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Difficulty: MediumStatute Law (Acts of Parliament)

The United Kingdom has an uncodified constitution that is drawn from various sources. Within this framework, what is the legal status of Statute Law (Acts of Parliament) in relation to other sources like Common Law and constitutional conventions?

  1. It is the supreme form of law and has the authority to override or change any other source of the constitution.Answer
  2. B
    It is subordinate to Common Law, meaning an Act of Parliament cannot change legal principles established by historical court judgments.
  3. C
    It consists of traditional practices that are respected by the government but are not legally binding in a court of law.
  4. D
    It acts as a temporary legal measure that requires a Royal Decree from the Monarch to become part of the permanent constitution.

Answer

The correct answer is that Statute Law is the supreme form of law and has the authority to override or change any other source of the constitution.
The correct answer accurately reflects the principle of Parliamentary Sovereignty. In the UK, Statute Law—which consists of Acts passed by both the House of Commons and the House of Lords and granted Royal Assent—is the highest form of law. It has the power to change any part of the constitution, override Common Law (judge-made law), and turn unwritten conventions into formal law.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the definitions of the sources mentioned.
Statute Law refers to formal Acts passed by Parliament. Common Law is based on court precedents, and conventions are traditional practices.
To compare their legal authority, one must first understand what each source represents.
2
Apply the principle of Parliamentary Sovereignty.
Under this principle, the UK Parliament has the absolute authority to make or unmake any law.
This principle establishes the hierarchy of laws within the UK's uncodified constitution.
3
Determine the relationship between the sources.
Since Parliament is sovereign, the laws it passes (Statute Law) are superior to all other sources, including those that are unwritten or based on tradition.
This confirms that Statute Law can amend or repeal any existing legal or constitutional arrangement.

Key Concept

Parliamentary Sovereignty and the Supremacy of Statute Law

Practice More

Review how a Bill becomes an Act of Parliament to understand the practical process of creating Statute Law.
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Statute Law (Acts of Parliament)

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