ABSTRACT
There are different interpretations of the phrase 'source of law'. More generally the expression refers to the procedural origin of the law which is applied in the courts. There are three main sources: parliamentary legislation, delegated legislation and the common law. Since the United Kingdom joined the European Economic Community (EEC) it has progressively however, effectively passed the power to create laws which are operative in this country to the wider European institutions. It allows the courts to declare secondary legislation to be invalid for the same reason. The romantic view of the common law is that it represents a crystallisation of common customs, distilled by the judiciary in the course of its travels around the land. According to strict legal practice, law reform is either a product of parliamentary or judicial activity. Current judicial review procedures are consequence of a 1976 Law Commission report, and a review of their operation and proposals for reform was issued in October 1994.
