Constitution

Question 1

what is a unitary state

Answer 1

Unitary state- central govt that holds sovereignty

Question 2

what is the west laothian question

Answer 2

English votes for english laws, scorland allowed to vote on things that concern the uk because there is no regional govt- EVEL

Question 3

what is the barnett formula

Answer 3

Barnett formula- budgets for devolved regions , unequal funding of devolved powers -spending is 15-25%higher in all the devolved regions compared to england, per head - cost to keep the union strong

Question 4

What was the outcome of the referendum on the Northeast regional assembly 2004?

Answer 4

Northeast regional referendum -78% rejected, 48%- no devolution, not wanted by the population, no interest in english devolution- its gone far enough

Question 5

should there be an english parliament

Answer 5

84% of british population live in england- english parliament would compete with westminster

Question 6

what is the average turnout for metro mayors

Answer 6

30%

Question 7

what mayor is being removed/abolished

Answer 7

Bristol

Question 8

what region has no policing power

Answer 8

wales

Question 9

what is the sewel convention

Answer 9

Sewel convention- cant rule on devolved matters, reserved powers

Question 10

How has section 35 of the Scotland ACT (1998) been recently used?

Answer 10

Section 35 of scotland ACT (1998)- gender recognition reform bill in scotland

Question 11

what policy area is different across devolved regions

Answer 11

Education differs across devolved regions, prescriptions , housing , scotland- extended care for the elderly, different voting system and voting at 16

Question 12

problems with devolution in northern ireland

Answer 12

Northern Ireland assembly still dominated by Westminster: dissolved on multiple occasions, eg. 2002-2007, 2022-2024

Question 13

what electoral systems are used in each devolved region

Answer 13

Different sets of electoral systems used: Scotland, Wales and Greater London Authority = AMS; Northern Ireland = STV; mayoral elections (until 2021) - SV

Question 14

turnout in mayoral elections

Answer 14

The turnout of mayoral election is low - showing that people are not bothered to have a mayor in their local area (low public support and legitimacy)
London: 2024 - 40.5%; 2021 - 42.2%; 2016 - 45.3%; 2012 - 38.1%
Manchester: 2024 - 32%; 2021 - 34.7%; 2017 - 28.9%
West Midlands: 2024 - 29.8%; 2021 - 31.2%; 2017 - 26.7%

Question 15

what pieces of legisaltion have advanced rights

Answer 15

2000 Freedom of Information Act - Provides public access to information held by public authorities
Infected Blood inquiry Scandal, the government and the NHS hid from the public about infected blood given to patients, giving the HIV and Hepatitis C, causing many deaths
2010 Equality Act - Protects people from discrimination in the workforce & in wider society
2013: Marriage (Same-Sex) Couples Act - same-sex couple marriages are legal in all parts of Britain

Question 16

what legislation has infringed on rights in the uk/the ability for rights to be protected

Answer 16

2016 Investigatory Powers Act - Gave greater surveillance and data access powers to police
2022 Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act - gave police greater powers around protests and criminalises one person protests
2023 Public Order Act - Gave police further powers to prevent protest tactics deemed “disruptive” such as those used by climate protestors (e.g. “locking-on”, disrupting national infrastructure such as roads). Both the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and Amnesty International criticised the act.