key terms

• constitution - a set of rules determining where sovereignty lies in a political system and establishing the relationship between government and governed
• unentrenched/entrenched - a constitution which doesn't have/does have special procedure and rules for amendment
• unitary - political system where all legal sovereignty is contained in a single place
• federal - political system in which political/legal sovereignty is shared between the federal government and national/regional bodies
• Parliamentary sovereignty - principle that Parliament can make/amend/repeal any law
• rule of law - all people/bodies must follow the law and be held to account if they do not
• statue law - laws passed by Parliament
• common law - laws made by judges in cases where the law does not apply or is unclear
• conventions - traditions not contained in law but influential in the operation of a political system
• authoratative works - work by an expert describing how a political system works, not legally binding but a significant guide
• treaties - formal agreements with other countries, usually ratified by Parliament
• devolution - the giving of power to devolved bodies