3/ The English Legal System

Question 1

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Answer 1

UK = GB + NI (created 1922)

GB = England, Wales, Scotland

–> 4 legislatures :

Holyrood (Scottish Parliament)

the Senedd (Welsh Assembly)

Stormont (the NI Assembly)

The Palace of Westminster (UK Parliament : HoC + HoL)

Question 2

Devolution

Answer 2

process of transferring power from Westminster to the nations and regions of the UK.

The legislative frameworks for devolution were originally set out in the Scotland Act 1998, the Government
of Wales Act 1998 and the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

Question 3

Reserved matters

Answer 3

Westminster retains control over reserved matters.

benefits and social security
immigration
defence
foreign policy
employment
nuclear energy, oil, coal, gas
consumer rights
data protection
the Constitution

Question 4

The UK Parliament (Westminster)

Answer 4

The UK is divided into 650 parliamentary constituencies.

Each constituency sends an elected MP to Westminster.

The electoral system is that of
first-past-the-post.