The British Constitution, the Prime Minister and the Ministerial Code: analysis and reform proposals.

The British constitutional settlement is often described as unique. Its uncodified constitution, the epitome of such a thing, is governed by the principle of parliamentary sovereignty and relies heavily on constitutional conventions. The latter are of paramount importance when it comes to the functioning of the executive. Everything from Ministers to the composition of the Cabinet is left to the will of the Prime Minister, who should be guided by the aforementioned conventions. One of the Prime Minister's duties is to act as the 'ultimate judge' when it comes to the behaviour of Ministers. This is made possible by the Ministerial Code, a codification of conventions that is not legally enforceable. Because of its conventional nature, the Code is owned and enforced by the Prime Minister, but if he or she refuses to enforce it, nothing can be done about it. This dissertation aims to analyse and understand the British constitution, its sources and mechanisms. Conventions such as the Ministerial Code will be thoroughly analysed to understand what, if any, reforms might help in the task of ensuring ministerial accountability and responsibility to Parliament and the public.