Overview of Constitution
A constitution comprises the fundamental principles or established precedents that form the legal basis for a nation’s governance.
It typically serves to:
Establish and delineate the core structures of the state, including the legislative, executive, and judicial branches;
Define the scope of authority and interaction between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches; and
Govern the interactions between the state, its governing bodies, and the citizens.
This text will guide you through the foundational constitutional principles that govern these functions within the UK, offering a foundational understanding of UK constitutional law.
The UK’s Unwritten Constitution
The UK stands alongside a handful of nations globally without a codified constitution.
An unwritten, or more accurately, an uncodified constitution does not have a single, consolidated written document that outlines its most critical laws.
This contrasts with nations like the United States, Australia, or South Africa, each of which possesses a formal document titled 'The Constitution' that clearly enunciates the most significant legal and governmental guidelines.