The United Kingdom History of the Constitution of the United Kingdom

1 united kingdom

1.1 supremacy of commons
1.2 expansion of electoral franchise
1.3 irish independence , partition
1.4 european law
1.5 devolution , other new labour reforms

1.5.1 first term
1.5.2 second term


1.6 conservative-liberal democrat reforms

1.6.1 royal succession in commonwealth realms


1.7 further devolution

1.7.1 scottish independence referendum


1.8 eu referendum

the united kingdom

the united kingdom created union in january 1801 of kingdom of great britain kingdom of ireland, had been ruled english , british monarchs since middle ages, passing of act of union 1800. created parliament of united kingdom.

supremacy of commons

the parliament acts 1911 , 1949 asserted supremacy of house of commons limiting legislation-blocking powers of house of lords. life peerages act 1958 allowed creation of life peers gave prime minister ability change composition of house of lords.

expansion of electoral franchise

between 1832 , 1928, numerous acts of parliament repealed voting restrictions , expanded franchise 5% of adult population universal suffrage male , female adults aged 21 , over. representation of people act 1969 lowered voting age 21 18.

william ewart gladstone s uk midlothian campaign between 1878-80 began move towards modern political campaigning.

irish independence , partition

in 1912, house of lords managed delay home rule bill passed house of commons. enacted government of ireland act 1914. during these 2 years threat of religious civil war hung on ireland creation of unionist ulster volunteers opposed act , nationalist counterparts, irish volunteers supporting act. outbreak of world war in 1914 put crisis on political hold. disorganized easter rising in 1916 brutally suppressed british, had effect of galvanizing catholic demands independence. prime minister david lloyd george failed introduce home rule in 1918 , in december 1918 general election sinn féin won majority of irish seats. mps refused take seats @ westminster, instead choosing sit in first dáil parliament in dublin. declaration of independence ratified dáil Éireann, self-declared republic s parliament in january 1919. anglo-irish war fought between crown forces , irish republican army between january 1919 , june 1921. war ended anglo-irish treaty of december 1921 established irish free state. 6 northern, predominantly protestant counties became northern ireland , have remained part of united kingdom ever since, despite demands of catholic minority unite republic of ireland. britain officially adopted name united kingdom of great britain , northern ireland royal , parliamentary titles act 1927.

european law

the european communities act 1972 (uk) incorporated european community law united kingdom law, subsequently became european union law. arguable european communities act of 1972 “semi-entrenched”; long uk remains member of european union act cannot repealed.

devolution , other new labour reforms
first term

in labour s first term (1997–2001), introduced large package of constitutional reforms, promised in 1997 manifesto. significant were:

the creation of devolved parliament in scotland , assemblies in wales , northern ireland, own direct elections.
the creation of devolved assembly in london , associated post of directly elected mayor.
the beginning of process of reform of house of lords, including removal of 92 hereditary peers.
the incorporation of european convention on human rights uk law passing human rights act 1998.
the passing of freedom of information act 2000.
the passing of political parties, elections , referendums act 2000, creating electoral commission regulate elections , referendums , party spending extent.
the granting of independence on decisions monetary policy including interest rates bank of england.

second term

during labour government s second term (2001-2005), house of commons voted on 7 options in february 2003 on proportion of elected , appointed members (from 100% elected 100% appointed) house of lords should have. none of options received majority.

in 2004, joint committee (of house of commons , house of lords) tasked overseeing drafting of civil contingencies bill, published first report, in which, among other things, suggested amending bill s clauses grant cabinet ministers power disapply or modify act of parliament overly wide, , bill should modified preclude changes following acts, which, suggested, formed fundamental parts of constitutional law of united kingdom:

this amendment defeated government , bill passed without it. however, government partially 1 recommendation — human rights act 1998 may not amended emergency regulations.

the constitutional reform act 2005 created supreme court of united kingdom , guarantees judicial independence.

conservative-liberal democrat reforms

the conservative-liberal democrat coalition introduced several reforms including constitutional reform , governance act 2010, reformed royal prerogative , made other significant changes; fixed-term parliaments act 2011, introduced fixed-term parliaments of 5 years.

a key liberal democrat policy of voting reform, referendum took place in may 2011 on whether or not britain should adopt system of alternative vote elect mps westminster. however, proposal rejected overwhelmingly, 68% of voters in favour of retaining first-past-the-post.

royal succession in commonwealth realms

in late october 2011, prime ministers of commonwealth realms voted grant gender equality in royal succession, ending male-preference primogeniture mandated act of settlement 1701. amendment, once enacted, ended ban on monarch marrying catholic. following perth agreement in 2011, legislation amending bill of rights 1689 , act of settlement 1701 came effect across commonwealth realms on 26 march 2015 changed laws of succession british throne. in united kingdom, passed succession crown act 2013.

further devolution

further powers devolved under government of wales act 2006, northern ireland act 2006, northern ireland act 2009, scotland act 2012, wales act 2014, , scotland act 2016.

scottish independence referendum

on 18 september, referendum held in scotland on whether leave united kingdom , become independent country. 3 uk-wide political parties - labour, conservative , liberal democrats - campaigned part of better campaign while pro-independence scottish national party main force in yes scotland campaign, scottish green party , scottish socialist party. days before vote, opinion polls closing, 3 better party leaders issued vow , promise of more powers scotland in event of no vote. referendum resulted in scotland voting 55% 45% remain part of united kingdom.

the smith commission announced prime minister david cameron on 19 september 2014 propose powers devolved scottish government. once recommendations had been published debated in uk parliament , command paper published in january 2015 putting forward draft legislative proposals. scottish parliament committee report published in may 2015 said draft bill did not meet recommendations of smith commission, in relation welfare payments. spokesman uk government said full parliamentary discussion follow. bill based on smith commission s recommendations announced uk government in may 2015 queen s speech. bill subsequently became law scotland act 2016 in march 2016.

eu referendum

on 20 february 2016, prime minister david cameron announced referendum on uk s membership of european union held on 23 june 2016, following years of campaigning eurosceptics. debates , campaigns parties supporting both remain , leave focused on concerns regarding trade , single market, security, migration , sovereignty. result of referendum in favour of country leaving eu 51.9% of voters wanting leave. uk remains member time being, expected invoke article 50 of lisbon treaty, begin negotiations on withdrawal agreement last no more 2 years (unless council , uk agree extend negotiation period) lead exit european union.

in october 2016 prime minister, theresa may, promised great repeal bill repeal 1972 european communities act , import regulations uk law, effect date of british withdrawal. regulations amended or repealed on case-by-case basis.

the supreme court issued ruling in january 2017 act of parliament needed before government can trigger article 50 leave european union.