FARMBROUGH- UK POLITICS Flashcards
define constitution
a body of laws and practices which dictate how a country is governed
difference between codified and uncodified constitutions
codified- written in a single authoritative document
uncodified- written in multiple documents, most if not all without legal influence
what does the constitution do?
(Hint 3 things)
protects/promotes rights
upholds democracy
ensures a stable and effective gov
3 features of the UK constitution
uncodified (1 of 3 in the world)
unitary (union) state
easy to change
sources of the constitution
statute law
common law
authoritative works
conventions
(EU law)
what is the royal prerogative?
government’s ability to act on behalf of the monarchy
4 principles of the constitution
rule of law
parliamentary sovereignty
union state
constitutional monarchy
what happened in 1215?
magna carta
what is magna carta best described as?
the moment the people realised that the monarchy’s power could be limited
when did the bill of rights act happen?
1689
what was the “bill of rights” act?
-declaration of rights
royals couldn't have political influence amongst the people limit monarchy establish army no cruel punishments establish freedom of gov
what did the “act of settlement” (1701) do?
established the UK
how many parliament acts were there?
2
1911, 1949
what did each parliament act do?
established the house of commons as the dominant house of parliament
what reforms have been made since 1997?
democratisation
devolution
modernisation
human rights
evaluate human rights after reforms
HRA 1998 says to follow European conventions on human rights
supreme court has used to protect rights but parliament has last word
rise of identity politics
freedom of information act 2000
act of parliament take away all human rights
evaluate democratisation
mayors of major cities
referendums of further democracy rejected
lack of enthusiasm for electoral reform
evaluate devolution
scotland/wales have been successes
stopped scottish independence
n.ireland’s assembly was suspended in 2017
evaluate modernisation
HoL act 1999 means HoL is now appointed instead of hereditary peers (only 94 remain)
created supreme court
HoL remains unelected (+ is a little dodgy)
unelected judges have conventional powers against the elected parilament
quote Tony Blair in 1994
if elected [they] would deliver the biggest programme of change to democracy ever proposed
what did the European communities act 1972 do?
confirmed the UK joining the EU
what is a unitary state?
where power is centralised
what is a union state?
where powers are spread, devolved
what is rule of law?
ensure that no one is above the law
no one can be punished without fair trial
define parliamentary sovereignty
parliament is the supreme ruling body
give two examples regarding human rights
- human rights act 1998
- freedom of information act 2000
suggest areas for further reform
- lowering voting age
- compulsory vote
- voting online
- extended devolution
- photo ID at voting booths
how well does the british constitution protect rights?
-well values civil liberties legal protection of minorities -not well brexit removing labour rights HRA not entrenched
what is a bicameral parliament?
parliament containing two chambers
how many constituencies does the UK have?
650
what are some features of the house of commons?
- 650 MPs (who represent an average of 68000 voters)
- nearly all MPs are in a political party
- more powerful house
what are some features of the house of lords?
- consists almost entirely of unelected members
- lacks power
- contains: life peers, hereditary peers, lords spiritual and independents
what’s the difference between life peers and hereditary peers?
life peers are nominated by political parties (and are there for life)
hereditary peers were chosen from a wider majority (700) after Blair’s reforms
what are the four main functions of parliament?
- legislative
- representative
- scrutiny
- deliberative
explain the legislative process
- (someimes gov introduces a green/white paper)
- first reading (bill read aloud)
- second reading (debate on overall policies)
- committee stage
- report stage
- third reading (final debate + vote)
- sent to second house to repeat and make amendments
explain a private member’s bill
- bill proposed by an MP outside the gov/largest party
- three types: ballot bills, minute rule bills, presentation bills
what are the three main theories of representation?
- burkean theory (personal judgement)
- delegate theory (mouthpieces for their constituents)
- mandate theory (implement party policies)
how does parliament hold the gov to account?
- debates
- PMQs
- committees
explain and evaluate debates
- most dramatic method of scrutiny
- MPs can say anything free from prosecution
- most debates are won by gov (due to whips)
- Westminster hall debates (response to petitions)
- badly attended
- HoL more effective, less thought on political career etc
explain and evaluate PMQs
- every Wednesday at 12pm, PM is questioned by Parliament
- high profile
- forces PM to address key issues
- keeps PM accountable
- makes parliament more theatrical
- embarrassing
- a game of insults and “banter”
what are the three types of committes?
public bill
select
lords
evaluate public bill committees
- always has a gov majority (may be bias)
- scrutiny in greater detail
- joint chair with opposition
- call witnesses
- membership is temp
- .5% amendments accepted
evaluate select committees
- most important type
- eg public accounts committee checks on how the gov spends money (chaired by opposition)
- members are long-term
- high profile
- secret ballot
- party loyalty
- vague answers to qs
- gov still a majority
- call witnesses
- thorough investigation
evaluate lords committees
- least significant
- used for longer, detailed investigations
- members often have political bias
how effective is gov scrutiny?
-well
growing rebellion of MPs leads to more honest discussions
diverse methods
-not well
pmqs are an excuse to mock instead of question
unstable parliament
who is the current chancellor of the Exchequer?
Rishi Sunak
who is Elizabeth Truss?
Foreign secretary and minister for women and equalities
who is Priti Patel?
THE DEVIL . . . and Home secretary
who is the current secretary for education?
Nadhim Zahawi
