Law Making Flashcards
What is a Government?
A group of people who propose laws.
Types of Government
Constitutional Monarchy, Dictatorship, Democracy
How many MP’s are there?
650
What is Parliament?
Assembly of people with authority to make laws for a country.
When does a general election occur?
Every 5 years.
Why is Britain different to other Western Democracies?
Unwritten constitution
What do sources of our constitution include?
Acts of Parliament/Judicial Decisions/Customs (conventions)
What are Acts of Parliament?
Statutes - most powerful source of UK law
What are Judicial decisions?
Decisions made by judges
What are customs/conventions?
Traditions followed over time
What are the 3 principles of UK constitution?
Separation of Powers/Rule of Law/Parliamentary Sovereignty
What are the Separation of Powers?
State power is separated into Executive, judicial and legislative. Each type is exercised by different bodies of people.
What is Rule of Law?
No sanction without breach, one law should govern everyone and rights are secured by the decision of judges.
What is Parliamentary Sovereignty?
Parliament is Supreme with absolute and unlimited power.
What is the constitution?
Set of rules by which a country is governed.
Entrenched
Rules are difficult to repeal or modify.
Not Codified
UK does not have the constitution in a single document.
Who was Montesquieu?
claimed state power should be divided into three types.