The British Constitution

The British Constitution

1. The Constitution

   • Parliament - A legislature
     • Portrayed to be a supreme power
   • Judicery Branch
     • Controls the employment of judges, lawyers, etc. Enforce punishment for law breaking.
   • Codified Constitution
     • Governed by a document with a set of rules and laws that cannot be broken at all.
     • United States of America
       • The 10 Amendments
   • Uncodified Constitution
     • The country does not use a document with rules and laws. Laws and rules are scattered across several sources.
     • The United Kingdom
       • Has several documents that are followed by the component countries. However mainly controlled through Parliament and the Monarch.
       • Reflects the union of its component nations
   • Civil Service
     • Civil servants provide advice to ministers to help run their department or branch.
   • Senior MPs usually run departments.
   • 20-25 Ministers are in the Cabinet
   • The Cabinet is the main governing body of the government and is where all department minsters and the PM meet to discuss things.
   • The Prime Minister has the Royal Prerogative
     • Allows the PM to carry out Monarch like duties, including the ability to wage war.

2. The Legislature

   • Parliament is made up of the:
     • The House of Lords + the Monarch
       • Some inherit their place
       • Cannot be elected
       • Some are appointed
       • Some are bishops of the church of england
     • The House of Commons
       • Elected by the voters.
       • They take a seat in the house.
   • A Bicameral system
     • 2 Chambers involved in the passing of bills.

3. The Judicery Branch

   • Applies law
   • Makes sure the executive does not exceed their powers.
   • When a case comes up before the Judicery during Judicial review. Judges must find out if ministers have followed the correct decision making process.
     • If it is wrong, then the minister must go back and avert the change and make sure the correct process is followed. Else it is an illegal decision.