Parliament - Historical Outline

Question 1

• When was the Norman Conquest?
  
  • why was it important?

Answer 1

• 1066
• consolidation of royal power and creation of a stable centralised government
• prompted a succession of abusive and overreaching kings who, according to lore, didn’t sufficiently respect laws and customs of the land

Question 2

• When was the Magna Carta signed?
• What was it?
  
  • why was it important?

Answer 2

• 1215
• charter of barons’ rights against an abusive and over-taxing Norman King (King John)
• set out some of these and affirmed the role of a ‘council’ → what would later by called Parliaments (from French ‘parlement’ and Latin ‘parliamentum’)

Question 3

• When was the Coronation Oath changed?
• who was it changed under?
  
  • what was added?

Answer 3

• 1307
• changed under Edward II (1284-1327)
• in addition to swearing to uphold peace, administer justice rightly and show reverence to God and the church, the King had to ‘keep the laws and righteous customs which the community of your realm shall have chosen’

Question 4

• What Act did Henry VIII pass?
  
  • when was it repealed?
  • why was it important?
  • when was Henry VIII alive?

Answer 4

• Statute of Proclamations of 1537
• repealed in 1547
• This Act is the origin of the current expression of ‘Henry VIII Powers’
• (1491-1547)

Question 5

What events occurred that led to the eventual settlement on constitutional monarchy and sovereignty of Parliament? (10)

Answer 5

1. Charles I → reigned 1625-1649
2. English Civil War → 1642-1651
   
   • Roundheads vs Cavaliers
3. Interregnum under Oliver Cromwell → 1649-59
4. The Restoration → 1660-1685
   
   • Charles II
5. James II → 1685-1688
6. Glorious revolution → 1688
   
   • William and Mary
7. Bill of Rights → 1689
8. Triennial Act → 1694
   
   • Regular meetings of Parliament → required P to meet annually & election to be held every 3 years
9. Septenial Act 1715
   
   • made elections every 7 years
10. Parliament Act 1911
    
    • made elections every 5 years
    • abolished by Fixed-Term Parliaments Act 2010

Question 6

What 3 things did the Bill of Rights impact?

Answer 6

• Rule of Law → Monarch can’t suspend or execute laws without Parliament’s say
• Taxation → illegal for monarch to raise taxes without Parliament’s approval
• Freedom of Speech

Question 7

What happened in 18th & 19th parties?

Answer 7

rise of political parties

Question 8

What did the advent of democracy precipitate?

Answer 8

• reduced role for House of Lords
• reduced Crown influence on matters of State

Question 9

What were the 4 steps for the gradual extension of democracy?

Answer 9

• Representation of the People Act 1867 → 1/3 men enfranchised
• Representation of the People Act 1884 → 2/3 men enfranchised
• Representation of the People Act 1918 → all men, women over 30
• Representation of the People Act 1928 → everyone franchised