UK constitution

• Uncodified constitution


  Not written in a single document
• The legislature


  Enacts primary legislation
• The executive


  Proposes and implements / executes law (government)
• The judiciary


  Interprets, applies and enforces the law
• Separation of powers


  Idea that power should be distributed among various state institutions and not concentrated
• Parliamentary Sovereignty


  Acts of Parliament are the highest laws and cannot be challenged by anyone
• Sources of the UK constitution:

  • Statute
  • Common Law
  • Royal Prerogative
  • Constitutional Conventions
  • Before Brexit: EU Law
• Implied repeal:


  If faced with two contradictory Acts on same subject matter, the latter impliedly repeals the former
• Examples of Constitutional statutes:

  • magna carta
  • bill of rights
  • act of union with Scotland 1707
  • Scotland Act 1998
  • Human Rights Act 1998
• Examples of prerogative powers:

  • Deployment of Armed Forces overseas
  • Signing and ratifying treaties
  • Conduct of diplomacy
  • Grant mercy
  • Royal assent