What are the features of the British Constitution?

The constitution organizes, distributes, and controls the power of a state. It also determines the governing policies, the structure of the ...

The constitution organizes, distributes, and controls the power of a state. It also determines the governing policies, the structure of the state, the major state agencies, and their relations with each other and with the citizens of the state.

I will discuss the main features of the British Constitution below. I hope you will get it as useful.

What are the features of the British Constitution?

In today's world, the British Constitution occupies a unique and diverse place. The main features of this constitution are as follows:

Firstly, the British Constitution is largely unwritten. Unlike other countries, there is no specific document in this country as a constitution. So many have criticized this. Regarding the British constitution, Thomas Payne said, "What cannot be seen and presented can never be called a constitution." "The British constitution does not exist," Talkville said.

Although the constitution is unwritten, it relies on a number of written documents, such as the Magna Carta, the Bill of Rights, the Act of Settlement, the Habeas Corpus Act, and so on. Thus, although the British Constitution is not in written form, it is not completely unwritten.

Secondly, the British Constitution is flexible or changeable. If necessary, it can be changed and expanded like the general law. So it cannot be changed very easily at any time. So Professor Lasky said that to change any law in the English constitution, one has to wait at least 25 years. So even though it is known as flexible, this constitution is actually inflexible.

Thirdly, the British Constitution is a monolithic constitution. Unlike the US or Canadian constitution, it is not federal. According to this constitution, the king or queen and the parliament are the constitutional heads. So the central government governs this country.

Fourthly, one of the main features of the English constitution is its continuity and variability. The British Constitution has evolved over the ages. So Daisy says that the British Constitution was not created, it has developed.

Fifthly, the most important feature of the British constitution is the constitutional system. The constitutional practices of England can be divided into three main categories.

• Customs related to monarchy and cabinet.
• Policies related to the internal workings of Parliament.
• Customs related to the British Commonwealth.

Sixthly, another feature of British constitutional law is the system of parliamentary rule. The main feature of the parliamentary system of government is the constitutional and actual governance and the responsibility of the administration to the legislature. The King or Queen of England acts as the constitutional ruler and the ministers act as the actual ruler. Ministers are accountable to Parliament and members of Parliament represent the people. 

Therefore, the responsibility to the parliament means responsibility to the people.

 

Seventh, another important feature of British constitutional law is the sovereignty of Parliament. The British Parliament is dominant everywhere. This Parliament can formulate, change, or repeal anything. No court has the right to overturn a law made by Parliament.

Eighth, the principle of separation of powers did not apply in the British Constitution. The policy of segregation has been given much importance in the United States. But here every department of the government is inspired by the spirit of mutual cooperation.

After all, the British Constitution has been hailed around the world for establishing democracy and the rule of law. Munro compared the British constitution to the mother of all constitutions.