CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS

Question 1

When did Devolution happen under the Blair government

Answer 1

1997 referendums in Scotland and Wales
1998 for Northern Ireland

Question 2

Why was devolution introduced

Answer 2

t was done to decentralise power from Westminster and to give Scotland, Wales and Ireland more authority to govern themselves. Additionally, to give areas local government that is more accountable to local public needs and to give regions greater self-determination

Question 3

What year did the Blair government attempt to remove the rights of hereditary peers

Answer 3

1999 - compromised to make the house of lords accept – the hereditary peers could elect 92 to sit in the house (always 92)

Question 4

What years was the HOL Appointment Commission established and what did it do

Answer 4

2000 – HOL Appointment Commission established, nominate small amount of crossbench life peers

Question 5

Why did the Blair government try to reform the HOL

Answer 5

Make it a more professional body
Wanted membership at one based on merit rather than gaiety to make a the House of Lords more democratic

Question 6

Due to the 1999 House of Lords Reform Act how many life peers retired and how May hereditary peers were left

Answer 6

-146 life peers retired;8 removed
-92 hereditary peers allowed to remain-Weatherill amendment (from 666) through internal elections.

Question 7

What voting system was introduced in Northern Ireland after devolution

Answer 7

Single transferable vote

Question 8

Fixed Term Parliament Act 2011

Answer 8

2011: The act legislated that a general election would happen exactly 5 years after the last. The act however allows a general election if the government loses a vote of no confidence and a new government that has the confidence of the House of Commons cannot be established

Question 9

What was the Electoral Reform under Cameron’s coalition government and what year was the voting system referendum

Answer 9

2011: David Cameron’s government held a referendum offering to change the FPTP system with AV (alternative voting). The electorate voted 68% to 32% in favour of retaining FPTP on a turnout of just 42%.

Question 10

What Parliamentary Reform was introduced under the Cameron government

Answer 10

This Parliamentary Reform gave backbench MPs more influence and addressing the governments dominance in the House of Commons. A parliamentary backbench committee was established to give backbench MPs more control over what is debated in Parliament. The membership of select committees would no longer be determined by the whips. In order to address criticism of parliaments irrelevancy, electronic petitions were introduced, which allow the public to directly lobby parliament. Parliament does not have to legislate these issues, but if an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures it will be likely debated.

Question 11

Why was there Parliamentary reform

Question 12

What year was the Human Rights Act created and what year was it put into action

Answer 12

1998 -> commenced in 2000

Question 13

Give specific examples of articles in the Human Rights Act

Answer 13

• Article 2 protects the right to life
• Article 8 is the right of a private life
• Article 10 right to freedom of expression
• Belmarsh case – Blair suspended Article 5 (the right to liberty to keep foreign terrorist suspects in custody without charge)
• However, the judges argued that this was against Article 14, freedom from discrimination
• The government then released the suspects because of unfavourable publicity

Question 14

Why was the Human Rights Act enforced

Answer 14

It allowed UK citizens to rely on rights contained in the European Convention on Human Rights before the domestic court Incorporating European convention on human rights into British law

Question 15

What year was the Supreme Court opened

Answer 15

2009

Question 16

Why was the Supreme Court created

Answer 16

 The Lord Chancellor had too much power over the legislature, the executive and the judiciary because he was the head of the judiciary but also a member of the cabinet.
 The most senior judges also sat in the HOL making it the final court of appeal
 Power had to be dispersed and decentralised

Question 17

Why was the Fixed Term Parliament Act of 2011 created?

Answer 17

The government was a coalition so the decision for a general election would’ve been highly contentious for the PM. It provides the government greater stability and makes it more difficult for the PM to call a snap election for political advantage at a time of their choosing.

Question 18

Why did the Fixed Term Parliament Act fail

Answer 18

Not really, in 2017 and 2019 Theresa May and Boris Johnson were able to call early elections because they gained the necessary support of the House of Commons. The practical impact of the act was therefore not reaching and in 2022 the Act was repealed, reinstating the PMs right to determine the timing of a general election.

Question 19

What year did Cameron’s government hold a referendum offering to change the FPTP system, and what was the result?

Answer 19

2011: David Cameron’s government held a referendum offering to change the FPTP system with AV (alternative voting). The electorate voted 68% to 32% in favour of retaining FPTP on a turnout of just 42%.