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Acts of Constitutional Importance
Acts of Parliament
11
Law
Graduate
10/04/2016

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Cards

Term
Magna Carta - 1215
Definition
- first assertion of limits of powers of the monarch
- extracted from King John by feudal lords and guaranteed certain rights to 'freeman on the realm', including trial by jury
- embodies principle that gov must be conducted according to law and with consent of governed
- no man is above the law
- King John compelled to renounce certain rights, respect specified legal procedures and accept will could be bound by the law
- introduced right to protection from unlawful imprisonment
Term
Bill of Rights - 1689
Definition
- imposed limitations on powers of the Crown and its relationship with Parliament
- removed power of monarch arbitrarily to suspend acts of Parliament and power of monarch to impose taxation without Parliament's consent
Term
Act of Settlement - 1701
Definition
-altered rules of succession (prohibited Catholics from becoming a monarch and gave precedence to male heirs)
- established constitutional independence of the Judiciary
N.B. Succession to the Crown Act 2013 removes bar on monarch marrying a Catholic and end succession to the Crown based on gender: comes into force when all other is Commonwealth countries make their necessary arrangements
Term
Acts of Union - 1706-7
Definition
- united England and Scotland under a single Parliament of Great Britain (Parliament at Westminster)
- contained provisions to preserve the separate Scottish church and legal system
Term
Parliament Acts - 1911 and 1949
Definition
- altered relationship between House of Lords and House of Commons
- ensured that will of elected House of Commons would prevail over that of the unelected House of Lords by enabling legislation to be enacted without consent of House of Lords
Term
European Communities Act - 1972
Definition
- gave legal effect to UK's membership of EU
- incorporated EU law and legal systems into our domestic law
- Treaty establishing the European Community has been amended and renamed the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU)
Term
Police and Criminal Evidence Act - 1984
Definition
- provides police with extensive powers of arrest, search and detention
- contains important procedural safeguards - police do not abuse such powers
Term
Public Order Act - 1986
Definition
allows limitations to be placed on rights of citizens to hold marches and meetings in public places.
Term
Human Rights Act 1998
Definition
- incorporates ECHR into our domestic law
- marks fundamental change in protection of human rights by allowing citizens to raise alleged breaches of their human rights before domestic courts
Term
Acts of devolution (e.g. Scotland Act 1998)
Definition
-created a devolved system of gov in various parts of UK
- establishing a Scottish parliament and assembles in Wales and Northern Ireland
- decentralised process of gov and given greater autonomy to these parts of UK
Term
Constitutional Reform Act 2005
Definition
- reformed office of Lord Chancellor: transferred LC's powers as head of judiciary to Lord Chief Justice and permits House of Lords to elect own Speaker
- provided for creation of a Supreme Court (to replace Appellate Committee of House of Lords) and created Judicial Appointments Commission to oversee appointment of judges
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