Intro - Devolved legislatures and government

Question 1

What are two types of states?

Answer 1

Unitary states & Federal states

Question 2

What is a unitary state?
examples

Answer 2

have a dominant central government & legislature
can legally override any sub-national government
e.g. Ireland, France, Norway

Question 3

What is a federal state?
examples

Answer 3

have political subdivisions
division of powers between central and local is constitutionalised & cannot be changed unilaterally
e.g. US, Germany, Canada, Australia

Question 4

Which one is UK nominally, and which one is it best considered to be?

Answer 4

nominally -> A unitary state
best considered -> a quasi-federal state

Question 5

Why is it best considered a quasi-federal state?

Answer 5

due to devolution arrangements that have a high degree of functional rigidity

Question 6

What do the devolution arrangements characterise?

Answer 6

‘the territorial constitution’

Question 7

What are the devolved regions?

Answer 7

Scotland
Northern Ireland
Wales

Question 8

What are the Legislatures and Executives of Scotland?

Answer 8

Legislature: Scottish Parliament - Holyrood
Executive: Scottish Government

Question 9

What are the Legislatures and Executives of Northern Ireland?

Answer 9

Legislature: Northern Ireland Assembly - Stormont
Executive: Northern Ireland Executive

Question 10

What are the Legislatures and Executives of Wales?

Answer 10

Legislature: Welsh Parliament / Sennedd Cymru
Executive: Welsh Government