How far, if at all, does it matter that the United Kingdom does not have a written constitution?

Nicolas J.

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How far, if at all, does it matter that the United Kingdom does not have a written constitution?

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Today, the majority of states have written constitutions. It is generally seen as a prerequisite for any new state. They arise due to political events, such as the one formulated in 1793 consequent to the French Revolution. In a state with a written constitution, that one document is the supreme authority in the state. The United Kingdom, however, is in a very unique position. It has no written constitution. This is due to the fact that the UK has never experienced a major political event. Instead, the UK constitution has developed historically in an inherently Monarchical system which pivots on, and is held together by, the power of the Monarch.

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Statutes made by the Queen in parliament express the will of parliament
The Royal Prerogatives are the common law powers of the crown
The Royal Prerogative is supplemented by constitutional conventions

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[...] A prominent constitutional convention is that on a vote of no confidence in the House of Commons, the government of the day must ask Her Majesty to dissolve Parliament[12] So, does it matter that the UK does not have a written constitution?—the simple answer is no. The establishment of a system whereby Parliament would be subordinate to a document would be contrary to the whole system, and as a written constitution making Parliament supreme would be unintelligible, keep the status quo. [...]

[...] For example, In Proclamations' Case (1611) 12 Co Rep State Tr 723, it was held that the King could not create offences by proclamation. Demonstrated in Godden v Hales (1686) 2 Show State Tr 1166 (dispensing with laws) and recited in the Bill of Rights 1688 c Will and Mar Sess 2 4 Co. Inst For example, Parliament can alter the line of succession to the Throne: Act of Settlement 1700 (1700 c and 13 Will His Majesty's Declaration of Abdication Act 1936 (1936 c Edw 8 and 1 Geo grant independence to a colony: Cyprus Act 1960 (1960 c. [...]

[...] John Hutton MP took the Oath of Office as Secretary of State for Defence, kissed hands upon appointment and received the Seals of Office.” The Monarchy and the Constitution, Vernon Bogdanor, Clarendon Press Oxford p.105 John Stuart Mill On 28th March 1979, the House of Commons resolved that they had no confidence in Her Majesty's Government (HC Deb 28 March 1979 vol col. 589) the day afterwards the Prime Minister went to Buckingham Palace to ask The Queen for a dissolution. [...]

[...] Bibliography Statutes 1. Bill of Rights (1688 c Will and Mar Sess 2. Act of Settlement 1700 (1700 c and 13 Will 3. Parliament Act 1911 (1911 c and 2 Geo 4. His Majesty's Declaration of Abdication Act 1936 (1936 c Edw 8 and 1 Geo 5. Cyprus Act 1960 (1960 c. 52) 6. European Communities Act 1972 (1972 c.68) 7. Scotland Act 1998 (1998 c.46) 8. [...]

[...] How far, if at all, does it matter that the United Kingdom does not have a written constitution? Today, the majority of states have written constitutions—it is generally seen as a prerequisite for any new state. They arise due to political events, such as in 1793 consequent to the French Revolution. In a state with a written constitution, that one document is the supreme authority in the state. The United Kingdom, however, is in a very unique position—it has no written constitution, this is due to the fact that the UK has never experienced a major political event. [...]

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