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Politics: UK Politics > Devolution > Flashcards

Devolution Flashcards

1
Q

What is devolution?

A

Transfer of policy-making powers from the centre to subordinate subnational institutions.
However, the state-wide legislature retains ultimate authority.

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2
Q

Briefly describe devolution in the UK

A

Devolution in the UK has been asymmetric: each of the devolved institutions has different powers and distinctive features.
Scottish Parliament is the most devolved institution. It has primary legislative powers (responsible for law-making) upon devolved matters and tax-raising powers.
The Welsh Assembly only had executive powers, however after the 2011 referendum it gained primary legislative authority upon devolved matters and gained tax-raising powers under the Wales Act 2017.
The Northern Ireland Assembly has primary legislative powers also but only limited powers over tax.

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3
Q

How did devolution originate in the UK?

A

Devolved institutions wasn’t established until 1999 but pressure for devolution had been present since 1970’s when Scottish and Welsh nationalism increased.

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4
Q

Who pressured the government into creating devolved institutions?

A

The Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) and Plaid Cymru made electoral breakthroughs at Westminster.

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5
Q

How did the Callaghan government respond to devolution?

A

James Callaghan held referendums on creating legislative assemblies in Scotland and Wales in 1979.
Welsh referendum had a decisive “no” as only 20% backed an assembly.
In Scotland, 52% voted for devolution but Westminster agreed a Scottish Assembly would only be created if 40% of the Scottish electorate agreed (only 33% of them did).

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6
Q

How did the Blair government respond to devolution?

A

Blair held referendums in Scotland and Wales, soon after the 1997 general election.
In Scotland, 74.3% supported a Scottish Parliament.
In Wales, 50.3% supported a Welsh Parliament mostly supported by western Wales.

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7
Q

Where is the Scottish Parliament?

A

Edinburgh

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8
Q

How many members are in the Scottish Parliament?

A

129 MSP’s (Members of the Scottish Parliament)

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9
Q

Which voting system does the Scottish Parliament use to elect its members?

A

Additional Member System (AMS)
73 MSP’s are elected in single-member constituencies using the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system.
56 MSPs are ‘additional members’ chosen from party lists. They are elected in using the regional list system of proportional representation (PR).

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10
Q

Who is the leader of the Scottish government?

A

The First Minister is the leader of the largest party

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11
Q

What are the key powers of the Scottish Parliament?

A

Income tax rates and duties
Health and Social services
Abortion law
Environment such as housing and transport
Education
Tourism
Justice and Policing

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12
Q

What are the reserved powers of the Scottish Parliament?

A

UK constitution
Defense and national security
Foreign policy, including relations with the EU
Fiscal, economic and monetary systems
Common market for British goods and services
Employment legislation
Social security
Broadcasting
Nationality and immigration
Nuclear energy

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13
Q

What is the Scotland Act 1998?

A

Limited the Scottish Parliaments legislative powers.
It establishes that Westminster remains sovereign.

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14
Q

What is the Scotland Act 2016?

A

The result of UK parties issuing a vow to deliver further devolution in the event of a ‘no’ vote.
Shows the list of devolved powers
The new powers did not go far enough for the SNP and the changes fall short of ‘devomax’, in which the Scottish Parliament would have full responsibility for all taxes, duties and spending.

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15
Q

Where is the Welsh Parliament?

A

Cardiff

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16
Q

How many members are in the Welsh Parliament?

A

60 MP’s

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17
Q

Which voting system does the Welsh Parliament use to elect its members?

A

Additional Member System (AMS)
40 members are elected in using the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system.
20 members are elected in using proportional representation.

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18
Q

Who is the leader of the Welsh Parliament?

A

The first minister (originally first secretary) is normally the leader of the largest party in the assembly, heads the government and appoints the cabinet.

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19
Q

What are the key powers of the Welsh Parliament?

A

Income tax rates
Health and Social services
Elections
Housing, local government and transport etc

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20
Q

What are the reserved powers of the Welsh Parliament?

A

The Constitution
Public service
Political parties
Single legal jurisdiction of England and Wales
Tribunals
Foreign affairs etc.
Defense

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21
Q

What is the Wales Act 2014?

A

Extended general elections from every 4 years to every 5 years

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22
Q

What is the Wales Act 2017?

A

Established the assembly and the Welsh government as a permanent feature of the UK constitution

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23
Q

Where is the Northern Ireland parliament?

A

Belfast

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24
Q

How many members are in the Northern Ireland Parliament?

A

Originally 108 but then decreased to 90 after the general election 2021.

25
Q

Which voting system does the Northern Ireland Parliament use to elect its members?

A

Single-Transferable Vote (STV) system of proportional representation.

26
Q

Who is the leader of the Northern Ireland parliament?

A

Led by a first minister and deputy first minister

27
Q

What are the key powers of the Northern Ireland Parliament?

A

Corporation tax
Health and Social services
Housing, transport and environment
Culture
Sport
Tourism
Justice, Policing and prisons

28
Q

What are the reserved matters of the Northern Ireland parliament?

A

firearms and explosives
financial services and pensions regulation
broadcasting
import and export controls
navigation and civil aviation
international trade and financial markets
telecommunications and postage
the foreshore and seabed
disqualification from Assembly membership
consumer safety
intellectual property

29
Q

What challenges are there in the Northern Ireland parliament from the rest of the devolved parliaments?

A

Communal Conflict
Distinctive party system
Security
Separate system of government

30
Q

How is communal conflict a challenge for the Northern Ireland parliament?

A

Political divide in Northern Ireland is that between unionists (protestants) and nationalists (catholics).
Unionists want Northern Ireland to remain part of the UK.
Nationalists favour a united Ireland or a greater role for the Republic of Ireland.

31
Q

How is a distinctive party system a challenge for the Northern Ireland parliament?

A

Elections are contested between unionist and nationalist parties and the main electoral issue is the constitutional status of Northern Ireland

32
Q

How is security a challenge for the Northern Ireland parliament?

A

Terrorist campaigns (IRA) by republican and loyalist paramilitary organisation killed more than 3,600 people during the Troubles and British soldiers patrolled the streets for several decades.

33
Q

How is a separate system of government a challenge for the Northern Ireland parliament?

A

Northern Ireland has been governed differently from the rest of the UK. Between 1922 and 1972, it was the only part of the UK to have its own parliament. Then, under direct rule, the secretary of state for Northern Ireland had significant policy-making powers.

34
Q

What is the 1998 Good Friday agreement?

A

The Agreement comprises the Multi-Party Agreement, between the UK and Irish Governments and the parties in Northern Ireland, and the British-Irish Agreement between the UK and Irish Governments. It was approved by voters on 22 May 1998, and came into force on 2 December 1999.

35
Q

Why might people think Scottish nationalism is declining?

A

Due to the increase in the powers of the Scottish parliament many nationalists may now be satisfied that their country has sufficient autonomy from the rest of the UK to maintain its separate identity.

36
Q

What is happening to the numbers of the SNP seats in Westminster Parliament?

A

Increasing as in 1999, only 6 seats (22.1% of votes) were won whereas in 2016, 35 seats (36.9 % of votes) were won

37
Q

What evidence is there that Scottish nationalism is declining?

A

Electoral support for the SNP, both at Westminster elections and in Scotland is falling.
The Scots may be becoming more disillusioned with the EU and so may be willing to remain in the UK and leave the EU.
The most recent opinion polling suggests some decline in support for independence.
Nicola Sturgeon doubts that a second referendum on independence is likely in the near future as a ‘yes’ vote would be hard to achieve

38
Q

What evidence is there that nationalism is standing firm?

A

Despite some setbacks, the SNP remains the
dominant party in Scotland.
Many Scots may be waiting for the outcome of
Brexit negotiations. If the talks go badly many may
well return to supporting independence.
Younger age groups support independence in
much larger numbers than oppose it. This means
that overall opinion is likely to swing towards
independence as time passes.

39
Q

What are the options on how should England be governed?

A

An English Parliament.
‘English votes for English laws’ at Westminster.
Elected regional assemblies.
Local government in England.

40
Q

What is meant by an English parliament?

A

England is the only part of the UK not to have its own devolved parliament.
An English parliament would have legislative powers over domestic English issues.

41
Q

What are the arguments in favour of an English parliament?

A

It would complete devolution within the UK, and resolve the English Question, by giving England its own parliament.
It would create a more coherent system of devolution, with a federal UK Parliament and government responsible for UK-wide issues.
It would give political and institutional expression to English identity and interests.

42
Q

What are the arguments against an English parliament?

A

It would create an additional layer of government and create tensions between the UK government and an English parliament and government.
‘Devolution all round’ would not create a coherent and equitable system because England is much bigger than the other nations of the Union.
There is only limited support in England for an English parliament.

43
Q

What is meant by “English Votes for English Laws”?

A

The West Lothian Question asks why MPs representing Scottish constituencies at Westminster should be permitted to vote on purely English matters (e.g. local government in England) when English MPs have no say over matters devolved to the Scottish Parliament.

44
Q

What do Opponents argue against EVEL?

A

They claim that determining the territorial extent of bills will be problematic, due to decisions on public spending in England may affect funding in the rest of the UK.
EVEL would also make it more difficult for a government with a small parliamentary majority to deliver its manifesto commitments.

45
Q

What are elected regional assemblies?

A

The Blair governments planned to create directly elected regional assemblies with limited executive functions in the eight English regions outside London.

46
Q

What are the arguments in favour of elected regional assemblies?

A

It would bring decision making closer to the people and address the differing interests of the English regions.
It would create a more balanced devolution settlement within the UK because England is too large to have its own parliament.
Regional assemblies could act as a catalyst for economic and cultural regeneration.

47
Q

What are the arguments against elected regional assemblies?

A

Few areas of England have a strong sense of regional identity.
It would break up England and fail to provide expression for English interests and identity.
There would be tensions between regional and local government.

48
Q

What is meant by local governing in England?

A

Local authorities are the lowest level of government in the UK and in England are the only elected branch of government below central government.

49
Q

What is the impact of devolution?

A

Created a new relationship between the UK nations, providing institutional recognition of the distinctiveness between these nations whilst reflecting the membership of the union

50
Q

What is a quasi-federal state?

A

A state that has some federal characteristics but remains a unitary state

51
Q

What are features of the UK that implies a quasi-federal state?

A

Limited parliamentary sovereignty; Westminster cannot legislate on devolved matters and therefore isn’t unlimited.
Quasi-federal parliament; federal parliament for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as they retain reserved matters.
Joint-ministerial committee; UK ministers meet here to discuss non-devolved matters. UK government is lead player.
Supreme court; UK supreme court resolves matters

52
Q

Why should the UK become a federal state?

A

Provides a coherent constitutional settlement, establishing a clearer relationship between states.
Resolve anomalies that have arisen from devolution (EVEL)
House of lords could be reformed to become a chamber representing components of nations.

53
Q

Why shouldn’t the UK become a federal state?

A

Federalism works best in the states in which their is not a dominant region or area.
An English parliament would rival Westminster parliament
Measures to reduce the dominance of England would be problematic and unpopular
Disputes over funding

54
Q

What is policy divergence?

A

The nations of the UK have introduced policies that differ.

55
Q

Give an example of policy divergence

A

England has prescription charges
Scotland abolished prescription charges in 2011
Wales abolished prescription charges in 2007
Northern Ireland abolished prescription charges in 2010

56
Q

Why was devolution created?

A

It was designed to safeguard the union and weaken Scottish idependance

57
Q

Why has devolution been a success over the past 20 years?

A

One of the main purposes of devolution was to calm the forces of nationalism. While 45% of voters in the 2014 Scottish referendum did indeed want independence, the UK remains united.
Democracy and representation have both been enhanced through the creation of devolved assemblies and the use of more proportional electoral systems.
A much closer relationship between decisions, decision-makers and local needs has proved beneficial to the regions, and devolved institutions are popular.
The UK’s flexible constitution has accommodated the devolution of power from the centre to the regions.

58
Q

Why hasn’t devolution been a success over the past 20 years?

A

The lack of a clear blueprint for the future of the UK has led to piecemeal changes and significant differences.
The divergent political directions of the regions is placing a strain on relationships within the Union.
The union has only been preserved by further extensive powers being granted to the regions.

Politics: UK Politics (5 decks)

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