TOPIC 5.4- The Constitution (How Have The Constitutional Principles Changed?)

Question 1

How this principle has been affected by constitutional reform

Uncodified.

Answer 1

Uk Constitution remain uncodified but can perhaps be found in fewer sources

e.g
-UK’s withdrawal from the EU will remove an important source of law

In addition, an increasing number of previously unwritten sources of the Constitution are being written into statute law

Question 2

How this principle has been affected by constitutional reform

Unentrenched

Answer 2

Parts of the UK Constitutiuon are effectively becomign semi-entrenched

-the scottish Parliamsnet is safe from abloition because Scottiish voters decided overwhemlingly in re favour of devolution

Question 3

How this principle has been affected by constitutional reform

Parliament is sovereign

Answer 3

Popular soveriegnty has icnreaisngly come into conflict w. parliamentary soverigehnty as a result of referendums

-the otucome of EU referendum in 2016 was not legally bindin gon. parliamentm but in oratcise resutled in the passing of the EU Act 2020

Question 4

How this principle has been affected by constitutional reform

Unitary

Answer 4

As a rsult of devolutio, it is noe pssoible to describe the UK Xonstituiona s ‘quasi-dfederal-

-different alws eixst in different parts of teh country

-the UK Constituom is neither as unitary as it once was, nror can it be desirveb as federal since devoluton has occured at a differnet pace across the contry and the powersof devolved bodie svary considerably form region to reginon

Question 5

How this principle has been affected by constitutional reform

Fusion of powers

Answer 5

The Law Lords used to be the highest court in the land and hled court cases in the HOL

-now the Supreme Court convenes in a different building altogether, and thus there is greater separation of powers in relation to the judiciary