C2: The Constitution

Question 1

What are the 3 U’s of the UK Constitution?

Answer 1

Unitary, Unentrenched, Uncodified

Question 2

What does Unitary mean?

Answer 2

Sovereignty is located in one place (Parliament)

Question 3

What does Uncodified mean?

Answer 3

It’s many sources, not just one document

Question 4

What does Unentrenched mean?

Answer 4

It’s easy to change (can be done with a majority vote in Parliament)

Question 5

Advantages of UK-style constitutions

Answer 5

Strong and efficient executive
Flexible & responsive - laws can be changed easily
Avoids judicial tyranny - Parliament cannot be struck down by the Supreme Court

Question 6

Disadvantages of UK-style constitutions

Answer 6

Sources can be unclear
Confusion over roles of different branches
Executive dominance - ‘elective dictatorship’

Question 7

When were the Parliament Acts?

Answer 7

1911, 1949

Question 8

What did the parliament Act 1911 entail?

Answer 8

Lords cannot delay money bills, and cannot veto non-money bills for more than 2 years.

Question 9

What did the Parliament Act 1949 entail?

Answer 9

Delaying power of the HoL reduced to 1 year.

Question 10

What was the European Communities Act?

Answer 10

Legislation that made the UK enter the EU

Question 11

When was the European Communities Act signed?

Answer 11

1972

Question 12

What was the EU Withdrawal Act?

Answer 12

The Act that started the Brexit process

Question 13

When was the EU Withdrawal Act passed?

Answer 13

2018

Question 14

What are the Twin Pillars of the Constitution?

Answer 14

Parliamentary Sovereignty
The Rule of Law

Question 15

What is Parliamentary Sovereignty?

Answer 15

Principle that Parliament can make, unmake, or amend any law and cannot bind its successors of be bound by its predecessors.

Question 16

What is the Rule of Law?

Answer 16

All people and bodies, including the government, must follow the law & can be held to account if they do not.

Question 17

What are the five main sources of the constitution?

Answer 17

Statute Law (acts of parliament)
Common Law (law from deicisions made in court cases)
Convention
Authoritative Works
EU Law

Question 18

When was the Fixed Term Parliament Act passed?

Answer 18

2011

Question 19

When was the Fixed Term Parliament Act repealed?

Answer 19

2022

Question 20

Examples of successful HoL Reform

Answer 20

HoL Act 1999 removed all but 96 hereditary peers
Majority of members now appointed on merit

Question 21

Examples of poor HoL Reform

Answer 21

96 hereditary peers remained
Still appointed rather than elected

Question 22

Successful HoC reform

Answer 22

Fixed Term Parliaments Act 2011 - PM cannot call election when it suits them
Commons Select Committees - chosen by MPs rather than party leaders
Recall of MPs act 2015

Question 23

What are some examples of poor HoC reform?

Answer 23

Fixed Term Parliament Act easy to get around - both May & Johnson called early elections
Fixed Term Parliament Act repealed 2022

Question 24

Successful electoral reform

Answer 24

Introduction of PR in devolved assemblies
AV referendum in 2011 - shows lack of interest in change from FPTP

Question 25

Failed Electoral Reform

Answer 25

No boundary reform (changing for 2024) No change to FPTP system of voting

Question 26

Successful reform on rights

Answer 26

Human Rights Act 1998 enshrined the ECHR into UK law. All future law must be compatible with the ECHR. (Future Bill of Rights in HoC)

Question 27

Failed reform on rights

Answer 27

Arguments over British Bill of rights 2005 Control Orders declared an exemption of Human Rights for suspected terrorists

Question 28

Successful reform on Devolution

Answer 28

Responded for demands for regional voice: Devolved parliaments created in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Wales - Devolution increased 2011 Scotland - 2014 Independence Referendum gave 55% majority to remain NI - Good Friday Agreement

Question 29

Failed Devolution reform

Answer 29

Barnett Formula - more public spending per head on Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland IndyRef2 rejected for Scotland - confirmed by Supreme Court ruling in 2022

Question 30

What is a form of devolution in England?

Answer 30

Mayors, EVEL, Regional Development Agencies, City Regions

Question 31

What are the Regional Development Agencies?

Answer 31

Unelected agencies that are there to promote economic growth

Question 32

What are the City regions?

Answer 32

Devolved assemblies that are led by metro mayors. Set up 2011. Sheffield, West Midlands, etc. now 8 in total. (DOES NOT INCLUDE LONDON)

Question 33

What support was there for an English Parliament?

Answer 33

None

Question 34

When was Hollyrood set up?

Answer 34

1999

Question 35

What powers does Hollyrood have?

Answer 35

They can legislate education, Economic development, Environment, Justice, Local govt, Housing, Police, Social services, Agriculture, and health.

Question 36

How are Hollyrood members elected?

Answer 36

129 MSPs elected every 4 years using AMS voting system

Question 37

When was the Welsh Assembly set up?

Answer 37

1999

Question 38

How many members make up the Welsh Assembly?

Answer 38

60 AMs (assembly members)

Question 39

When was Stormont set up?

Answer 39

1998

Question 40

What were the restrictions places upon Stormont via the Good Friday agreement?

Answer 40

Has to be led by a coalition between Sinn Fein and the DUP

Question 41

What was the purpose of the Good Friday agreement?

Answer 41

To ensure there would be no majority of either unionists or nationalists

Question 42

What could be done to improve Devolution?

Answer 42

Could create a federal system to fully represent regions; EU/US style system Increased powers to Scotland - concerns over IndyRef2 & Brexit

Question 43

What could be done to improve elections?

Answer 43

Voting system change - address issues of FPTP Bring back Fixed Term Parliament Act

Question 44

What could be done to improve HoL reform?

Answer 44

Remove all hereditary peers Have the chamber be elected The PM should not be able to make nominations (Jo Johnson nominated by Boris) Restrict numbers (Currently 777 sitting members)