Final answer:
In 2016, the UK Supreme Court case of Miller v Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union reaffirmed the principle of Parliamentary sovereignty in the wake of the Brexit referendum. The court ruled that the government could not trigger Brexit without an act of Parliament, underscoring the authority of the legislative body within the UK's constitutional framework.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 2016, a significant event in the context of Parliamentary sovereignty was the Brexit referendum and the subsequent legal case known as Miller v Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union. This case was a crucial legal challenge that brought before the Supreme Court the question of whether the UK government could initiate withdrawal from the EU without an act of Parliament. The court's ruling reaffirmed the supremacy of Parliament, emphasizing that only Parliament can grant rights and only Parliament can take them away. This decision stood as a contemporary reaffirmation of the longstanding legal and constitutional principle of the UK Parliament's authority.
Historically, the supremacy of Parliament has been a fundamental principle in British constitutional law. This dominance was legally established during key moments such as the Glorious Revolution of 1688 and the passage of the Bill of Rights in 1689. Over the centuries, several acts and legal precedents have confirmed that Parliament holds the ultimate legislative power in the UK. A notable example of this is the Parliament Acts of 1911 and 1949, which curtailed the veto powers of the House of Lords, further strengthening the House of Commons and the democratic principle within the legislative process.