Chapter 6- Basic Principles of the Constitution

Question 1

Rule of Law

Answer 1

All UK citizens must keep the law. Entitled to a trial overseen by an independent judiciary

Question 2

A Unitary State

Answer 2

All the power in one place- homogenous state. All parts of the state governed in the same way.

Question 3

Parliamentary government in a constitutional monarchy

Answer 3

Gov ministers politically accountable to Parliament. Legally accountable to the Crown. Monarchs legal powers exercised by Gov Ministers.

Question 4

We used to have a Cabinet Government which means

Answer 4

Executive power rested in government

Question 5

Now we have a Prime Ministerial Government, meaning

Answer 5

The PM is the dominant actors and can bypass cabinet

Question 6

Union state

Answer 6

A state in which there are cultural differences and where, despite a strong centre, different parts of the state are governed in slightly different ways,

Question 7

Civil Liberties

Answer 7

Individual rights and freedoms that ought to be protected from interference by the state

Question 8

Federal constitution

Answer 8

Divides sovereignty between two tiers of government. Shared between national government and regional government. Regional gov. protected by the constitution: cannot be abolished or reformed significantly against its will. Eg. USA

Question 9

Constitutional Monarchy

Answer 9

Political system in which the monarch is the formal head of state but the monarch’s legal powers are exercised by the government ministers

Question 10

Parliamentary government

Answer 10

A political system in which government takes place through Parliament and in which the executive and legislative branches are fused

Question 11

Parliamentary Sovereignty

Answer 11

Westminster is supreme law making body- has legislative supremacy

Question 12

Unitary Constitution

Answer 12

One in which sovereignty is located at the centre, central gov can abolish lower tiers. State is all governed in the same way

Question 13

What are the characteristics of Parliamentary Sovereignty?

Answer 13

Parliament can legislate on any subject
Legislation can’t be overturned by a higher authority
No parliament can bind its successors

Question 14

What is a prime example of Parliament’s right to reform itself

Answer 14

1911 Parliament Act

Question 15

Parliament retains the right to revoke the Scotland Act of what year?

Answer 15

1998

Question 16

Who coined the term ‘elective dictatorship’ to describe the concentration of power in the executive?

Answer 16

Lord Hailsham

Question 17

How does executive power constrain parliamentary sovereignty?

Answer 17

Parliament can in theory do as it chooses, but ultimately is accountable to the general public

Question 18

What 5 factors constrain parliamentary sovereignty?

Answer 18

EU, HRA, Devolution, Referendums, Executive Power

Question 19

Define Globalisation

Answer 19

The widening and deepening interconnectedness between peoples and societies across the world, economically, socially and culturally.

Question 20

Explain Pooled Sovereignty

Answer 20

The decision making authority of the member states of an international organisation is combined (not a greater a power over them all, each gov part of the decision making authority)

Question 21

Define Popular Sovereignty

Answer 21

Supreme authority resides with the people