Common law

INTRODUCTION TO COMMON LAW

Session 1

Britain today

A few reminders about Britain: the socioeconomic, political, historical and environment

contexts impacts law.

Examples :

- Devolution (1990s)

- Scottish independence referendum (Sept 2014): http://www.bbc.com/news/ukscotland-25090610

- Brexit (June 2016): http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36634512

Legal consequences of Brexit: http://www.twobirds.com/en/hot-topics/brexit

I- Geography and history: definitions

• Britain, the United Kingdom, Great Britain, England? What are we talking about?

A - A specific geography (p. 7 in the manual):

1 - The British Isles = les îles Britanniques = a geographical term

An archipelago of over 6,000 islands

∆ The Channel Islands (îles Anglo-normandes) are not part of the archipelago (closer to

France): the Isle of Man and, by tradition, the Bailiwick of Jersey (le bailliage de…) and the

Bailiwick of Guernsey are British Crown Dependencies: not part of the UK but considered as

a remnants (=vestiges) of the Duchy of Normandy.

= self-governing entities with their own courts and legal system

At their head: the Queen, referred to as “our Duke” (in reference to the Duke of Normandy).

2 - Great Britain

GB = a geographical term = the largest of the British Isles.

Includes three territories: England (capital London), Wales (capital Cardiff) and Scotland

(capital Edinburgh) approximately, 60 million in population.

Résumé en son & image:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNu8XDBSn10

Grammaire

“Britain is an island country” = nom en position d’épithète ayant valeur d’adjectif.

Ce nom est toujours au singulier

- Traduit par un adjectif

An island country = un pays insulaire

A bank account = un compte bancaire

The car industry = l’industrie automobile

- Traduit par un complément du nom Labour law = le droit du travail

- Inclus dans un nom A book store = une librairie A tea pot = une théière

3 - The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

The UK = a political term.

= 4 nations : England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

[Great Britain (=England, Wales and Scotland)] + Northern Ireland = the UK

- Slow political union around England

à flag: incorporation of the three crosses representing England, Scotland and Ireland. 1606:

King James VI of Scotland became King James I of England and Ireland.

Historically, England was always the dominant actor. London has always been the centre of

the kingdom and for some time of the empire.

- Since the 1970s, contrary movement = more autonomy given to the periphery through

devolution (1990s) = Scottish Parliament + National Assembly for Wales in 1999 =

delegation of power from the British Parliament.

Reserved powers / devolved powers

Devolution (“decentralisation”, délégation de pouvoir). Verb: to devolve

- Independence ? Scottish referendum Sept. 18 2014 : 55.4% against independence

- English law applies to England and Wales.

- Scotland : Scots law

- Northern Ireland: Northern Irish law

à Procedures differ but same spirit.

∆ Many laws apply to the United Kingdom, but not all of them.

We are going to study English law which applies in England and Wales.

à England and Wales have a unified legal system but not the rest:

Scotland : Scots law

Northern Ireland : Northern Irish law

4 - English law / Common law in the world

England exported its culture, its language and its law throughout its Empire. Most of these

countries use common law or a mix of Roman law and common law.

Most of them also joined the Commonwealth: a voluntary association of 54 nations (UK +

53 others). The Queen is the head of the Commonwealth.

Commonwealth promotes values of

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