constitution

Question 1

codified constitution

Answer 1

single authoritative document that sets out laws principles and rules by which a state is governed and which protects the rights of citizens

Question 2

uncodified constitution

Answer 2

laws rules and principles specifying how a state should be governed are not gathered in one single document

instead they are found in a variety of sources

some written - statute law

and some unwritten - convention

Question 3

statute law

Answer 3

law derived from acts of Parliament and subordinate legislation

Question 4

common law

Answer 4

law derived from General customs or traditions and the decisions of judges

Question 5

conventions

Answer 5

established norms of political behaviour rooted in past experience rather than the law

Question 6

Royal prerogative

Answer 6

discretionary powers of the crown that are exercised by government ministers in the Monarchs name

Question 7

parliamentary sovereignty

Answer 7

doctrine that parliament has absolute legal authority within the state

enjoys legislative supremacy

may make law on any matter it chooses

decisions not overturned by any higher authority and it may not bind its successors

Question 8

rule of law

Answer 8

legal theory holding that relationship between the state and individual is governed by law protecting the individual from arbitrary state action

Question 9

which important documents make up the uk constitution?

Answer 9

Magna Carta 1215
Bill of rights 1689
act of settlement 1701
parliament acts 1911/1949
European communities act 1972

Question 10

5 sources of the U.K. constitution

Answer 10

statute law 
common law
conventions 
authoritative works 
EU law and treaties

Question 11

what is a unitary state

Answer 11

one in which sovereignty is located at the centre

Question 12

name a most recent example of devolution

Answer 12

wales act 2017

greater fiscal powers e.g set Welsh rates of income tax from April 2019

Question 13

name an example of decentralisation

Answer 13

directly elected mayor of London - North of Tyne mayor may 2019

Question 14

name a most recent reform of rights

Answer 14

counter terrorism act 2008

Question 15

name a most recent example of parliament reform

Answer 15

fixed term parliaments act 2011 - fixed govt terms at 5 years from 2015

Question 16

example of judiciary reform

Answer 16

CRA 2005

Question 17

what does the CRA 2005 involve

Answer 17

new uk Supreme Court
new judicial appt system
changes to role of lord chancellor
creation of new justice dept

Question 18

name 4 principles/natures of the constitution

Answer 18

parliamentary sovereignty
rule of law
unitary state
constitutional monarchy

Question 19

what was P U F F stand for

Answer 19

parliamentary sovereignty 
uncodified 
unitary 
fusion of powers 
flexible

Question 20

what is the Westminster model?

Answer 20

parliament is sovereign
executive and legislature are fused
political power is centralised

Question 21

name three strengths of the U.K. constitution

Answer 21

adaptability
strong government
accountability

Question 22

name three weaknesses of the U.K. constitution

Answer 22

outdated and undemocratic
concentration of power
lack of clarity

Question 23

which act potentially undermines parliamentary sovereignty?

Answer 23

European communities act 1972 - subservient to EU law

Question 24

labour 1997 promised a programme of constitutional reform driven by which 4 interlocking themes?

Answer 24

modernisation
democratisation
decentralisation
rights

Question 25

what is the House of Lords act 1999

Answer 25

abolished the right of all but 92 hereditary peers to sit and vote in the upper house

Question 26

5 constitutional reform acts under the Tory-lib dem coalition?

Answer 26

fixed term parliaments act 2011
Scotland act 2012
protection of freedoms act 2012
House of Lords reform act 2014 
wales act 2014

Question 27

arguments in favour of a codified constitution

Answer 27

provide greater clarity 
reduce ambiguities 
protection of rights 
tackle centralisation of power 
local and sub national governments would enjoy protection

Question 28

arguments against a codified constitution

Answer 28

remove flexibility and adaptability 
may reflect mood of the time 
rigid not easy to change 
too much power to judges 
politicisation 
incompatible with parliamentary sovereignty

Question 29

who said we are a nation of nations

Answer 29

vernon bognador

Question 30

who said there can be no halfway house between parliamentary sovereignty and separatism

Answer 30

a v dicey