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Question

Difficulty: MediumStatute Law (Acts of Parliament)

For a new law to be established as Statute Law in the United Kingdom, it must pass through Parliament and receive Royal Assent from the Monarch. Once this process is complete, what is the legal authority of the resulting Act of Parliament?

  1. It is the supreme form of law and can change any previous common law or conventionAnswer
  2. B
    It is subordinate to long-standing historical precedents established by Common Law
  3. C
    It remains invalid until it is formally added to the UK's single written constitution
  4. D
    It grants the Monarch the absolute right to amend the law without further Parliamentary approval

Answer

It is the supreme form of law and can change any previous common law or convention
Statute Law, which consists of Acts of Parliament, is the highest form of law in the UK. Because Parliament is sovereign, an Act that has received Royal Assent can change, replace, or overrule any other source of the constitution, including historical traditions (conventions) or court-made rules (common law).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the source of law described in the question.
The question describes Statute Law, which consists of Acts of Parliament.
Understanding the terminology is the first step in determining legal hierarchy.
2
Determine the hierarchical position of Statute Law within the UK's uncodified constitution.
Statute Law is the supreme form of law in the United Kingdom.
Parliamentary sovereignty means that laws passed by the legislature overrule other sources.
3
Analyze how this authority applies to other constitutional sources like Common Law or conventions.
A new Act of Parliament can legally override or replace any existing convention or judicial precedent.
This confirms the 'supreme' nature of the law-making process.

Key Concept

Parliamentary Sovereignty and the Supremacy of Statute Law

Practice More

Review the 'Royal Assent' process and the difference between a Bill and an Act to understand how Statute Law is created.
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Statute Law (Acts of Parliament)

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