The UK Constitution

A constution is - "the system of body of fundamental principles according to which a nation state or body is constituted and governed"

- The division of government activities (which strucutres and performs tasks) 

- Power and relationships between various institutions.

- The limitations upon the powers of rulers and gurantees of right of the ruled, listed of the freedoms of the individual citizen and the benefits to which he or she is entitled from the state.

• protect freedom 
• Encourages governmental stability 
• Provides legitamcy to those in power 
• Sets out respective shpheres of influence of the provincial tirs in federal countries.
• Creates a fresh start, especially after uphevals.
• Draws attention to the goals and values that characterise a particulae state. 

• Codified/ uncodified (Written or Unwritten)
• Flexible or rigid - A flexible constitution can be altered via the law making process, whilst rigid constitutions are hard to amend.
• Unitary/ Federal - In unitary systems all power is concerntrated in the hand of government. Federal systems have powers devlved to different reigions.
• Monarchial/Republican, Presidential/Parliamentary , sovereignty of parliament/ people 

• Unitary - Parliament makes laws for all parts of the UK, but parts of the UK may have power devolved to them e.g. Scotland 
• Made up of many traditions and customs such as the Magna Carta, founded in 1215. 
• Uncodified - there is no single document which brings all the rules, government and country together.
• The rule of law:The principle tha no one is above the law and that individuals are subject to it.
• Sovereignty of parliament - the idea that parliament posses and exercises unlimited authority.
• Fusion of powers 
• Flexible - the constitution can be amended easily by passing an act of parliament (1911/1949)

• Documents such as the Magna Carta 
• Texts by experts on the constitution 
• Major statutes (e.g. Acts of parliament)
• Customs of parliament 
• Perogotive powers of the crown 
• European law
• Conventions
• Common and case law 

• The freedom of information Act, 2005
• The creation of a London Assembly and an elected mayor.
• The use of proportional representation to elect devolved bodies in the UK.
• Changes ot the House of commons, reasonable working hours and payments. 
• Creation of the supreme court.