The Nature and Sources of the British Constitution
Ever wondered why Britain doesn't have a constitution you can hold in your hands? That's because the British constitution is uncodified - it exists across multiple sources rather than one tidy document.
The system is built on two twin pillars: parliamentary sovereignty and the rule of law. Parliamentary sovereignty means Parliament has the final say on everything and can make or unmake any law (like when they decided to leave the EU). The rule of law ensures everyone - even the Prime Minister - must follow the same laws they create.
Britain operates a unitary system where most power sits with Westminster Parliament in London. Though central government can give power to places like Scotland or Northern Ireland, they can also take it back - as happened when Northern Ireland's Stormont government was suspended due to disagreements.
Key Point: The constitution comes from six main sources: statute law (Acts of Parliament), common law (judge-made decisions), royal prerogative (monarch's formal powers now used by the PM), conventions (unwritten traditions), works of authority (important political writings), and international agreements.
Statutes are the most important laws passed by both Houses of Parliament with royal assent - like the 1969 Act that lowered the voting age to 18. Common law develops through senior judges' rulings, such as different punishments for murder based on circumstances. The royal prerogative gives the PM powers like suspending Parliament, as Boris Johnson did controversially in 2019.
