Politics (Government and the politics of the uk)

Question 1

Name some key features of the Westminster model (at least 4)

Answer 1

-first past the post electoral system
-parliament is sovereign
-constitution is codified
-single party majority (hold the most seats)
-there is a head of state (e.g. king Charles)
-there are legislators (people who make the laws)
-independent judiciary (courts system) that hold up the law

Question 2

what are the strengths of the Westminster model?

Answer 2

-there accountable for their actions
-strong stable and effective
-government control over the legislator so its easy to keep their promises

Question 3

what are weaknesses to the Westminster model?

Answer 3

-limits to parliamentary power
-limited opportunity for ordinary people to be into politics

Question 4

what spectrum does the UK have?

Answer 4

left and right spectrum

Question 5

what is the left side and what colour are they?

Answer 5

The left side is the socialism side
This includes: labour and communism
They are also blue

Question 6

what is the right side and what colour are they?

Answer 6

The right side is the libertarianism side
This includes: conservatives and fascism
They are also red

Question 7

What is left wing politics?

Answer 7

-human being are of equal value
-society should strive to be equal
-reduce the gap of the wealthy and the poor
-high taxes on the wealthy

Question 8

What is right wing politics?

Answer 8

-hierarchies are desirable and natural in the world
-values the need of the individual
-favours in small governments
-low taxes
-traditionist

Question 9

What is authoritarian?

Answer 9

-Strong government control
-limitations on peoples freedoms

Question 10

What is a libertarian?

Answer 10

-strong individual freedoms
-little government control

Question 11

What are the sources of the British constitution?

Answer 11

-statute law
-common law
-royal prerogative
-convections
-authoritative works
-international treaties and conventions

Question 12

what is statute law?

Answer 12

any acts of parliment (constitution significant) must be passed through the house of lords and the house of commons

Question 13

what is common law?

Answer 13

interpretations of the law (made by the judge) forming legal precedent

Question 14

what is the royal prerogative?

Answer 14

residual powers of the monarch exercised on their behalf of the pm

Question 15

what is conventions?

Answer 15

unwritten longstanding traditions that have acquired constitutional significance

Question 16

what are international treaties and conventions

Answer 16

treaties and arguments signed by the government

Question 17

what is the difference of codified and uncodified constitution?

Answer 17

Codified:
-laid out in one single document
-something big happens which lead to a constitution
-They are entrenched (dug deep into politics and hard to change and break through)

Uncodified:
-Able to change the constitution if needed
-easy to change