6. Constitution/Monarchy and the Prime Minister

Question 1

What is a constitution?

Answer 1

The notion of shared membership, collective rights & responsibilities.
2 categories - written & unwritten.

Question 2

What is a written constitution?

Answer 2

A codified framework: a single manuscript summarising rights, values & responsibilities attached to citizenship of a state.

Question 3

What are the 5 primary sources of Britain’s Constitution?

Answer 3

1. Statute- individual laws/Acts of Parliament
2. Common law- ‘Case Law’ ‘Legal Precedent’
3. Conventions- Customs, traditions, long standing practices
4. Treatises- historical works of legal/ and or Constitutional authority
5. Treaties - EU & International Agreements

Question 4

Define Political Sovreignty.

Answer 4

The notion of an individual or institution exercising supreme control over a geographical realm or people.

Question 5

Define parliamentary sovereignty

Answer 5

….

Question 6

The Bill of Rights grants what privileges to all “Englishmen”?

Answer 6

• Rights to elect MP’s without Royal Interference
• To possess arms
• not to be taxed without the explicit consent of Parliament
• Parliamentary Privilege (open debate for MP’s without fear of prosecution for Defamation in the Commons or House of Lords)

Question 8

Which Law Defence protects the Media, Safeguarding it from prosecution when repeating claims made in parliament?

Answer 8

Qualified Privilege

Question 9

What are the three Branches of State from the Trias Politica Model?

Answer 9

1. Executive ( the government)
2. Legislature ( parliament)
3. Judiciary ( the courts)

Question 10

What is the Principle of the Separation of Powers (Trias Politica) bases on?

Answer 10

• The Theories of French Political Thinker Baron De Montesquieu
  (1689-1755)

Question 11

What are the two categories of the powers held by the Crown/Royal Family?

Answer 11

1. Actually
2. Notional

Question 12

What is the Constitutional role of the sovereign?

Answer 12

Embodying ‘the right to be consulted, the right to encourage, the right to warn’

Question 13

What are the Actual Prerogative Powers exercised by the Monarch?

Answer 13

1. Head of state
2. Head of the executive, legislature, judiciary
3. Commander in chief of rhe armed forces
4. Supreme governor of the established church of England
5. Head of the commonwealth & Head of state of fifteen of its fifty three members
6. The authority from which the Royal Mint derives its license to coin & print money in the monarchs image

Question 15

What are 8 powers of the Monarch?

Answer 15

1. Reading ‘The King’s Speech’ at annual state Parliament opening
2. Approving senior Church of England Appointments
3. Creating ‘Peers’, conferring Knighthoods & Honours
4. Weekly discussion with Prime Minister (on Cabinet business/affairs of state)
5. Entertaining visiting heads of State at Buckingham Palace
6. Touring other nations, on official State Visits as Britain’s premier overseas ambassador
7. Chairing Privy Council Meetings
8. Attending Trooping the Colour (annual birthday parade)