British Politics Flashcards
What is the executive branch of gov?
The branch of government responsible for the implementation of policy
What is the legislature branch of gov?
The branch of government responsible for passing laws
What is the Westminster model?
A form of government exemplified by the British political system in which parliament is sovereign, executive and the legislature are fused and political power centralised
What are some key features of the Westminster model?
- The Constitution is uncodified and can be easily amended
- The doctrine of Parliamentary sovereignty is concentrates authority at the centre
- The executive and legislature are fused, and the former is dominant
- Government ministers are bound by collective responsibility and party discipline is imposed in parliament
What is the judiciary branch of gov?
The branch of government responsible for interpreting the law and deciding upon legal disputes
What is the rule of law?
A legal theory holding that the relationship between the state and individual is governed by law, protecting the individual from arbitrary state action
Is the Westminster model of desirable political system? (9)
YES
• Voters are presented with a clear choice between the governing party and the opposition party
• Government is representative and responsible. Collective responsibility means that Parliament can force the resignation of the government. IMR means that ministers must account for their actions in parliament.
• Government is strong and effective. Executive control of the legislature insures that governments deliver the commitments they made to voters
NO
• Parliamentary sovereignty, single-member plurality system and executive dominance of the legislature allows the government to do whatever it wants. This can produce elective dictatorship
• The concentration of power at the centre means that decisions are not taken close to the people
• There limited opportunities for political participation
What is elective dictatorship?
This refers to the excessive concentration of power in the executive branch.
The only check on the power of gov is the need to hold general elections at regular intervals. Beyond this the government is regarded as free to do as it wishes.
Define civil liberties
Fundamental individual rights and freedom is that ought to be protected from interference by the state
What does the British constitution being uncodified mean?
It means that the major principles of the political system are not found in a single authoritative document. They are located in various acts of Parliament
The uncodified nature of the constitution has important implications for British politics. These are?
- The constitution does not have the status of fundamental or higher law - it has the same status as other law made by the legislature
- There are no special procedures for amending the Constitution - It can be amended by an act of parliament in the same way as other laws
- Parliament, rather than a constitutional court, determines what is permissible under the Constitution - There is no definitive criterion for determining what is unconstitutional
Sovereignty means legal supremacy. This legislative supremacy is constructed around what three propositions?
- Parliament can legislate on any subject of its choosing
- Legislation cannot be overturned by any higher authority
- No Parliament can bind its successors
What will withdrawing from the EU mean for the supremacy of EU law?
EU law has had precedence over domestic British law. In the event of a conflict between the two, EU law must always be applied.
However parliament does retain ultimate decision-making authority as they could decide to leave the EU.
Withdrawing from the EU will end the supremacy of EU law in the UK and restore decision-making powers to the nationstate.
What did the The Human Rights Act 1998 do?
This Act Incorporated the rights set out in the European convention on human rights into UK Statute law.
All new legislation must be compatible with these rights in the UK courts decide cases bought under the ECHR
If the courts find legislation to be incompatible with the act, it is for Parliament to decide whether to amend or launch an appeal
What is a referendum?
A vote on a single issue put to a public ballot by the government
