What is Constitutional Law?
Definition
Concerns structures and powers of the state and law governing relationships between individu
Regulation of public power.
Protecting the rights of individuals.
What is a Constitution?
Narrow sense - A document that holds a special legal status, setting out the framework of the vari
('organs'), as well as setting out the principles and/or rules for how they work together.
Broader sense - The whole system of Government and the collection of rules which establish an
Government.
Constitutional Principles
Representative democracy - Free and fair elections.
Responsible Government - Ensuring a check on the exercise of power.
Parliamentary sovereignty - Parliament is the source of ultimate authority.
Rule of law - Nobody is above the law; everyone is subject to it.
Separation of powers - Three branches of the constitution - Legislature, executive and the judic
Protection from any branch holding absolute power.
Applications and Origins
The British Constitution applies to the state of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the United Kingdo
Wales from 1536.
Scotland from 1707.
Ireland from 1800 to 1922.
Northern Ireland from 1922.
Definition
Concerns structures and powers of the state and law governing relationships between individu
Regulation of public power.
Protecting the rights of individuals.
What is a Constitution?
Narrow sense - A document that holds a special legal status, setting out the framework of the vari
('organs'), as well as setting out the principles and/or rules for how they work together.
Broader sense - The whole system of Government and the collection of rules which establish an
Government.
Constitutional Principles
Representative democracy - Free and fair elections.
Responsible Government - Ensuring a check on the exercise of power.
Parliamentary sovereignty - Parliament is the source of ultimate authority.
Rule of law - Nobody is above the law; everyone is subject to it.
Separation of powers - Three branches of the constitution - Legislature, executive and the judic
Protection from any branch holding absolute power.
Applications and Origins
The British Constitution applies to the state of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the United Kingdo
Wales from 1536.
Scotland from 1707.
Ireland from 1800 to 1922.
Northern Ireland from 1922.
