8. The Constitutional Reform of Britain

The constitution of the United Kingdom is the sum of laws and principles that make up the body politic of the United Kingdom. It concerns both the relationship between the individual and the state, and the functioning of the legislature, the executive and judiciary. Unlike many other nations, the UK has no single constitutional document. This is sometimes expressed by stating that it has an uncodified or "unwritten" constitution.  Much of the British constitution is embodied in written documents, within statutes,court judgments, works of authority and treaties. The constitution has other unwritten sources, including parliamentary constitutional conventions.

Since the Glorious Revolution in 1688, the bedrock of the British constitution has traditionally been the doctrine of parliamentary sovereignty, according to which the statutes passed by Parliament are the UK's supreme and final source of law. It follows that Parliament can change the constitution simply by passing new Acts of Parliament. There is some debate about whether this principle remains valid, particularly in light of the UK's membership in the European Union.

• Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949 — asserts the supremacy of the House of Commons by limiting the legislation-blocking powers of the House of Lords

• Life Peerages Act 1958 — establishes standards for the creation of life peers which gives the Prime Minister the ability to change the composition of the House of Lords

• Emergency Powers Act 1964 — provides power to employ members of the armed forces in work of national importance

• European Communities Act 1972 — incorporates European law into UK law

• House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 — prohibits certain categories of people, such as judges, from becoming members of the House of Commons

• Ministerial and Other Salaries Act 1975 — governs ministerial salaries

• British Nationality Act 1981 — revises the basis of British nationality law

• Supreme Court Act 1981 — defines the structure of the Supreme Court of England and Wales

• Representation of the People Act 1983 — updates the British electoral process

• Scotland Act 1998 — devolves certain powers to the Scottish Parliament

• Government of Wales Act 1998 — devolves certain powers to the Welsh Assembly

• Northern Ireland Act 1998 — devolves certain powers to the Northern Irish Assembly

• Human Rights Act 1998 — incorporates the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law

• House of Lords Act 1999 — reforms the House of Lords removing most hereditary peers

• Civil Contingencies Act 2004 — establishes a framework for national and local emergency planning and response

• Constitutional Reform Act 2005 — creates the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom and guarantees judicial independence

• Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 — reforms the Royal Prerogative and makes other significant changes

• Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 — introduces fixed-term parliaments of 5 years

• Succession to the Crown Act 2013 — alters the laws of succession to the British throne