Classifying Constitution: How does the UK compare?

Question 1

written/unwritten

Answer 1

1. our constitution isn’t entirely unwritten

2. ‘uncodified’

Question 2

flexible/inflexible

Answer 2

1.UK constitution is flexible, big changes can be made by ordinary act of parliament

Question 3

federal/unitary

Answer 3

1. UK constitution has alway been unitary
2. means its governed as a single unit by a national government
3. sice devolution, its seen as ‘quasi federal’
4. quasi federal= government organised similar to union of state under a central government instead of individual governments of separate states

Question 4

monarchial/republican

Answer 4

1. UK is a constitutional monarchy

2. Queen is head of state with few formal powers

Question 5

presidential/parliamentary

Answer 5

1.In a parliamentary system the PM is head of government & member of law making body

Question 6

do we need a written constitution?

Barber, ‘ against written constitution [2008] the adoption

Answer 6

“our constitutional arrangements have evolved over centuries, also they’ve produced a stable system of government that work well”

Question 7

do we need a written constitution?

Rabinder Singh QC “The UK constitution: Time for fundamental reform?” 2010 ‘in my view’

Answer 7

“those who argue for written constitution would like the document to bring other major reforms- an elected house of lords, reform of the electoral system, constitutional court”