Constitution

Question 1

Magna Carta

Answer 1

1215

Question 2

Bill of rights

Answer 2

1689

Question 3

Act of settlement

Answer 3

1701

Question 4

Acts of Union

Answer 4

1707

Question 5

Parliament Acts

Answer 5

1911 and 1949

Question 6

Parliamentary Statutes

Answer 6

Human Rights Act 1998
Fixed-term Parliament Act 2011

Question 7

The nature of the constitution

Answer 7

Unentrenched
Uncodified
Unitary

Question 8

The twin pillars

Answer 8

Parliamentary sovereignty
Rule of Law

Question 9

Statue law

Answer 9

Fixed-term parliament act 2011

Question 10

Common law

Answer 10

?

Question 11

Constitutional Conventions- David Cameron

Answer 11

2013 David Cameron sought approval for air action in Syria in 2013. Parliament, on that occasion, refused to sanction this

2015-Cameron called another vote on whether airstrikes should be used on Syria. This time there was a 174 majority for the motion to be actioned.

Previously PM’s had gone into war without discussing with Parliament (controversial)- Blair, Thatcher

Question 12

Constitutional Conventions- PM

Answer 12

The Prime Minister exercises the Queen’s power to appoint and dismiss Ministers, to conduct foreign policy, to grant various honours, such as peerages and knighthoods

Question 13

Historical principles and authoritative writings

Answer 13

The sovereignty of Parliament.

Parliamentary Government - the principle that the authority of the government is drawn from Parliament and not directly from the people.

The Rule of Law – originating from the second part of the 19th Century, the rule of law establishes, among other things, the principles of equal rights for citizens and that government is itself limited by legal limitations.

Question 14

Customs and traditions

Answer 14

The practice of allowing the Queen to announce the legislative programme (new laws) for the coming year (the Queen’s Speech) is such a tradition.

Many of the rules of debate in both houses are also such traditions.

Question 15

Treaties

Answer 15

?

Question 16

1997 Constitutional Reform ideas

Answer 16

Democratization

Decentralization

Stronger protection of rights

Modernization

Question 17

Decentralisation achieved

Answer 17

Government of Wales Act 1998
Scotland Act 1998
Northern Ireland Act 1998

Question 18

Democratisation achieved

Answer 18

House of Lords Act 1999

Question 19

Stronger protection of rights achieved

Answer 19

Human Rights Act 1998

Question 20

Coalition of 2010-2015 making official how long to wait in-between elections

Answer 20

Fixed Term Parliaments 2011

Question 21

Coalition government does further devolution to wales

Answer 21

?

Question 22

Major reforms to the constitution since 2015

Answer 22

Repeal Fixed Term Parliament act
Talk of replacing the Humans Rights Act
Scottish calls for independence growing- denied a second one by Johnson/Sunak

Question 23

Successful constitutional change- 3

Answer 23

Reform of judiciary- Supreme Court established, independent body from government, helps protect rights, brings the UK in modern outlooks of democracy

Devolution- popular especially in Scotland, support for great autonomy has grown in Wales, retained the fragile peace in NI

Freedom of Information Act 2000- allowed the media to investigate the work of government and public bodies effectively, allowed citizens to prevent injustices by accessing previously withheld information

Question 24

Partial successful constitutional change- 4

Answer 24

HOL- largely appointed, not properly accountable/representative, only a fully elected chamber will allow this, more professional and effective in checking government power and legislation now though

HOC- lack of accountability is a problem, select committees are considerably more effective since their reform

Human Right Act- vital, not got the political status needed, European Convention cannot overrule Acts of Parliament so rights can be trampled on by powerful governments, internment was seen as a point for this case after 9/11

Devolution- widely a success, Scotland and Wales argue it’s not gone far enough, further powers were transferred after 2016, constant threat of a break-up of the UK

Question 25

Failures of constitutional change- 2

Answer 25

Electoral reform- not been done for parliamentary or local elections, this measure is seen as a fundamental political system reform which would be for the better

Reform of HOL- failure to introduce a democratic and elected second chamber, negative, widespread agreement that it should be partly or fully elected, no government has made meaningful reform

Question 26

Asymmetric devolution

Answer 26

The Scottish Government has been granted more power than Wales and Northern Ireland

Question 27

Devolution in England

Answer 27

?

Question 28

The powers of the 3 devolved bodies

Answer 28

?

Question 29

Positives of devolution-5

Answer 29

The UK has not broken up.

The peace has largely been held in NI.

There remains widespread public support in all 3 countries for devolution (not reflected in voting turnouts).

No serious proposals have been made to reverse it.

It has made some decisive differences.

Question 30

Negative of devolution-5

Answer 30

Scottish nationalism is endangering the UK

Turnouts in elections to devolved assemblies have been low, suggesting apathy

The introduction of PR systems has inhibited decisive government in the 3 countries.

The 3 countries still have to receive a subsidy from the

Treasury to maintain their services, so they are not yet self-supporting.

Question 31

Levaing the EU impact on the consitution

Answer 31

It is changing the following since 2020:

The status of Parliament- it now answers to no-one

Restoring the national sovereignty of UK courts- they answer to no-one

How the UK is governed- no European laws have input on our laws

Question 32

Constitutional reform since 1997 improved UK democracy

Answer 32

The Freedom of Information Act 2000

Reform of the judiciary

Devolution-popular especially in Scotland, autonomy in Wales has grown compared to the initial referendum (low turnout), retained the peace in NI

Referendums- increase in use

Fixed-term parliament

Question 33

Constitutional reform since 1997 limited impact on the UK democracy

Answer 33

Human Rights Act- can be removed by the government, internment was used, rights can be trampled on by government

House of Lords- not accountable, authoritative or representative, not fully elected, still hereditary peers, undemocratic, no government has been able to implement meaningful reform despite a widespread agreement that it should be voted for

Electoral Reform

Codification- creates uncertainty as uncodified, lack of public understanding, the danger of excessively powerful government

Question 34

Arguments for further devolution-4

Answer 34

Extend democracy and improve democratic accountability by bringing government closer to communities

A devolved government could better reflect the problems specific to regions

Help to prevent excessive differences between living standards and the quality of life in different parts of the UK

Might improve local participation in politics

Question 35

Arguments against further devolution-4

Answer 35

Create a new layer of government which would be expensive

Create a need for too many elections promoting voter apathy

Very few signs of any great demand for such devolution

Regional devolution might create greater divisions in society, promoting disunity rather than unity

Question 36

Arguments for codification- 3

Answer 36

Human Rights- stronger safeguards for individual and minority rights, adopted the European Convention on Human Rights, weak, overridden by Parliament as sovereign, no constitutional legislation can remove sovereignty, codified could not pass any legislation that offended human rights protections

Executive power- liberals and other reformers find the power excessive compared to the Conservative and others who want to retain the power, codified would inhibit the apparently irreversible drift towards greater executive power, checks and balances, Parliament needs to have codified powers to enable it to control government on behalf of the people

Clarity- most citizens don’t understand the concept of a constitution, no concrete form, creating one means the public would have real awareness+support can grow, if people know their rights and understand better how government works it could cure political ignorance and apathy

Question 37

Arguments against codification- 3

Answer 37

Executive power-government can be more powerful, better to have a government that can deal with crisis or problems without too much inhibition, the USA are prevented from acting decisively frequently, the relationship between Government and Parliament is flexible

Conservative pragmatism- served the country well for many centuries, with no violent revolutions or major political unrest, change has occurred naturally and when necessary, the constitution would be an extremely difficult exercise and the meagre benefits would not be worth the problems incurred

The dangers of politicising the judiciary- codified would involve the courts, in particular, the Supreme Court in disputes over its precise meaning and application many issues would be political like in the USA, conflicts over the exact powers of government eg nature of rights relations with the Eu relations between England Scotland Wales and NI, judges being involved in political matter puts their independence in jeopardy, judges aren’t elected so not accountable

Question 38

Should the UK constitution be changed to be entrenched and codified, including a bill or rights

Answer 38

?