Constitutional reforms since 1997

Question 1

Constitutional reforms that have enhanced democracy since 1997

Answer 1

House of Lords reform 1999
Electoral reform
Recall
Reforms in House of Commons
English votes for English laws (now suspended)

Question 2

Reforms that enhance democracy: House of Lords Act (1999)

Answer 2

Allowed 92 hereditary peers to remain members of the Lords for an interim period.
Reduced membership from 1,330 to 669 mainly life peers. Discussions continue about the next stage of the reform process.

Question 3

Reforms that enhance democracy: Electoral reform

Answer 3

Introduced proportional representation in all devolved assemblies, leading to fairer representation of the people’s views

Question 4

Reforms that enhance democracy: Recall

Answer 4

2015 Act introduced a process where an MP can be recalled by their constituency to face a by-election

Question 5

Reforms that enhance democracy: Reforms in the House of Commons

Answer 5

The Wright Reforms redistributed power to backbenchers

Question 6

Reforms that enhance democracy: EVEL

Answer 6

Laws concerning England only have greater input from English constituency MPs (NOW REPEALED)

Question 7

List reforms that enhance rights

Answer 7

Human Rights Act 1998

Freedom of Information Act 2000

Question 8

Reforms that enhance rights: Human Rights Act 1998

Answer 8

Made European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) law accessible in UK courts, making it easier for UK citizens to access the rights

Question 9

Reforms that enhance rights: Freedom of Information Act 2000

Answer 9

Provided public access to documents held by public authorities

Question 10

List all reforms that decentralise power

Answer 10

Devolution
Exiting the EU
Elected mayors
Police and crime commissioners (PCC)

Question 11

List all reforms that decentralise power: Devolution

Answer 11

Devolved powers to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland put local representatives in charge of local issues

Question 12

List all reforms that decentralise power: Exiting the EU

Answer 12

Returned all decision-making powers back to Parliament, which is directly accountable to the British people

Question 13

List all reforms that decentralise power: Elected mayors

Answer 13

Gave powers over large areas to locally elected mayors

For example Andy Street, West Midlands mayor

Question 14

List all reforms that decentralise power: Police and crime commissioners (PCC)

Answer 14

Elected representatives who are responsible for the efficient and effective policing of an area
For example, Simon Foster, PCC for West Midlands

Question 15

List all the reforms that modernise the system

Answer 15

Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 (REPEALLED)

Constitutional Reform Act 2005

Question 16

Reforms that modernise the system: Fixed-term Parliament Act 2011

Answer 16

Fixed the date of UK general elections to once every five years to reduce the PM’s prerogative power
NOW REPEALED

Question 17

Reforms that modernise the system: Constitutional Reform Act 2005

Answer 17

Established the Supreme Court in place of the Law Lords and separated the role of Lord Chancellor into three separate roles and people