The Role of Conventions in the UK Constitutional Law Free Essay Example, 1750 words

In describing the role of Conventions in UK constitutional law, Barnett has stated: More than any other area of legal study constitutional law in the United Kingdom involves far more than a learning of legal rules. Indeed it may be said, without exaggeration, that the non-legal rules and practices (such as conventions) are at least as important if not more important on many occasions as the legal rules. For instance, a convention is equivalent to a legal rule, in that constitutional actors are obliged to act in accordance with the unspoken codes of conduct characterized by conventions and a failure to do so can attract criticism as unconstitutional conduct. Conventions not only are followed but have to be followed. Conventions are equivalent to an established or correct way of doing things that are based upon some precedent form of conduct; however, conventions impose an obligation to act in accordance with the established practice and will attract criticism if not adhere d to. For example, in 1909, the House of Lords violated the existing convention by rejecting a budget passed by the House of Commons on the grounds that the Commons by convention, could not introduce a bill attacking the Lords, who were their peers, and their wealth, which was adequate justification for the House of Lords to reject the budget. The House of Commons, however, disputed the existence of any convention that limited their rights to include the wealth of the Lords in their bills. We will write a custom essay sample on The Role of Conventions in the UK Constitutional Law or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page