Crib sheet 1 British Contsitution

Question 1

What is a constituion

Answer 1

It outlines the rights, values and responsibilties of citizens and the state and the relationship between the two

Question 2

What is a written and unwritten constitution

Answer 2

Countries that have had rapid change through war, invasion or revolution sometimes (france, usa) have a single document summarising their constitution. The UK has several sources contrubiting to constitution meaning it is unwitten.

Question 3

What is the British constitution made up of

Answer 3

Statute- Acts of parliament
Common Law- judge made or case law
conventions- customs and traditions
Treatises- authorative books on constututional law
treaties- EU and other international agreements

Question 4

1689 Bill of Rights

Answer 4

established Parliamentary Sovereignty meaning that the monarch can only rule through parliament. Shifted balance of power towards Parliamentary Sovereignty.

Question 5

Human Rights Act 1998

Answer 5

Incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into British Law. There have been clashes between Parliament and the European Courts of Human Rights. (prisoner blanket ban)
Part of the Council of Europe

Question 6

Seperation of powers

Answer 6

the executive, legislature and judiciary

Question 7

Seperation of powers in UK

Answer 7

Executive: PM and Cabinet. most of them are also MPs
Legislature: House of Lords and House of Commons making new laws
Judiciary: Supreme court and judges