{ Status: 1992 }
Section 1 Overview
There is no written constitution or comprehensive Bill of
Rights; Britain's constitution is to be found partly in
conventions and customs and partly in statute. The Act known
as the Bill of Rights 1689 deals with the exercise of the royal
prerogative and succession to the Crown.
The British legal system provides some remedies to deal with
human rights abuses. For instance, the remedy of 'habeas
corpus' secures the individual's right to freedom from any
unlawful or arbitrary detention.
Parliament, however, has power to enact any law and change
any previous law.
There is no fundamental distinction between 'public law' and
'private law'. Any person can take proceedings against the
Government or a local government authority to protect his or
her legal rights and to obtain a remedy for any injury
suffered.
Britain has not generally codified its law and courts adopt a
relatively strict and literal approach to the interpretation of
statutes.
The ratification of a treaty or international convention does not
make it automatically part of the domestic law. Where
necessary, the Government amends domestic law to bring it in
line with the convention. Because of Britain's membership of
the European Community, Community law is part of British law
and takes precedence in the event of conflict between the
two.