Evaluate the extent to which the United Kingdom Parliament is sovereign

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Evaluate the extent to which the United Kingdom Parliament is sovereign. Consider both legal and political factors.

Before exploring the extent to which our Parliament is sovereign, one must first understand what Parliamentary sovereignty means. When describing Parliament as sovereign, it means it holds the supreme power - the ultimate source of political authority and the authority to impose and amend laws. In other words our Parliament is sovereign, and it owes obedience to no other. However, there are some limitations on this power that need to be discussed. How far can the United Kingdom Parliament be sovereign, if certain, more specific areas of law or other jurisdictions can overrule it? In this essay I will explore how far Parliament is sovereign, and if there are limitations, what they are and whether they mean Parliament cannot be sovereign at all.

There are many arguments that suggest that even from the outset, Parliament had limitations put on it - in other words it was born unfree. The 1707 Acts of Union brought about the Great British Parliament between Scotland and England, many agree that this itself induced limitations on Parliament's Power. This is most strongly argued by JDB Mitchell, TB