Sources of the UK Constitution

Question	Answer
Major Constitutional Documents	Documents that express important constitutional principles (ex. the Magna Carta -1215)
Commentaries by constitutional experts	Clear and accurate interpretations of the constitution by experts ("The English Constitution" by Walter Bagehot) (Experts include A.V. Dicey, Thomas Erskine)
Statute Law	Acts of parliament that impact constitutional structure - MP's & Powers of the gov. (Wales Act 1998)
Prerogative Powers of the Crown	powers of privileges performed in the past by the monarch - now done in their name by PM (Declaring war, signing treaties)
Laws & Customs of Parliament	Rules relating to the procedures of the House and of its members (Where members sit & speak / form & style of debate)
Common Law	A body of rules that has developed over a long period time - the traditional basis of Britain (Citizens Rights like free spech & assembly)
Conventions	Rules that guide our constitutional behaviour, customs of political practice that are usually accepted & observed (knowledge that the choice of PM should be made from the Commons)
EU Laws & Treaties	Body of constitutional law that had already been passed on the creation of the E.C. - Primary Legislation and secondary law that takes precedence over UK Law (Treaty of Rome - 1957) (Treaty of Libson 2009)

Resource summary

	Created by Julia Sabrina Be over 8 years ago