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Development of the constitution

  • 1215

    Magna Carta

    Principle of rule of law: King is not above the law. Habeus corpus: trial by jury. No arbitrary punishment or unwarranted seizures
  • Bill of Rights

    After end of Glorious Revolution. Created constitutional monarchy and set up principle of parliamentary sovereignty: taxation under Parliament, Parliamentary privilege (free speech in Parliament).
  • Great Reform Act

    Extension of franchise. Removed rotten boroughs and extended vote to some men who met property requirements.
  • Reform Act

    Extension of vote to urban working men who met property/renting requirements.
  • Reform Act

    Extension of franchise to rural working men
  • Parliament Act

    Lords cannot veto money bills. Power only of 2-year delay. Max duration of Parliament reduced from 7 to 5 years.
  • Representation of the People Act

    All men over 21, married women over 30 who met property requirements.
  • Representation of the People Act

    Universal suffrage: all men and women over 21
  • Parliament Act

    Lords can only delay for 1 year
  • Representation of the People Act

    Voting age lowered from 21 to 18
  • European Communities Act

    Entered into the EEC
  • Human Rights Act

    Incorporated ECHR into UK laws.
  • Devolution

    Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland Acts
  • House of Lords reform

    Removed all but 92 hereditary peers
  • Freedom of Information Act

    Public has right to access information held by public bodies.
  • Constitutional Reform Act

    Established Supreme Court- independent judiciary. Established Judicial Appointments Commission to select candidates
  • Equality Act

    Protected characteristics
  • Fixed Term Parliament Act

    General elections every 5 years exactly- not PM prerogative. Early elections can only be called after 2/3 Parliamentary majority. Repealed 2022
  • EVEL

    English Votes for English Laws- only English MPs to vote on cases focusing on England. Repealed 2021
  • Recall of MPs Act

    By-elections held if 10% of electorate signed petitions. 4 successful cases e.g. Peter Bone, Wellingborough 2021. Very high thresholds however.
  • EU Withdrawal Act

    Brexit- took the UK out of the EU after the 2016 referendum

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