LEGAL DEVELOPMENTS IN UK

Constitutional & Legal Development in United Kingdom

Constitutional & Legal Development in United Kingdom

Introduction

United Kingdom is a unitary state. The administrative-territorial division of four countries i.e. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is different. England and Wales, (population over 1 million people), are divided into districts. Independent administrative-territorial unit is the Greater London, which includes 32 city districts and the City. In the UK, constitution does not exist, rather it has single legislative act embodying the principles of the state system. The country has an unwritten constitution, consisting of the rules of statutory law; the most important among them are (Glenn, 2007, pp. 156-178):

The Habeas Corpus Act 1679

The Bill of Rights of 1689

The law of succession in 1701

An Act of Parliament in 1911 and 1949

The rules of general law and norms, which are the constitutional traditions

The form of the UK is a constitutional parliamentary monarchy. The political regime is based on the concept of democracy; head of State is the Queen. Formally, the queen exhibits extensive powers: she appoints the Prime Minister and cabinet members, other officials (judges, army officers, diplomats, and senior church officials of established church), convene and dissolve the parliament, can veto a bill passed by the Parliament. The queen usually opens the session of Parliament in a speech in which she proclaims the basic domestic and foreign policy. She is the chief of the armed forces, represents the country in international relations and concludes and ratifies treaties with foreign nations, declares war and concludes peace, has the right to pardon. But in fact, almost all belonging to her powers are exercised by members of the government. They sign acts issued by the Queen, and bear responsibility for them (Sunstein, 2001, pp. 22-40).

Legislative power is vested in a bicameral Parliament. The term of the Parliament Act 1911 shall not exceed 5 years. The House of Commons (lower) is elected by universal and direct elections by majoritarian system of relative majority. It consists of 650 deputies. The House of Lords is not elected, the right to sit in it or acquired by inheritance is usually appointed by the Queen. In early 1999 the House had more than 1,200 people (hereditary and life peers, Law Lords of Appeal and the "Lords Spiritual" - the two Archbishops and 24 Anglican bishop - the highest appellate court). In October 1999 the House of Lords voted for the abolition of hereditary peers of the Institute. As a result, the upper house left the vast majority of it (Tamanaha, 2006, pp. 33-41).

Deputies create various committees that consider matters of serious public concern. Among the most important functions of the Parliament is the adoption of laws and supervision over the activities of government. Government bills have precedence: MPs who are not members of the Government may make laws for only one day a week (on Friday), while members of the government - at any time. Bills can be introduced into the upper and lower chambers, but as a rule, first there is discussion ...