Unlike most countries, the UK has no single written constitution. Its rules are drawn from a patchwork of sources — some enforced by the courts, others binding only as a matter of political practice. For a solicitor, knowing which source governs a situation, and how the courts treat it, is the foundation for advising on anything involving the state, public authorities or fundamental rights.
This lesson builds that map one piece at a time, starting with what the constitution is made of and ending with how power is shared across the UK.
What this lesson covers:
- Nature and Legal Sources of the Constitution — what an uncodified constitution is and the legal sources the courts enforce.
- Parliamentary Sovereignty — the foundational principle that makes statute the supreme source of law.
- Implied Repeal and Constitutional Statutes — why some statutes resist being overridden by accident.
- Principle of Legality and Statutory Interpretation — how courts protect fundamental rights when reading legislation.
- The Royal Prerogative — the residual powers the executive holds without statute, and their limits.
- International Law and the Human Rights Act 1998 — how treaties and Convention rights take effect domestically.
- Constitutional Conventions — the binding-but-unenforceable rules that fill the gaps.
- Devolution and Separation of Powers — how power is distributed and where courts can review legislation.