Constitution quick revision Flashcards
Define a constitution.
Rules by which a country is governed
What do we call a constitution that is largely written and collected in one place?
Codified
What is the difference between a unitary system of government and a federal system of government?
Federal = having a system of government where several states form a unity but remain independent in internal affairs
Unitary = sovereign state governed as a single entity - central government is supreme, and the administrative division only exercise their delegated powers
Identify one of the possible problems with uncodified constitutions.
Open to interpretation (i.e. conventions)
List four characteristics of the system produced by the UK Constitution.
Flexible, fair, ?, ?
Who was said to be the first Prime Minister in 1721?
?
List the main sources of the UK constitution.
Statute law, common law, EU law, conventions, works of authority, royal prerogative
Name two Acts of Parliament that have changed the Constitution?
?
What is meant by parliamentary sovereignty?
The absolute unlimited authority of Parliament that theoretically can repeal or amend any law
How many hereditary peers remained in the House of Lords after 1999?
380 down to 92
When was the last time a Monarch refused to give assent to a Bill?
Queen Anne in 1707 - Bill for settling the militia in
What do we mean by common law?
Law formed on the basis of precedents set in previous cases
What are prerogative powers?
Powers performed by ministers on behalf of the monarch
Give two examples of prerogative powers
Rights to declare war, make treaties, give orders to the armed forces, dissolve Parliament, appoint ministers, dispense honours
‘Royal assent has to be given on the advice of ministers. This is a convention.’ True or False?
True - monarch gives assent to a Bill that is passed
Which type of European Law has been accepted without question by member states?
?
Which case decided that laws of member states had to be set aside if they clashed with European law?
?
Name three writers whose books are seen as works of authority.
A.V.Dicey, Erskine May, Walter Bagehot
Outline some of the problems being experienced by the UK Constitution.
?
List 3 major constitutional reforms passed by New Labour.
?
List 6 major constitutional reforms passed by New Labour.
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What did critics say might go wrong with devolution?
?
What did critics say would be a consequence of reform of the House of Lords?
?
Who replaced the Lord Chancellor in the House of Lords?
?
What did the Freedom of Information Act help to reveal in 2009?
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Which Act established a new committee on Commons reform in 2009?
?
What did the Constitutional reform and Governance Bill 2009 propose in terms of treaties?
?
What has since interfered with the passage of the Bill?
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