The UK Constitution: Governments and Parliaments

In Good Faith: the UK’s Constitution, Governments and Parliaments

by Martijn Konings

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4160 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	363 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
X-Ray for textbooks	:	Enabled

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The UK constitution is made up of a complex set of laws, conventions, and practices that govern the way the country is run. It is not a single document, but rather a collection of different sources that have evolved over time.

The main sources of the UK constitution are:

• Statute law: This is the body of law that is made by Parliament. It includes Acts of Parliament, which are the most important type of statute law, as well as other types of legislation such as statutory instruments.
• Common law: This is the body of law that is made by the courts. It is based on the decisions of judges in previous cases, and it is binding on all lower courts.
• Conventions: These are unwritten rules that are not legally binding, but which are nevertheless followed by those in power. They include things such as the convention that the Queen must always give her assent to Acts of Parliament, and the convention that the Prime Minister must be able to command the confidence of the House of Commons.

The UK constitution is a flexible document, and it has been adapted over time to meet the changing needs of the country. For example, the Parliament Acts of 1911 and 1949 reduced the power of the House of Lords, and the devolution of power to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland in the 1990s and 2000s created new devolved governments and parliaments in those countries.

Types of Government

There are two main types of government in the UK:

• Monarchy: The UK is a constitutional monarchy, which means that the head of state is a monarch (currently Queen Elizabeth II). The monarch has a largely ceremonial role, and the real power lies with the government.
• Parliamentary government: The UK is a parliamentary government, which means that the government is formed by the political party or parties that have the most seats in the House of Commons. The leader of the government is the Prime Minister, who is appointed by the monarch.

Parliament

Parliament is the supreme legislative body in the UK. It is made up of two houses: the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

The House of Commons is the lower house of Parliament, and it is directly elected by the people. There are currently 650 members of the House of Commons, who are known as Members of Parliament (MPs).

The House of Lords is the upper house of Parliament, and it is not directly elected. It is made up of members who are appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister. There are currently around 800 members of the House of Lords, who are known as peers.

Parliament has a number of important functions, including:

• Making laws
• Scrutinising the government
• Representing the people

Devolved Governments

In addition to the UK government, there are also three devolved governments in the UK: the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government, and the Northern Ireland Executive.

These devolved governments are responsible for a range of matters within their own countries, including education, health, and transport. They are headed by a First Minister or Minister, who is appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister.

The devolved governments were created in the 1990s and 2000s as a response to the growing demand for greater autonomy in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. They have a degree of autonomy from the UK government, but they are still ultimately responsible to the UK Parliament.

The UK constitution is a complex and evolving document that governs the way the country is run. It is made up of a combination of statute law, common law, and conventions, and it has been adapted over time to meet the changing needs of the country.

The UK has a system of parliamentary government, and Parliament is the supreme legislative body in the country. Parliament is made up of two houses: the House of Commons and the House of Lords. In addition to the UK government, there are also three devolved governments in the UK: the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government, and the Northern Ireland Executive.

In Good Faith: the UK’s Constitution, Governments and Parliaments

by Martijn Konings

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4160 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	363 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
X-Ray for textbooks	:	Enabled

FREE