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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 |
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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 |
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Term
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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 |
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Term
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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 |
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Term
| Parliament Acts - 1911 and 1949 |
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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 |
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Term
| European Communities Act - 1972 |
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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) |
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Term
| Police and Criminal Evidence Act - 1984 |
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Definition
- provides police with extensive powers of arrest, search and detention
- contains important procedural safeguards - police do not abuse such powers |
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Definition
| allows limitations to be placed on rights of citizens to hold marches and meetings in public places. |
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Term
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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 |
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Term
| Acts of devolution (e.g. Scotland Act 1998) |
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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 |
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Term
| Constitutional Reform Act 2005 |
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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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