ABSTRACT
The law in Wales is the same as that in England and so it is referred as ‘English law’. However, the law in Scotland differs considerably in some respects from that in England and Wales and at times court procedures and defamation actions are different in both Scotland and Northern Ireland. This chapter introduces English and European legislation and the various courts and legal institutions involved. It presents the basic rules regarding the UK Parliament, sources of law and the court structure. The British Constitution today comprises the four nations of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. It is a constitutional monarchy, known as the queen (or king) in parliament. The Westminster Parliament is a bi-cameral system, composed of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The High Court of Justice, to give it its full title is principally a civil court. It is comprised of three divisions: Queen’s Bench Division (QBD), Chancery Division, and Family Division.
