P1 - Rights

Question 1

what are civil liberties

Answer 1

the right that citizens have in a democracy

Question 2

what are some civil liberties

Answer 2

freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to a fair trial and freedom of association

Question 3

How does the HRA 1998 protect rights

Answer 3

Incorporated the ECHR 1950 into law
Citizens can now challenge laws in UK courts rather than having to go to European Courts of Human Rights
UK courts can issue a ‘declaration of incompatibility’
Brexit will have no effect on its protection

Question 4

What did the freedom of information act 2000 do

Answer 4

gave citizens the right to know information regarding how and who made decisions

Question 5

how does the FOI 2000 protect right

Answer 5

allows the public to access files from any government body. Any person can request information and has a right to have that information given to them.

Question 6

what are the limitations with the FOI

Answer 6

it has some major exceptions to it, particularly if it affects national security

Question 7

When was the equality act

Answer 7

2010

Question 8

what characteristics are protected in the equality act

Answer 8

sex and sexual orientation, religion, gender reassignments, age, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, belief and race

Question 9

What two ways are rights protected in law

Answer 9

Judicial review and Common Law

Question 10

In what way are rights successfully protected in the UK

Answer 10

The HRA and other laws mean that rights are set out clearly and in detail
A rights-based culture has been established
This allows the judiciary to be active in defending rights
Pressure groups, such as Liberty, work to stop governments from undermining rights

Question 11

In what way are rights unsuccessfully protected in the UK

Answer 11

Citizens’ rights have been restricted as governments seek to protect citizens from terrorism
The right to protest near Parliament has been restricted
The Government has also introduced ‘control orders’ to restrict freedom of movement
The media undermines rights protection by portraying acts like the HRA as restricting rights

Question 12

how is surveillance a threat to civil liberties

Answer 12

the UK has more surveillance cameras than any other country in Europe. In 2010, it was estimated that there is one CCTV camera for every 14 people

Question 13

how is the idea of stop and search a threat to civil liberties

Answer 13

Police have the power to stop and search any suspected person without having to record why they have done this

Question 14

How is the idea of freedom of expression a threat to civil liberties

Answer 14

Laws against incitement to racial or religious hatred are often seen as threats to free speech

Question 15

how is the idea of political demonstrations a threat to civil liberties

Answer 15

police are increasingly using powerful public order laws to per cent legitimate protests

Question 16

how is anti terrorism a threat to civil liberties

Answer 16

it is claimed that anti-terrorism has led the police to make excessive use of powers of search and interrogation on the grounds of national security

Question 17

When and what was the Abu Qatada Case

Answer 17

2012
An ECHR judgement prevented the deportation of the radical Islamist cleric to Jordan where he risked being tortured and tried. He was finally removed in 2013

Question 18

When and what was the Belmarsh ruling

Answer 18

2004

The law lords ruled 8-1 against the government’s indefinite detention of terrorist suspects in Belmarsh prison

Question 19

When and what was the Poundland case

Answer 19

2013
Cait Reilly won her claim that it was unlawful to force her to work for free at Poundland as a condition of her claiming jobseeker’s allowance

Question 20

When and what was the Segregation in Schools ruling

Answer 20

2017
The court ruled that a co-educational faith school in Birmingham had caused unlawful discrimination by separating boys and girls. It breached the 2010 equality act.