The historial development of the UK constitution

• Magna carter - set out for the first time the principle that no one should be deprived of liberty and property without the due process of law
• 1689 Bill of rights

  • Includes provisions for regular parliaments, free elections and freedom of speech within parliament - therefore was important to the move towards parliamentary sovereignty and away from the power of the monarch.
• 1701 Act of settlement

  • Established the right of parliament to determine the line of succession to the throne
  • Therefore further increased the power of parliament in comparison to the power of the monarch.
• 1707 Acts of union - united england and scotland under one parliament in westminster, with representative from both countries - therefore increased the centralisation of power in the UK parliament.
• The 1972 European communities Act - confirmed the UK' entrances to the EEC which later developed into the European Union. Also included the principle that EU law would take precedence over uK law where a conflict occurred - therefore harmed parliamentary sovereignty.
• These key documents developed the UK constitution in the following ways:

  • Reduced the power of the monarch and extended the power of parliament
  • Increased the rights and freedoms of citizens
  • Drew together the components of the UK and centralised power
  • Increased the power of the house of commons at the expense of the house or lords
  • Defined the relationship with institutions which later evolved into the EU
• How the development of the UK constitution was unique

  • The uk hasnt undergone a fundemental, transformative change, such as a revolution of achieving independence, for long period. Instead, the political system has evolved gradually without dramatic breaks in continuity, at least since the civil war
  • This contrasts with the US, which constitution was drawn up by founders in 1787 after establishing independence from Britain.
  • This gradual development is important to understanding why the UK constitution is uncodified and entrenched.