the constitution

• constitution

  the set of laws, rules and practices that create the basic institutions of the state and related parts
• bill of rights

  an authoritative statement that outlines the rights of citizens, often entrenched as part of a codified constitution
• limited government

  a system in which the powers of government are subject to legal constraints as well as checks and balances within a political system
• codified constitution

  a single authoritative document that sets out the laws, rules and principles by which a state is governed
• uncodified constitution

  a constitution where the laws, rules and principles are not laid out in a single document
• fundamental law

  constitutional law that is deliberately set above regular law in terms of status and is given a degree of protection.
• entrenched

  difficult to change, often requiring super majorities or approval by referendum to remove or change
• statute law

  law derived from Acts of Parliament and subordinate legislation
• common law

  law derived from the general customs, traditions and the decision of the judges.
• royal prerogative

  discretionary powers of the crown that are exercised by the government ministers in the monarchs name e.g. royal assent
• conventions

  established norms of political behaviour, rooted in past experience rather than in the law
• authoritative works

  a handful of long established legal and political texts that have come to be accepted as the reference points for those wishing to know precisely 'who can do what'
• international laws

  external laws, regulations and directives that have significant influence over the UK governance
• 1215 Magna Carter

  Citizens are entitled to swift and fair trial, there are limitations on taxation and protections for arbitrary imprisonment
• 1689 Bill of Rights

  introduced limitations on the monarchs power, enhanced the status of parliament and prohibited cruel and unusual punishment
• 1701 Act of Settlement

  barred Roman Catholics from assuming the throne, introduced the House of Hanover as the royal family.
• 1707 Acts of Union

  Kingdoms of England and Scotland join to form Great Britain, governed by Westminster
• 1911 Parliament Act

  Removed the power of the House of Lords to block money bills by imposing a 2 year delay
• 1949 Parliament Act

  Reduced the power of the House of Lords by introducing the one year delay for money powers
• 1972 European Communities Act

  The UK enters the EEC, this incorporates the Treaty of Rome into UK law, making EU law superior
• 2020 The European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act

  Ratified the Brexit withdrawal that included all pre-standing EU law into UK law.
• Reform UK has almost doubled in polling data- in January 24 they were polling at 10%
• Democratic Deficit - The Speaker is forced to give up their party affiliation and ability to represent the constituency.
• Omagh Bombing of August 1998 killed 29 people.
• In December 2005 the IRA dully decommission their weapons - it takes 5 more years for unionists to follow.
• active participation and management 


  giving everyone the opportunity to shape the decisions that affect them.
• fair representation 


  ensuring the UK's institutions reflect the people they serve, their choices and identities.
• good governance 


  in the form function and culture of democratic decision making
• Simplifying voter registration by changing household registration to individual registration
• 16 year olds could vote in the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum, the 2021 Scottish Assembly and the Senned Elections
• e-democracy involves online petitions, online citizen assemblies and online voting.
• despite a larger percentage of female MPs, the socio-economic profiles have not been radically altered.
• The last attempt at electoral reform was the 2011 AV Referendum
• Boundary commision recommendations made in 2013 were abandoned in 2020.
• Completing Lord's reform - the 1999 House of Lords Act and the 2014 House of Lords Reform Bill
• In the US, a constitutional amendment must be passed by 2/3 of the senate and Ratified by 3/4 of the states.
• The US constitution has only been amended 27 since 1787. Including the first 10 amendments that make up the Bill of Rights.
• When a Treaty is signed it becomes UK law. Eg. Treaty of Rome
• The 1975 and 2016 referenda were held because they were debating a change in fundamental law.
• The Great Reform Act in 1832 (expanded the Franchise)