Constitution

Question 1

What are the sources of the UK Constitution

Answer 1

Statute Law
Common Law
Authoritative Works
Conventions
Treaties

Question 2

What are Heywood’s three principles of a constitution

Answer 2

A document or series of documents that outline the
- nature of the relationship between the branches of government
- nature of the relationship between the branches and government
- nature of the relationship between individuals and government

Question 3

What was A.V. Dicey’s seminal work and what did he mean by the two pillars of the Constitution

Answer 3

1885 An Introduction to the Study of the Law of the Constitution. Two pillars of the Constitution are Parliamentary Sovereignty and Rule of Law

Question 4

What is Parliamentary Sovereignty

Answer 4

Parliament holds ultimate, final power. Cannot bind a future government

Question 5

What was Walter Bagehot’s publication and what did it establish

Answer 5

1867- The English Constitution
Outlined the roles of the PM, whom Bagehot referred to as the first among equals

Question 6

What is the Same Question Rule

Answer 6

A convention that prevents the same or similar motion from being debated in the same Parliamentary session

Question 7

What is the Salisbury Convention

Answer 7

The House of Lords will not make wrecking amendments to legislation proposed in Government’s election manifesto

Question 8

What is Commons Financial Privilege

Answer 8

The Lords will not oppose or make wrecking amendments to Bills dealing with taxation or expenditure

Question 9

What is Collective Ministerial Responsibility

Answer 9

The convention that holds all ministers jointly accountable for government’s policies and actions

Question 10

What is the Sewel Convention

Answer 10

Westminster will only legislate on reserved matters, only legislating on devolved matters after consulting the devolved bodies

Question 11

What is a unitary state

Answer 11

The singular sovereign legislative body

Question 12

What was the House of Lords Reform Act 1999

Answer 12

Decreased the membership of the House from 1,330 in October 1999 to 669 in March 2000. Kept only 92 hereditary peers

Question 13

What are the 4 U’s of the Constitution

Answer 13

Unentrenched, Unitary, Uncodified and Unjudiciable

Question 14

What are the 4 main principles of the UK Constitution

Answer 14

Parliamentary Sovereignty
Rule of Law
Constitutional Monarchy
Unitary state

Question 15

Wright reforms

Answer 15

Introduced elected chairs to select committees, making them more effective at scrutinising government

Question 16

Recall of MPs

Answer 16

Allows Constituents to recall MPs who have broken the law or not attended Parliament.
Peter Bone of Wellingborough lost his seat for breaching the MP code of conduct.
6 by elections so far this year

Question 17

HoL Reform Act 2014

Answer 17

Peers can be removed or retire

Question 18

EU Withdrawal Agreement 2020

Answer 18

Manifesto policy of Brexit

Question 19

Freedom of Information Act 2000

Answer 19

Creates a right of access to all types of recorded information held by most UK public authorities. Also sets out exemptions and places a number of obligations on those public authorities

Question 20

Equality Act 2010

Answer 20

Age.
Disability.
Gender reassignment.
Marriage and civil partnership.
Pregnancy and maternity.
Race.
Religion or belief.
Sex.

Question 21

Dunblane Massacre 1996

Answer 21

Primary school mass shooting, remains the most deadly. 18 died and 15 injured.
Led to the Snowdrop campaign, which pushed for the Firearms Act of 1997, banning private ownership of most handguns. No mass shooting since.

Question 22

Lee vs Ashers Bakery 2014

Answer 22

Ruled in favour of the bakery, who had the right not to serve them for their religious beliefs

Question 23

Abu Qatada

Answer 23

In 2002, Abu Qatada was arrested and detained under anti-terror legislation. Detained indefinitely without trial until 2005.
2008, the Court of Appeal ruled that Qatada could not be deported to Jordan as he would likely face a trial using methods of torture and thus, he would not face a fair trial.
2013: announced he would return to Jordan if he could be sure no torture would be used.
The British and Jordanian governments ratified a treaty.