UK Constitution Articles
The United Kingdom does not have a written constitution compiled into a single document. Instead, its constitutional framework is based on a combination of statutes (laws passed by Parliament), common law (laws established through court judgments), historical documents, and conventions. Due to this unique structure, the UK does not have “constitutional articles” in the way that countries with written constitutions do.
However, there are several key documents and laws that are considered foundational to the UK’s constitutional order:
- Magna Carta (1215): Often regarded as a cornerstone of English liberty, law, and democracy, it established the principle that the king and his government were not above the law.
- The Bill of Rights (1689): An Act of Parliament that laid down limits on the powers of the crown and set out the rights of Parliament and rules for freedom of speech in Parliament, the requirement for regular elections to Parliament, and the right to petition the monarch without fear of retribution.
- The Act of Settlement (1701): Determined the succession to the English and Irish crowns to Protestants only, to ensure a Protestant monarchy, and established the independence of the judiciary.
- The Acts of Union (1707 and 1800): Unified England and Scotland into Great Britain (1707) and then Great Britain and Ireland into the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1800), with the latter now being the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland after the secession of the majority of Ireland in 1922.
- The Parliament Acts (1911 and 1949): Limited the powers of the House of Lords in relation to those of the House of Commons.
- The Human Rights Act (1998): Incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law, allowing British courts to hear human rights cases.
- The Constitutional Reform Act (2005): Further clarified the separation of powers, especially regarding the judiciary, by establishing the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom and reforming the office of the Lord Chancellor.
- Devolution Acts: Such as the Scotland Act (1998), the Government of Wales Act (1998), and the Northern Ireland Act (1998), which devolved certain powers to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, respectively.
These documents, among others, along with a host of conventions (unwritten practices that are followed by the state’s institutions), form the backbone of the UK’s constitution.
Constitution of UK
Constitution of UK: England is a country that doesn’t have a written constitution like some others around the world. Instead, it follows an “uncodified constitution.” The government of the UK abides by a set of written rules and regulations that come from a mix of English and Scottish laws, as well as international treaties and agreements accepted by the UK.
In this article, we will learn about the Constitution of the UK in great detail, and take a look at its salient features, different institutions, and the reforms made over time as well.
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