Government: Constitution Flashcards
What does a constitution mean?
The rules and practises that define the political system of a state (country).
What does an uncodified constitution mean?
When the constitution comes from multiple different sources, not written as one single document.
What does a codified constitution mean?
The constitution is written as one single document.
What is a constitutional monarchy?
When a monarch is subjected to constraints on their power by a constitution, they therefore have limited power.
What four things does a constitution define?
- How power is distrusted
- The rights of citizens
- How a political system works
- The powers and functions of a government
What type of constitution does Britain have?
Uncodified
Why is a constitution needed?
A constitution is a solution to the problems of power.
Power tends to corrupt.
Britain is an __________ constitution.
Evolutionary
What does an evolutionary constitution mean for Britain?
They have never had a revolution, but it was close in 1650’s when Oliver Cromwell was Lord Protector.
When was the Magna Carta made?
1215
When was the Bill of Rights?
1689
What does the Magna Carta state?
The king is not above the law and it established the Rule of Law, which is still used today.
Why is the Bill of Rights important?
+ Affirmed the rights of parliament
+ Regular elections
+ Free elections
+ Freedom of speech within parliament
When was the Act of Settlement?
1701
What does the Act of Settlement state?
Establishes the right of parliament to determine the line of succession to the throne.
When were the Acts of Union?
1707
Why is the Acts of Union still important?
Lead to the creation of Great Britain until the Scottish Devolution in 1997 when Scotland got their own parliament
Who proposed the “Fusion of Powers”?
Walter Bagehot
What does the Fusion of Powers mean?
The UK’s system in which members of the executive are also members of the legislature.
When was the Constitutional Reform Act?
2005
What are the 5 features of a U.K. Constitution?
- Parliamentary sovereignty
- The rule of law
- Unitary state
- Parliamentary Government
- Constitutional Monarchy
What does Parliamentary sovereignty mean?
- Parliament is the bases of all power
- Has the power to shape/ re-shape the constitution
- Above the government
What does the Rule of Law mean?
- Nobody is above the law, particularly MP’s.
- Subject to legal checks, constraints and the same justice.
What does unitary state mean?
- Federal country
- Highly centralised state
- Retained government
- Regional parliaments
- Can be taken away from parliament
