1.2 Constitutional Reform

Question 1

What was the first stage of the 1997 House of Lords Reform?

Answer 1

The removal of hereditary peers. There was some objection so the Government had to compromise and allow 92 hereditary peers to stay.

Question 2

What was stage 2 of the House of Lords reform?

Answer 2

To make it an elected chamber, however it was met with great objection and the plans were scrapped.

Question 3

What happened in the House of Lords Act 1999?

Answer 3

Reduced the amount of hereditary peers to 92

Question 4

What is a hereditary peer?

Answer 4

A member of the House of Lords there by birthright

Question 5

What was the main reform of the House of Commons?

Answer 5

The Departmental Select Commitees

Question 6

What were the works of the Departmental Select Commitees?

Answer 6

Made up of backbench MPs, their work is to scrutinise the government.

Question 7

In 2004, what happened to the DSC?

Answer 7

Awarded additional salaries

Question 8

In 2010, what happened to the DSC?

Answer 8

Labour introduced an election system to these commitees, making them more democratic

Question 9

Why did the Human Rights reform happen?

Answer 9

• bring in line with rest of Europe

- increase in power of the police in the 80s and 90s threatened human rights

Question 10

What did the Human Rights Act 1998 do?

Answer 10

Binded the European Convention on Human Rights to U.K. law, which became mandatory for all public bodies for follow

Question 11

Name 5 articles in the ECHR?

Answer 11

• to life
• from torture
• from slavery
• to a fair trial
• to privacy

Question 12

What was the Human Rights Act?

Answer 12

The first codified element of the U.K. constitution, it also had a legal status as it was set up by an external body - the EU

Question 13

What electoral system was used for Scotland?

Answer 13

Additional Member System

Question 14

What electoral system did Wales use?

Answer 14

Additional Member System

Question 15

What electoral system did Northern Ireland use?

Answer 15

Single Transferable Vote

Question 16

Why were these electoral systems used in the devolved nations?

Answer 16

To avoid parties dominating

• Labour in Scotland
• Unionist parties in Northern Ireland

Question 17

What did the Lib Dems propose in 2010 whilst in the coalition government?

Answer 17

That the Alternative Vote system should be used in England

Question 18

What were the 3 main effects of the judicial reform?

Answer 18

• separation of judiciary and government
• to create the Supreme Court
• appointment of senior judges

Question 19

Explain the separation of the judiciary and government reform?

Answer 19

Judges should be impartial and have no relation to political parties, unlike in the past when Lord Chancellor was a cabinet member for the governing party. Lord Chancellor was in all 3 branches of government. So the notion of the independence of the judiciary was made, meaning judges should be independent from pressure from parties.

Question 20

Explain the creation of the Supreme Court reform?

Answer 20

Needed a new high court other than the House of Lords. In the past, ‘Law Lords’ would meet in Parliament to discuss complex cases with great political consequences. Not appropriate for members of the legislature should also be at the highest level of the judiciary.
Supreme Court was opened in 2009 to separate parliament and the judiciary.

Question 21

Explain the appointment of senior judges reform?

Answer 21

Belief that senior judges should not be appointed by party officials. Danger that appointments would be made based on politics rather than law. The Judicial Appointments Commission was set up to ensure all candidates would be suitable, using purely legal considerations. The most senior judge can still be picked by the government but needs to be approved by the JAC

Question 22

What was the Freedom on Information Act?

Answer 22

An act that gave citizens the right to see certain kinds of information held by public bodies.

Question 23

When did the Freedom of Information Act come into force?

Answer 23

2000

Question 24

What was in the UKs version of the Freedom of Information Act?

Answer 24

Gave the government the right to conceal information

Question 25

What event highlighted the importance of the Freedom of Information Act?

Answer 25

The MPs expenses scandal 2009

Question 26

What happened in the MPs expenses scandal?

Answer 26

MPs used public money to pay for lavish things such as: home decorations, refurbishments ect

Question 27

Why was the Freedom of Information Act useful in the expenses scandal?

Answer 27

Because the act gave rights to citizens to see what MPs were doing despite the attempts from the government to block it in the high court

Question 28

What rights did the Freedom of Information Act give to the government?

Answer 28

The right to conceal information information if it feels it might prejudice the activities of the government

Question 29

What powers were given to London under Labour in 1997?

Answer 29

-controls the allocation of funds

Question 30

What powers did the elected mayor of London have in 1997?

Answer 30

Influence rather than power

Question 31

What electoral system was used in London in 1997?

Answer 31

AMS

Question 32

Why was the AMS troublesome for London?

Answer 32

Because all proposed policy changes acquired obstruction meaning legislation changes were difficult

Question 33

Why were the Fixed Term Parliaments Acts of 2011 did what they did?

Answer 33

Because it was feared the coalition government would not last very long and the Torys could bully the Lib Dems into agreement

Question 34

What powers did the Fixed Term Parliament Act have?

Answer 34

• took away the power for the PM to call a snap election

- a general election would take place every 5 years

Question 35

What devolution took place outside of London in 2015?

Answer 35

The Chancellor George Osborne was keen to grant more powers to an elected city mayor. This was Manchester, they allowed Manchester to control its own budget of £6billion for health and social care.

Question 36

What other two cities were expected to follow suit of Manchester in 2017?

Answer 36

Birmingham and Liverpool

Question 37

In 2015, what could local authorities do?

Answer 37

They were allowed to keep tax revenue from businesses, giving them financial independence in financing their own projects and policies

Question 38

Arguments for giving cities more independent powers…

Answer 38

• local democracy is closer to the people and will therefore reflect their demands more equally
• local needs vary greatly so the “one size fits all” approach is unrealistic
• the U.K. is too “London centred” , so more local power may distribute wealth and economic development more equally

Question 39

Arguments against giving cities more independent powers…

Answer 39

• central government means U.K. should receive the same range and quality of services
• central government will prevent irresponsible local government spending
• turnout at local election are low, the the local govt isn’t legitimate or held to account
• danger traditional unity of the U.K. may be jeopardised

Question 40

Why were further powers granted to Scotland in 2016?

Answer 40

In response to the nationalist feeling within Scotland at that time

Question 41

What further powers were granted to Scotland in 2016?

Answer 41

-the ability to vary the rate of income tax

Question 42

What further powers were granted to Wales in 2016?

Answer 42

Further increase of power for the Welsh Assembly, should the assembly request legislative changes, they will be granted