Nature of the British Constitution

• What is a constitution?

  A set of principles which establishes the distribution of power within a political system
• What does codification mean?

  The process of setting out a constitution in one single document
• What does uncodified mean?

  A constitution which has not been written in one, single, organised document
• What does entrenched mean?

  Entrenchment is the device which protects a constitution from short term amendment
• How is the UK constitution flexible?

  UK law can be amended because it is not entrenched, so it can be changed without upheaval
• What does unitary mean?

  A unitary constitution is where sovereignty resides in one location (Westminster)
• "Parliament can take away power as quickly a they give it"
• Who has the ability to overrule decisions?

  Parliament can overrule any of the decisions made by bodies with devolved powers