CONSTITUTION

Question 1

Define constitution

Answer 1

Rules and principles how a country is governed, defined how power is organised, how the government divides people

Question 2

Define codified constitution

Answer 2

Based on a single document

Question 3

Define entrenched

Answer 3

Constitution is hard to change - codified

Question 4

Define higher law

Answer 4

Difficult law to change that undermines other laws (superior) - codified

Question 5

Define quasi-federal

Answer 5

Like a federal system eg parliament passing power onto Scotland

Question 6

Define devolution

Answer 6

Passing some power eg parliament devolves power onto Scottish parliament

Question 7

Define sovereignty

Answer 7

Ultimate right to do something

Question 8

Define legal sovereignty

Answer 8

Parliament having total power

Question 9

What is the nature of the UK constitution

Answer 9

Uncodified, not entrenched and unitary

Question 10

Define unitary

Answer 10

All legal sovereignty is held in a single place eg UK

Question 11

Define federal

Answer 11

Power divided between a central government and other states eg USA

Question 12

What are principles of the UK constitution

Answer 12

Twin pillars - parliamentary sovereignty and rule of law
Parliamentary sovereignty - makes the law, everyone follows
Rule of law - no one is above the law
Constitutional monarchy - monarchy limited in power (dignified part in constitution)
Parliamentary government - executive drawn from legislature

Question 13

Sources of UK constitutional

Answer 13

• Statute law - law made by parliament, very important, overrides other laws eg HRA
• Common law - judge made law, laws based on precedent and tradition eg murder common law
• Conventions - non-legal established rules of conduct and behaviour eg individual ministerial responsibility
• Authoritative works - works written by scholars seen as experts in the constitution eg Bagehot’s The English Constitution
• Treaties - agreement you have with another country eg Treaty of Rome

Question 14

What is the West Lothian Questions and EVEL

Answer 14

West Lothian question - imbalance between the voting rights in the House of Commons and Scotland, wales and Northern Ireland
EVEL - English votes for English laws (English MPs can’t vote on matters devolved to other parts of the UK whilst other parts can vote on English only matters)