sources of the UK Constitution

Question 1

first source: S

Answer 1

-statute law
-it has the most authority
-made by parliament
-some statutes have special significance because they relate to the rights of a citizen/ how the gov. is organised

Question 2

examples of the first source

Answer 2

-human rights act
-representation of the people act 1918

Question 3

second source: C

Answer 3

-common law
-law made by judges
-it is the custom that a decision made by one judge must be followed by others facing similar facts
judges therefore are bound by legal precedents

Question 4

example of second source

Answer 4

-precedent set by Dianne Petty case in 2002
-she campaigned for rights for assisted suicide
-was rejected because of the human rights act which protects the right to life

Question 5

third source: EU

Answer 5

-EU law
-competition law
-EU law used to take precedence over UK law

Question 6

examples of third source

Answer 6

-freedom for citizens to enjoy trading freely with other EU countries (single european act 1986)
-employment rights, protected under the social chapter of the maastrict treaty - still have this

Question 7

fourth source: C

Answer 7

-conventions
-they are non legal rules, more like a code of conduct
-they are a key unwritten element of the constitiution
-they make politics workable, and are upheld for this reason

Question 8

examples of fourth source

Answer 8

-the ministerial code which emphasises the importance of openness and transparency for everyone working in government

Question 9

fifth source: W

Answer 9

-works of authority
-they are books
-they help to clarify uncertainties
-however they lack authority and are only there to be referred to

Question 10

example of fifth source

Answer 10

-Walter Bagehot - the English Constitution (1867)
-talks about the role of the PM and cabinet government