Public Law Summary Lectures 1-4

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  • Created by: ellied25
  • Created on: 14-03-18 16:59

1 - Public Law & The Constitution (1) 

  • Legal relationship between persons (inc. private company) and public authorities (state). 
  • State = Legislature, Executive, Judiciary.
  • Elements of Public Law:
    • Constitutional Law
    • Administrative Law
    • Judicial Review
    • Key Rights & Freedoms 
  • Ways the constitution may be classififed: 
    • Written/Unwritten
    • Republican/Monarchical
    • Federal/Unitary
    • Rigid/Flexible
    • Formal separation of powers/Informal separation of powers
  • Arguments FOR codification:
    • UK's constitutional arrangements have become more formalised. 
    • Shift from a political to legal form of constitutionalism.
    • Not the product of a conscious, deliberate discussion.
    • Unclear - debate and disagreement.
    • More accessible - easier for people to understand. 
    • Allows for substantive change - e.g unelected nature of HOL/scale of exec.power. 
  • Arguments AGAINST codification:
    • Historical reasons.
    • Unusual continuity.
    • Lack of public appetite.
    • Flexibility
    • Risks - not necessary nor desirable.
    • Naive - not a universal cure, smaller scale reform projects. 
    • Costly and lengthy - special, distinctive procedure, generating consensus. 
  • Sources of UK's constitution: Acts of Parliament of Constitutional Importance
    • Magna Carta 1215: First assertion on monarchical powers and rights of individuals. 
    • Bill of Rights 1689: Further limitations on Crown + meet on a regular basis etc. 
    • Act of Settlement 1701: Succession to the throne. 
    • Acts of Union 1706-7: Single parliament of Great Britain + provisions to preserve. 
    • Parliament Acts 1911/1949: Ensured will of HOC prevailed. 
    • European Communities Act 1972: Incorporated EU law into our domestic law. 
    • Police & Criminal Evidence Act 1984: Extensive powers + safeguards.
    • Public Order Act 1986: Limitations on rights of citizens to hold marches & meetings. 
    • Human Rights Act 1998: Incorporates ECHR into domestic law. 
    • Acts of Devolution: Devolved system of government in parts of UK - decentralised. 
    • Constitutional Reform Act: Reforms Lord Chancellor's office + Supreme Court. 

2 - Public Law & The Constitution (2)

Legal sources of the constitution:

  • Acts of Parliament
    • Strengths: democratic, broad policies, power for deleated legislation, HOL check. 
    • Weaknesses: undemocratic, government majority.
  • International Law 
    • Strengths: well-established principle national law should be interpreted where poss.....
    • Weaknesses: implications for UK's constitutional arrangements. 
  • Case Law:
    • Residual Freedom: unless law primarily expresses...
    • Legal Authority: actions taken by state officials must have legal basis if they are to be lawful.
      • Habeas Corpus
      • Entick v Carrington 
    • Right to a fair hearing: 
      • Article 6 ECHR
    • Parliamentary Supremacy: courts developed and applied enrolled act rule. 
    • Interpretation of Statute: 
      • Thoburn
    • Strengths: precedent makes it consistent, reflect changes in society.
    • Weaknesses: precedent leads to inconsistencies bc law is complex. Impartial judges. 
  • Royal Prerogative: Dicey definition, no definitive list, PM by convention. 
    • Crown Proceedings Act 1947: immunity tort and contract.
    • Fixed Term Parliament Act 2011: dissolve @ time of choosing. 
    • Strengths: advice of government.
    • Weaknesses: no modern examples, inappropriate in a democracy. 

Non-legal sources of the constitution: 

  • Constitutional Conventions: Defined by Marshall and Moodie
    • rules of constitutional behaviour: binding, not legally enforceable, flexible. 
    • Madzimbamuto v Lardner-Burke southern rhodesia. 
    • AG v Jonathan Cape add weight to a decision. 
    • Strengths: flexible (regulate shift of power), limit monarch without constitutional upheaval, operate effectively, ensures accountability and they dont abuse their power. 
    • Weaknesses: not law (not…

Comments

CamillaDaisy

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