Strathclyde is a constitutional democracy. This means that Strathclyde is governed by a written constitution, that is, written rules which all the institutions of the Realm must follow. It lays down the fundamental structure of government and guarantees the citizens' rights. The Constitution is currently a simple Act of Parliament in the form of the Articles of Constitution Act 2006 (enacted 17th June 2006) that may not be amended or repealed. The constitutional institutions ensure the continuity of the State, which the Sovereign symbolises. Undoubtedly, the most powerful figure in the Constitution is the Sovereign (who has certain reserve powers under constitutional law rhat he can exercise in his absolute discretion). The Sovereign, a ceremonial figurehead, acts on the advice of the Government, which sits in Parliament, which makes laws that are interpreted by the judiciary. The Constitution entrenches into law all the conventions of the constitution that have been followed since independence or that have been developed since that time. It includes only those conventions that have remained unchanged, such as the head of state always acting on the government's advice, the monarch being elected, parliament being unicameral, and so forth. |
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The Constitution |