Sources of the UK Constitution
UK Constitution is uncodified - What is it made of?
Statute/Legislation - Made by Parliament.
Common law - Cases made by judges.
Constitutional conventions.
Constitutional principles:
Rule of Law – Everybody subject to the same law.
Representative democracy – Elect representatives every 5 years.
Responsible Government – Separation of powers.
Parliamentary Sovereignty – Supreme rule making.
Bound by themselves.
Cannot question.
Academic writings.
Rule of Law
V. Dicey, ‘Introduction to the Study of the Law of the Constitution’ (1885)
Predominance of regular law over arbitrary power.
Everyone is equal before the law.
Principles of the constitution are the result of the ordinary law of the land.
💡 Not to be confused with Parliamentary Sovereignty.
Lord Bingham, ‘The Rule of Law’ (2007)
The law must be accessible, intelligible, clear and predictable.
Questions of legal rights and liability should be ordinarily resolved by the application of the law,
Everyone should be equal before the law.
The law must afford equal protection of fundamental human rights.
UK Constitution is uncodified - What is it made of?
Statute/Legislation - Made by Parliament.
Common law - Cases made by judges.
Constitutional conventions.
Constitutional principles:
Rule of Law – Everybody subject to the same law.
Representative democracy – Elect representatives every 5 years.
Responsible Government – Separation of powers.
Parliamentary Sovereignty – Supreme rule making.
Bound by themselves.
Cannot question.
Academic writings.
Rule of Law
V. Dicey, ‘Introduction to the Study of the Law of the Constitution’ (1885)
Predominance of regular law over arbitrary power.
Everyone is equal before the law.
Principles of the constitution are the result of the ordinary law of the land.
💡 Not to be confused with Parliamentary Sovereignty.
Lord Bingham, ‘The Rule of Law’ (2007)
The law must be accessible, intelligible, clear and predictable.
Questions of legal rights and liability should be ordinarily resolved by the application of the law,
Everyone should be equal before the law.
The law must afford equal protection of fundamental human rights.
