Its creation was announced on 12 June 2003; it took over the functions of the Lord Chancellor's Department.

[1] On 28 March 2007 it was announced that the Department for Constitutional Affairs would take control of probation, prisons and prevention of re-offending from the Home Office and be renamed the Ministry of Justice.

It was primarily responsible for reforms to the constitution, relations with the Channel Islands and Isle of Man and, within England and Wales, it was concerned with the administration of the Courts, legal aid, and the appointment of the judiciary.

Other responsibilities included issues relating to human rights, data protection, and freedom of information.

[3] This is a list of acts of Parliament enacted since 1997 that gave powers to the Department of Constitutional Affairs.