British Constitution Glossary

Codified: The constitution is written down in a single document, and so is organised into a clear set of principles and rules.

Common Law: Law that is derived from general customs and from court decisions

Constitution: The set of laws, rules, principles and procedures that specify how a state is to be governed, and define the relationships between the branches of government, and between the government and the individual

Constitutional Government: When a government is operating within an agreed set of legal constraints

Convention: As established standard of political behaviour rooted not in the law but in past experience

Entrenched: There are special arrangements in place for amending a constitution, making this more difficult than passing normal laws.

Precedent: A judicial ruling that becomes an authority when later cases are decided

Royal Prerogative: Discretionary powers of the Crown that are employed by Government Ministers in the name of the Monarch

Sovereignty: The legitimate and exclusive right to exercise power within a given area, in other words – Supreme Power

Legal Sovereignty: Where supreme power lies according to the law

Political Sovereignty: Where supreme power lies in reality

Parliamentary Sovereignty: The cornerstone of the UK Constitution, stating that Parliament is the supreme law making body in the UK]

Statute Law: Law that is derived from Acts of Parliament and subordinate legislation

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