Everything Flashcards
Constitution
Set of codes and regulations that sets clear roles and power, establishes rights, and sets how organisations work.
Separation of Powers
Thwarts dictatorship by splitting executive (government), legislative (Parliament), and judiciary (Highest court) powers.
Sovereignty of Parliament
Can make laws on any subject, cannot bind its successors, unquestionable validity.
Rule of Law
No one is above the law, and breaches must be punished.
Sources of law
Legal: statute, precedent, common law, EU law. Non legal: conventions, cabinet manual, treatises.
Royal political prerogative powers
Appoints Pm, appoints ministers, summons dissolves parliament, royal assent, opens parliament.
Judicial prerogative powers
Prosecutions done in her name, head of judiciary, appoints judges, royal pardons.
Other prerogative powers
Head of armed forces, declares war, relations and visits to other countries, head of church of England.
Monarchy funding`
Sovereign grant: living costs. Privy purse: private income.
Devolution
The giving of powers from UK parliament to Scotland (Scottish Parliament), Northern Ireland (Northern Ireland Assembly), Wales (Welsh Assembly), and London (Greater London Authority (and 32 London Boroughs)) Has law making powers everywhere except: defence, foreign affairs, taxation, economic management, constitution, social security, company regulation.
Parliament
650 members, 120 ministers, 22 cabinet members, 1 PM at the top.
House of Lords
Unelected house made of hereditary peers, PM appointed life peers, and spiritual peers. Can delay legislation by a year, can debate government decisions, specialist committees. Mass call for reform or scrapping.
Bill Making
House of Commons: First reading, second reading, committee stage, third reading. Then House of Lords: same process. Then Royal assent
Backbencher MP
Non cabinet MP. Represents constituents, party interests, conscience votes, does legislature and scrutiny (committees).
First past the post
Vote for one candidate. Most votes wins. Cons; wouldn’t need majority, unrepresentative. Pros; strong and simple results
Alternative Vote
Rank the candidates. Anyone with over 50% wins. If no one wins, redistribute the points getting rid of fewest first choice votes etc.
Electoral Commission
Sets the financial limit on spending
Two tier local government
County Council presides over the whole county with smaller district councils. Two tiers separately elected and not linked.
Unitary single tier government
Single authority carries out most local government functions. Usually found in urban areas.
Hybrid tier model
Two tier covers most of the county with some areas (usually urban) in single tier
Councillors
Elected part time representatives. Allowed expenses and allowances for basic allowance, special responsibility, childcare or dependents, subsistence and travel.
Council Officers
Not elected experts that head departments
Council Revenue
Short term expenditure. Running costs and wages etc
Council Capital
Long term spending. Durable assets e.g bricks