debates on further reform Flashcards
should there be further reform of the judiciary ?
YES: the power of the court is limited due to parliamentary sovereignty and an uncodified constitution
NO: to resolve this, we would need a codified constitution, which wouldn’t be good
or the entrench the human rights act which would give the court greater powers
should there be further reform for devolution?
no: has created a sense of political unfairness in the political system
the english votes for english laws has not been done properly
should there be further reform for the freedom of information act?
it could be reformed by removing the national security provisions to make it full accessible
should there be further reform for the HOL?
YES: the 92 hereditary peers need to go, there needs to be a fully elected chamber
should there be further reform for the HOC?
YES: the commons is largely dominated by a single party, and to prevent this, we would need electoral reform, but this is highly unlikely
should there be further electoral reform?
NO: the AV referendum of 2011 shows the public do not want electoral reform
YES: there is the case for saying reform is needed to more local elections in England to familiarise voters with the alternatives
To what extent has constitutional reform since 1997 improved the state of UK democracy?
- improvements -
- the judiciary can now be said to be genuinely independent
- power has been decentralised through devolution
- freedom of information has been established
- increased use of referendums has extended popular democracy
- fixed term parliaments has weakened executive power
To what extent has constitutional reform since 1997 improved the state of UK democracy?
- failures -
- FPTP remains unrepresentative in its outcomes
- HOL remained unelected
- HOC remains weak and unrepresentative
- UK constitution remains uncodified, creating uncertainty and lack of public understanding
