The Nature Of The Constitution

Question 1

Uncodified constitution

Answer 1

There is no one single document outlining the constitution of the state

Parts are written down in differnt in documents

Question 2

Flexible (Uncodified)

Answer 2

UK const is flexible as any of its documents can be changed without a lengthy process

Question 3

Unentrenched (Uncodified)

Answer 3

Constitutional laws are no different from statute laws

Parliament is soverign so can change the const by passing statute law

Constitutional provisions dont have a higher legal status than statute/common law

So laws that modify the constitution are passed with a simple majority in parl.

Question 4

Unitary (Uncodified)

Answer 4

Based on the principle of parliamentary sovereignty

This means the supreme power remains in the hands of a single source

Lower govt. bodies are subordinate to the sovereign body and powers can be taken away from them (e.g. Scottish and Welsh parliaments)

Question 5

Codified constitution

Answer 5

The key constitutional structure and arrangement in a state are collected together within a single legal document

Question 6

Rigid (Codified)

Answer 6

This requires a lengthy process to alter it

Question 7

Entrenched (Codified)

Answer 7

The provisions of a codified const are entrenched n that it is difficult to amend or remove them

Question 8

Judiciable (Codified)

Answer 8

Codified consts are judiciable in that a constitutional court decides if government action or laws passed by the legislature are ‘constitutional’