Constitution quick revision

Question 1

Define a constitution.

Answer 1

Rules by which a country is governed

Question 2

What do we call a constitution that is largely written and collected in one place?

Answer 2

Codified

Question 3

What is the difference between a unitary system of government and a federal system of government?

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Identify one of the possible problems with uncodified constitutions.

Answer 4

Open to interpretation (i.e. conventions)

Question 5

List four characteristics of the system produced by the UK Constitution.

Answer 5

Flexible, fair, ?, ?

Question 6

Who was said to be the first Prime Minister in 1721?

Answer 6

?

Question 7

List the main sources of the UK constitution.

Answer 7

Statute law, common law, EU law, conventions, works of authority, royal prerogative

Question 8

Name two Acts of Parliament that have changed the Constitution?

Answer 8

?

Question 9

What is meant by parliamentary sovereignty?

Answer 9

The absolute unlimited authority of Parliament that theoretically can repeal or amend any law

Question 10

How many hereditary peers remained in the House of Lords after 1999?

Answer 10

380 down to 92

Question 11

When was the last time a Monarch refused to give assent to a Bill?

Answer 11

Queen Anne in 1707 - Bill for settling the militia in

Question 12

What do we mean by common law?

Answer 12

Law formed on the basis of precedents set in previous cases

Question 13

What are prerogative powers?

Answer 13

Powers performed by ministers on behalf of the monarch

Question 14

Give two examples of prerogative powers

Answer 14

Rights to declare war, make treaties, give orders to the armed forces, dissolve Parliament, appoint ministers, dispense honours

Question 15

‘Royal assent has to be given on the advice of ministers. This is a convention.’ True or False?

Answer 15

True - monarch gives assent to a Bill that is passed

Question 16

Which type of European Law has been accepted without question by member states?

Answer 16

?

Question 17

Which case decided that laws of member states had to be set aside if they clashed with European law?

Answer 17

?

Question 18

Name three writers whose books are seen as works of authority.

Answer 18

A.V.Dicey, Erskine May, Walter Bagehot

Question 19

Outline some of the problems being experienced by the UK Constitution.

Answer 19

?

Question 20

List 3 major constitutional reforms passed by New Labour.

Answer 20

?

Question 21

List 6 major constitutional reforms passed by New Labour.

Answer 21

?

Question 22

What did critics say might go wrong with devolution?

Answer 22

?

Question 23

What did critics say would be a consequence of reform of the House of Lords?

Answer 23

?

Question 24

Who replaced the Lord Chancellor in the House of Lords?

Answer 24

?

Question 25

What did the Freedom of Information Act help to reveal in 2009?

Answer 25

?

Question 26

Which Act established a new committee on Commons reform in 2009?

Answer 26

?

Question 27

What did the Constitutional reform and Governance Bill 2009 propose in terms of treaties?

Answer 27

?

Question 28

What has since interfered with the passage of the Bill?

Answer 28

?