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Politics > 2.1-UK Government-The Constitution > Flashcards

2.1-UK Government-The Constitution Flashcards

1
Q

___: Constitution set out in a single document

A

Codified

UK does not use, its derived from different sources

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2
Q

___: Constitutional rules are safeguarded against change bu future government, requires special procedure to change

A

Entrenchment

UK does not use, Parliament is sovereign so cannot be bound

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3
Q

Rule of Law

A

all people and bodies must follow the law and can be held accountable if not

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4
Q

___: Political system where all sovereignty is contained in one place

A

Unitary System

UK, parliamnet is sovereign

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5
Q

___: Political system which divides sovereignty between central government and regional governments

A

Federal System

USA/Germany

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6
Q

___: Parliament can make, amend or unmake any law adn cannot bind its successors

A

Parliamentary Sovereignty

One of the twin pillars

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7
Q

___: all people and bodies (icl gov) must follow the law and can be held accountable if not. Under this:

A

Rule of Law
Fair Trial
all citizens must obey law
officials are not above law
judiciary must be independent of political interference

One of the twin pillars

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8
Q

In ___, referendums held in Scotland and Wales for approval of devolution.

Scotland: ___
Wales:___

A

1997
74%
50.3%

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9
Q

Scotland Act(___)

A

1998
established Scottish Parliament and Scottish Executive

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10
Q

Government of Wales Act(___)

A

1998
Welsh National Assembly, only administrative powers
referendum in 2011
Gov of Wales Act (2014) - referendum on income tax control
Gov of Wales Act (2017) - more powers:
1. remove 2014 act
2. vary income tax by 10p on £
3. some legislative responsibility

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11
Q

Good Friday Agreement(___)
dissolve power?

A

1998
first elections in N.I assembly
chamber of 90 members
Sinn Fein and DUP
2002-07, 2017-20, 2022-24

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12
Q

Human RIghts Act(___)

repeal?

repeal?
incorporated___

A

1998
* incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights
* convention not binding, Conservatives announced intention to repeal Act in 2022

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13
Q

House of Lords Act(___)

A

1999
* remove hereditary peers, 92 remain
* incomplete=wanted for it to be (partly) elected
* number of peers increased to over 900 in 2014=2nd largest legislative body in world. Allowed members to resign/retire

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14
Q

Establishment of the Mayor of London and Greater London Authority(___)

A

2000
* regional devolution
* 1st elected Mayor=Ken Livingstone(2000)
* low voter turnout, 34.1%

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15
Q

Freedom of Information Act(___)

example

exceptions

A

2000
* secret services exemp, gov can conceal info if might prejudice activities of gov-requires ‘outsider’ to prove if infor should be shared
* example=2008, request for details of MPs expenses claims, gov attempt to block claim failed, sahred in Daily Telegraph ‘Expenses Scandal’

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16
Q

Constitutional Reform Act(___)

address 3 main issues

A

2005
* separation of branches- Lord Chancellor, ambigous=Cabinet Minister+senior member of govening party+head of judiciary. so largely removed
* supreme Court- senior ‘Law Lords’ in HofL would appeal cases, SC created in 2009
* appointment of senior judges- had been left i n hands of senior politicians, decisons made on political basis. Judicial Appointments Comissions=non political comittee of senior judicial figures

17
Q

Wright Reforms(___)

A

2009
The Wright Committee established
issued report of proposals:
* reduction in number+size of committees
* chairs elected by secret ballot
* new committee “Backbench Business Committee”-allow MPs ro control 20 days a year to debate issues

18
Q

AV referendum(___)

A

2011
67.90% voted no
FPTP remians

19
Q

Fixed Term Parliaments’ Act(___)
repealed - (____)

A

2011
2022
* fear 2010 coalition it wouldnt last ???
* calling election = bully small parties
* early election (within 5 years) only if vote of no confidence in gov (+new gov made in 14 days) OR 2/3 vote in HofC??????
* limits=April 2017, Theresa May called elction for June ??????????
* back to PM

20
Q

Wales Act(___)

A

2014
* gave power over taxes
* 2017-further political, administrative and fiscal powers
* 2020, Welsh Assembly = Welsh Parliament

21
Q

English Votes for English Laws(___)

repeal?

A

2015
* West Lotian question
* example-Scottish MPs voted to increase uni fees to £3000a year, 2002
* Speaker determine if bill only affected England
* repealed in 2021 to reduce unnecessary complication

22
Q

Recall of MPs Act(___)

A

2015
* in wake of expenses scandal…
* allows constituency to recall MP
* requires petition with atleast 10% of MPs constituencies
* March 2019 Chris Davies Conservative MP, pleaded guilty to two offences for expenses claim - April 2019, recall successful, 19% of electors signed - he was chosen as cadidate for next election and lost

23
Q

Scotland Act(___)

A

2016
* after 2014 referendum
* granted wide ranging financial powers, incl control over tax rates

24
Q

Cities and Local Government Act(___)

A

2016
* devolution to towns, cities and counties
* into directly elected mayors
* allow mayors to replace Police and Crime Commissioners
* areas=Greater Manchester, West Midlands, Sheffield

25
Q

The European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act (___)

A

2020
* UK no longer adheres to the ‘four freedoms’
* EU laws no longer part of UK law
* argued it allowed executive to increase authority
* 52% voted to leave in 2016, but Scotlnad voted 62% to remain

26
Q

What are the 4 main reasons for constitutional reform?

A
  1. Democratisation (HofL reform)
  2. Decentralisation(Scotland act)
  3. Modernisation (constitutional ref act)
  4. Rights Protection (free info + human rights act)
27
Q

Key features of a democratic state

A
  1. Decentralisation
  2. Accountability
  3. Participation
  4. Open government
  5. Rights Protection
  6. Legitimacy
28
Q

Country w/codified constitution

A

Iraq
since 2005
ratified by referendum
0 ammendments made

29
Q

Arguments for retaining uncodified constitution

A
  • flexibility
  • executive power??
  • conservative pragmatism
  • dangers of politicing the judiciary
30
Q

Arguments for a codified constitution

A
  • human rights
  • executive power
  • clarity
  • modernity
  • rationality
31
Q

Examples of flexibilty in UK uncodified constitution

A
  • 2010 general elexction - no overall majority, new set of principles drawn up
  • 2020 - spread of Covid, temp suspend some of rights of citizens (eg movement)
32
Q

Types of devolution

A
  • Administrative - limited powers
  • Financial
  • Legislative - power to mak eprimary legislation

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