Historical And Legislative Landmarks In The Development Of Britian’s Constitution

Question 1

Explain the Magna Carta

Answer 1

• It was passed in 1215
• It was passed to check the power of the English King and to set out the basic rights of his subject
• Stopped imprisonment without jury trial, limited powers of monarch to tax without consent and established that both the king and government was not above the law

Question 2

Explain the Bill Of Rights?

Answer 2

-It was signed in 1689
-The bill of rights set out limits of royal power asserting the requirement for regular parliament sustained by free elections
-Also gave basic rights to citizens and gave parliament the supremacy in matters of taxation and legislation

Question 3

Explain the Act of Settlement ?

Answer 3

-It was signed 1701
-gave parliament power to determine succession to the crown
-prevented those working under the crown from serving in parliament
-key aims was to ensure Protestant succession to throne
-strengthened guarantee of a parliamentary system of government

Question 4

Explain Parliament Acts

Answer 4

-signed in 1911 and 1949
-limited House of Lords power
- prevented them from discussing finances
-prevented them from permanently blocking bills

Question 5

Explain European Communities ?

Answer 5

-signed in 1972
-joined Britain to the European community, now EU
-eventual effect that EU law would overrule UK law

Question 6

Explain the Human Rights Act ?

Answer 6

-signed in 1998
-enshrined most of the provisions of the European conventions on human rights (ECHR)
-guaranteed things such as right to life, the right to liberty and personal security, the right to fair trial and freedom of peaceful association

Question 7

Explain House of Lords Act ?

Answer 7

• signed in 1999
  -abolished the right of all but 92 hereditary peers to sit and vote in the upper house

Question 8

Part 2 of the HOL ?

Answer 8

-signed in 2014
-give the right to existing peers the right to retire or resign their seats in the chamber
-aimed to slow the increase in the number of those eligible to sit and vote in the House of Lords
- allowed peers to be removed as a result of serious criminal offences or non-attendance

Question 9

Explain Devolution?

Answer 9

-signed in 1997
- passed the Scotland Act 1998 which established the Scottish parliament opened in 1999
-devolved bodies were granted different powers and distinctive features.