Constitutional reforms since 1997

Question 1

What was the Human Rights Act? Year?

Answer 1

1998
Incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law - all legislation to be passed is checked by lawyers to ensure it is HRA compliant

Question 2

What is devolution? When was it implemented?

Answer 2

The devolved bodies for parts of the UK 
Labour 1997-2010
Scottish Parliament
Welsh assembly
Northern Ireland Assembly

Question 3

What is the West Lothian question and how was it resolved?

Answer 3

Scottish MPs were able to vote on English issues in Westminster but English MPs could not vote on Scottish
Resolved by English Votes for English Laws (EVEL)

Question 4

What were the Parliamentary Reforms under Labour 1997-2010?

Answer 4

Hereditary peers abolished bar 92

Backbench Business Committee set up

Question 5

What were the changes to the UK Supreme Court under Labour 1997-2010

Answer 5

Clear separation of powers
-no judicial review 
-cannot overturn Parliamentary Acts
Can overturn secondary legislation
-R (Miller) v Secretary of State for exiting the European Union (2017) -- Act of Parl. required to trigger Article 50

Question 6

What was the Fixed term Parliaments Act? Year?

Answer 6

2011
Set a pattern of general elections every 5 years
Removed power of PM to call election when suited
Can be overturned by 2/3 Commons vote

Question 7

What was the House of Lords Reform Act? Year?

Answer 7

2014
House of Lords peers can:
Retire or resign
Be removed for criminal offences or non-attendance
54 retired 2014-2016

Question 8

What was English Votes for English Laws? Year?

Answer 8

2016

Resolved West Lothian Question - Only English MPs can vote on English laws

Question 9

What was the Scotland Act? Year?

Answer 9

2016
Scotland can:
Set income tax rates
Control 50% VAT
Make legislation in some areas - road signs, speed limits, welfare benefits
BUT creates further separation btw England and Scotland
Scotland might ask for more independence

Question 10

What were the reforms under Labour 1997-2010?

Answer 10

Human Rights Act 1998
Devolution
Parliamentary reform
UK supreme court established

Question 11

What were the reforms under Coalition 2010-2015?

Answer 11

FTPA 2011

House of Lords Reform Act 201

Question 12

What were the reforms under Conservatives 2015-2018

Answer 12

EVEL 2016

Scotland Act 2016