ABSTRACT
The sovereignty, or supremacy, of parliament is ‘the dominant characteristic of our political institutions’.1 Sovereignty as a doctrine has long caused controversy amongst philosophers, lawyers and political scientists and is a concept which assumes – as does the rule of law – differing interpretations according to the perspective being adopted. By way of example, international lawyers are concerned with the attributes which render a state independent and sovereign within the international community. Political scientists are concerned with the source of political power within the state. Legal theorists and constitutional lawyers, particularly in the United Kingdom where the matter remains contentious, are concerned to identify the ultimate legal power within a state.
