CONSTITUTION

Question 1

Constitution

Answer 1

set of rules for governing a government- the purpose of a constitution is to prevent a government from becoming over-powerful.

Question 2

Codified?

Answer 2

Constitution is written down in one place, as one document,USA

Question 3

Uncodifed?

Answer 3

Constitution is made up of several sources- some written, some not, uk

Question 4

Entrenched?

Answer 4

Constitution is protected by a ‘higher court’, needing special procedures to amend it

Question 5

Non-entrenched?

Answer 5

Laws relating to the constitution have the same status as any other laws, and can be amended just as easily

Question 6

Unitary?

Answer 6

power is concentrated within a single body/institution- for example the UK

Question 7

Federal?

Answer 7

Power is shared between institutions- for example the USA

Question 8

The UK Constitution - key documents

Answer 8

The UK Constitution - key documents

Question 9

Magna Carta, 1215

Answer 9

Great Charter’ was a series of written promises between the king and his subjects.
The king agrees to govern England and deal with its people according to the customs of feudal law. It was an attempt by the land-owning barons to stop the king from abusing his people. Certain basic rights were established, for example the right to a jury trial.

Question 10

Bill of Rights, 1689

Answer 10

urther basic rights, for example free elections, and laid out both rights of Parliament and limitations on the power of the Monarch.
Bill firmly established the principles of frequent parliaments and freedom of speech within Parliament.
o right of taxation without Parliament’s agreement, freedom from government interference, the right of petition and just treatment of people by courts

Question 11

Act of Settlement, 1701

Answer 11

Confirmed the power of Parliament to determine the succession to the throne

Question 12

Acts of Union, 1707

Answer 12

United Scotland to England and Wales, creating the United Kingdom of Great Britain. Scotland continued to have a separate legal system

Question 13

Parliament Acts, 1911, 1949

Answer 13

20th century, the House of Lords had the power to veto (stop) legislation.
is arrangement was put under pressure when the House of Lords refused to pass David Lloyd-George’s ‘people’s budget’ of 1909.
budget was passed after a general election in 1910; a second general election was then fought on the issue of reform of the House of Lords.
Parliament Act 1911, which removed from the House of Lords the power to veto a Bill, except one to extend the lifetime of a Parliament.
Lords could delay a Bill by up to two years. The Act also reduced the maximum lifespan of a Parliament from seven years to five years.

Question 14

The Parliament Act
1949

Answer 14

Reduced the Lords’ delaying powers to one year.
The Parliament Acts define the powers of the Lords in relation to Public Bills.
Money bills - raise money through the taxes- start in the Commons and must receive Royal Assent no later than a month after being introduced in the Lords, even if the Lords has not passed them.
e Lords cannot amend Money Bills. Most other Commons Bills can be held up by the Lords if they disagree with them for about a year but ultimately the elected House of Commons can reintroduce them in the following session and pass them without the consent of the Lords

Question 15

European Communities Act, 1972

Answer 15

joined Britain to the European Community

Question 16

Patterns of reform

Answer 16

the UK constitution has gone through a gradual process of change
a slow transfer of power from the monarch to Parliament (more specifically the House of Commons, which has become increasingly representative through the extension of the franchise
Increase in the protection of rights and liberties.