisions
• What is the doctrine of precedent?

  Legal principles established by previous cases
• What does the term 'ratio decidendi' refer to?

  The legal reasoning behind a court's decision
• What are obiter dicta?

  Comments made by judges not essential to the decision
• What was the impact of EU law before Brexit?

  It was a significant source of law in the UK
• What is retained EU law?

  EU laws still applicable in the UK post-Brexit
• What are customs in the context of law?

  Traditional practices with legal recognition
• What are conventions in the UK legal system?

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

  They guide behavior despite being unenforceable
• What is the significance of the Human Rights Act?

  It is a primary piece of legislation
• What does parliamentary sovereignty imply?

  Parliament can make or repeal any law
• What is the difference between vertical and horizontal direct effect?

  Vertical applies to state actions, horizontal to individuals
• What is the role of the European Communities Act 1972?

  It incorporated EU law into UK law
• What is the nature of local customs?

  Traditional practices recognized legally
• How does the UK Constitution differ from the US Constitution?

  It is uncodified and not in one document