Last Updated: 

Monday, 1 September, 2003, 10:04 GMT 11:04 UK 

E-mail this to a friend Printable version

The UK constitution
Unit 2: Governing the UK 
by Nicola McEwen 
Lecturer in Politics at the University of Edinburgh writes for BBC Parliament
.

Unwritten constitution

The UK constitution is often described as an 'unwritten constitution', but it is

best described as 'partly written and wholly uncodified' (Budge et al, 1998).

It is derived from a number of sources. Its principal source is statute law, i.e.,
laws passed by the UK Parliament.

Statute law is particularly important for determining the powers and scope of
government, and the conduct of elections.

Examples include the Act of Union of 1707, which united Scotland with
England and Wales, the various Representation of the People Acts, which
extended the right to vote, and the European Communities Act of 1972,
which took the UK into the European Community.

An array of conventions, or unwritten understandings and customs, also

surround the rules of constitutional behaviour. Although not supported by
law, these are considered to be binding.

Sourcee http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/bbc_parliament/2561719.stm

Page 129
Page 132

Source https://books.google.co.in/books?
id=n3_7CwAAQBAJ&pg=PA128&lpg=PA128&dq=UNCODIFIED+bRITISH+CONSTITUTION&source=bl&
ots=Xd_W7vXdIq&sig=yRBuqIR-
euoPGzZF3c8dLJSKamE&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjIvuHou9zYAhVKwLwKHSXUBl04ChDoAQhOMA
g#v=onepage&q=UNCODIFIED%20bRITISH%20CONSTITUTION&f=fals
Source https://books.google.co.in/books?
id=FaDhCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT109&lpg=PT109&dq=UNCODIFIED+bRITISH+CONSTITUTION&source=bl&o
ts=rF3fUneCOO&sig=5CFCuYeuaMkYTX0WtmL0DVhlM2o&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiBuuyovtzYAh
XJgLwKHd68BKM4FBDoAQglMAA#v=onepage&q=UNCODIFIED%20bRITISH
%20CONSTITUTION&f=false