the UK constitution

• What type of constitution does the United Kingdom have?


  Unwritten constitution
• What are the main sources of the UK constitution?

  Legal and non-legal sources
• What are the key principles of the UK constitution?

  Rule of law, parliamentary sovereignty, separation of powers
• Which courts are important in the context of the UK constitution?

  Supreme Court and European Court of Human Rights
• How is a constitution defined in a political context?

  A set of values, laws, and customs
• What is a written constitution?

  A codified framework of laws
• When are written constitutions commonly seen?

  During significant governmental changes
• What is the United States Constitution considered?

  The nation's supreme law
• What does the Preamble to the United States Constitution emphasize?

  Establishing justice and promoting welfare
• How many amendments does the US Constitution have as of 2023?

  27 amendments
• What does the First Amendment protect?

  Freedom of speech and religion
• What is required to amend the US Constitution?

  Two-thirds of Congress and three-fourths of states
• What is the nature of the UK's unwritten constitution?

  Elements are mainly in written form
• What historical events shaped the UK constitution?

  Centuries-long battles involving church and state
• What is a significant advantage of an unwritten constitution?

  Flexibility to adapt to societal changes
• What is a disadvantage of the UK's unwritten constitution?

  Absence of defined, binding rights for citizens
• What significant change occurred with the Human Rights Act 1998?

  It codified individual rights into UK law
• What did the Lisbon Treaty of 2007 introduce?

  Changes to facilitate EU expansion
• What are the five components of Britain's unwritten constitution?

  1. Statute – Acts of Parliament
  2. Common Law – judge-made law
  3. Conventions – customs and traditions
  4. Treaties – international agreements
  5. Treatises – historical legal works
• What is the significance of the Magna Carta (1215)?

  Foundation of Britain's unwritten constitution
• What did the Bill of Rights (1689) achieve?

  Transferred supremacy from Crown to Parliament
• What does parliamentary privilege allow MPs and Peers to do?

  Make statements without fear of defamation
• What was the purpose of the Act of Settlement (1701)?

  Secure Protestant succession to the throne
• What did the Parliament Act (1911) allow the House of Commons to do?

  Force through a bill rejected by the House of Lords
• How did common law develop in England?

  Through decisions made by judges over time
• What are conventions in the context of the UK constitution?

  Practices accepted as part of the constitution
• What is the role of the jury system in common law?

  Deciding guilt or innocence by peers
• What is the significance of the phrase "judgment by your peers"?

  It refers to jury trials in common law
• How are conventions enforced in the UK constitution?

  They are not directly enforceable by law
• What is the relationship between common law and statutes?

  Common law develops through judicial decisions
• What is the impact of the absence of a codified constitution in the UK?

  It allows for flexibility in governance
• What does the term "parliamentary sovereignty" mean?

  Parliament has supreme legal authority
• How does the UK constitution differ from the US constitution?

  The UK constitution is unwritten, while the US is written
• What is the significance of the European Convention on Human Rights in the UK?

  It influences UK law through the Human Rights Act
• What does the term "treaties" refer to in the context of the UK constitution?

  International agreements that affect UK law
• What is the role of the judiciary in the UK constitution?

  To interpret and apply the law
• How does the UK constitution allow for change?

  Through amendments and new legislation
• What is the significance of the term "sovereignty of parliament"?

  Parliament can make or repeal any law
• What does the term "separation of powers" refer to?

  Division of government responsibilities among branches
• What is the impact of the Human Rights Act 1998 on UK citizens?

  It guarantees certain rights and freedoms