1. The Constitution

Question 1

Define Constitution

Answer 1

A set of rules determining where sovereignty lies in a political system, defines the relationship between the government and the governed

Question 2

When was the House of Lords Act passed?

Answer 2

1999

Question 3

How many hereditary peers are there in the HoL

Answer 3

92

Question 4

When and who established the Backbench Business Committee?

What does this allow backbench MPs

Answer 4

2010 - New Labour

2o parliamentary days to debate their chosen topics

Question 5

When and what act incorporated the European convention of human rights into the UK constitution?

Answer 5

1998 Human Rights Act came into effect in 2000

Question 6

What does the Freedom of information act allow?

Answer 6

Individuals outside of government to request information

Question 7

What act established the Supreme Court?

Why?

Answer 7

The Constitutional Reform Act of 2005.

Independent judiciary, take the Lord Chancellor out of all three branches.

Question 8

When was Fixed Term Parliament Act?

What weakness did it expose about the UK constitution and how?

Answer 8

2011

Theresa May called a snap election in 2017 and another election was held in 2019.

Question 9

What act was passed in 2015 which allowed constituencies to hold their MPs to a greater accountability?

Answer 9

The Recall of MPs Act

Question 10

When were the two House of Lords Acts under the coalition government?

What did they do?

Answer 10

2014 - Lords are allowed to resign or retire. Also can be expelled for non attendance.

2015 - Lords can remove a peer who has breached a code of conduct

Question 11

What three key constitutional reform were passed post 2015?

Answer 11

West Lothian Question - England votes for English Laws
Limitations - in the sense that in the second reading must get full majority. Scots included.

Extension of Scottish and welsh devolution

Leaving the EU

Question 12

Give two pieces of evidence of the UK constitution being flexible.

Answer 12

1. Post 9/11 they are able to pass anti-terrorist measures. places like the US had trouble doing this.
2. 2010 general election and the formation of a coalition government.

Question 13

What is the strongest argument for a codified constitution?

Answer 13

Human Rights Protection.

Consider the 2015 - British Bill

Question 14

When was the Greater London Assembly created?

Answer 14

1997

Question 15

When was the most recent Scotland act? What did it do and why was it passed?

Answer 15

2016
Granted Scotland more legislative, administrative and financial autonomy i.e Control over income tax.
After the full independence referendum of 2014

Question 16

When was the most recent Government of Wales Act?

What did it do?

Answer 16

2017

More governing competency. Transferred of administrative and legislative responsibility in areas such as energy and oil.

Question 17

When was the Belfast Agreement passed? What electoral system did it use?

When was the Northern Ireland assembly suspended what did it illustrate?

Answer 17

1998, the STV system was used due the loyalist and republican division in the country.

2002-2007
In the UK sovereignty lies in Westminster and power is only granted to the devolved bodies.