Politics unit 2

Question 1

What 4 things did Blairs constitutional reform programme focus on?

Answer 1

Decentralisation, democratisation, transparency and rights protection

Question 2

When was the human rights act and what did it incorporate?

Answer 2

1998,positively stated human rights for first time , incorporated the European convention on human rights into British law,

Question 3

What are 3 features of a presidential government

Answer 3

Strict separation of powers, executive and legislature elected independently, often strong independent legislature

Question 4

What are 3 features of a parliamentary government

Answer 4

Fusion of legislative and executive branch, executive indirectly elected, government collectively responsible to parliament

Question 5

When and what is Bushells case

Answer 5

1640 Guaranteed independence of jury

Question 6

Give an example of a Work of
Authority that makes up the UK
constitution

Answer 6

Walter Bagehot - The English constitution, describes
relationship between executive, judiciary and legislature.
1867.

Question 7

Name 2 constitutional reforms of
the Blair/Brown Government
between 1997 and 2010.

Answer 7

House of Lords reform – end of Hereditary peers, Human Rights Act, Creation of Supreme Court

Question 8

Name 2 constitutional reforms of
the Cameron/Clegg Government
between 2010 and 2015.

Answer 8

Fixed-term Parliaments Act, E-petitions

Question 9

Name 2 constitutional reforms of
the Conservative Government since
2015.

Answer 9

‘Metro Mayors’ - elected Mayors to some English
regions, English Votes for English Laws, Brexit

Question 10

What did Welsh devolution in 1997
not include?

Answer 10

Legislation/financial powers - only administrative e.g
education, health and transport.

Question 11

What did Welsh devolution in 1997
not include?

Answer 11

Legislation/financial powers - only administrative e.g
education, health and transport.

Question 12

What arguments are there for
English devolution.

Answer 12

Increase community, participation, equality, specific
regional problems, regional identity, wealth divide.

Question 13

What arguments are there for
English devolution.

Answer 13

Increase community, participation, equality, specific
regional problems, regional identity, wealth divide.

Question 14

What was in the 1998 Scotland act?

Answer 14

Created a Scottish government

Question 15

What reserved powers did the Smith Commission recommend be
part of the Scotland Act of 2016?

Answer 15

Abortion Laws
Air passenger duty
Determine speed limits

Question 16

When has the Northern Ireland Assembly been suspended

Answer 16

2002-2007 and in 2017 because the DUP refused to support nationalist demands of an Irish language act

Question 17

When was the Good Friday agreement and what did it include

Answer 17

Power sharing assembly that would fairly represent both nationalist and unionist sentiment

Question 18

What are powers that only the HOC hold

Answer 18

Vote of no confidence, Final approval of amendments to legislation

Question 19

Features of the House of commons

Answer 19

Has soereign powers, can veto legislation, can dismiss a government

Question 20

Features of the HOL

Answer 20

Lacks democratic legitimacy, can only delay legislation by 1 year at most, is constrained by threat of reform/abolition, cannot dismiss a government

Question 21

How many are in the House of lords

Answer 21

Over 800

Question 22

What did the House of lords act 1999 do ?

Answer 22

Limit the amount of hereditary peers in HOL, removing hundreds and leaving just 92- giving it more legitimacy

Question 23

Who are examples of influential peers

Answer 23

Lord Adonis(Labour)- Former minister who is an expert on economics, education and transport- leading role in advising both parties on these issues,
Lord Finklestein(Tory)- prominent journalist for the times, one of highest profile peers, known for wit and moderate views

Question 24

What is cronyism

Answer 24

Accusation that party leaders award places in the house of lords to friends

Question 25

What does the Salisbury convention constitute

Answer 25

That the HOL can’t oppose the second/third reading

Question 26

What event took place on the 28th
August, supposedly to pave the way
for the Queens speech.

Answer 26

Prorogation of parliament

Question 27

Give an example of the House of
Lords defeating the Government in
Parliamentary Ping pong.

Answer 27

Crime bill 2022

Question 28

What is an elective dictatorship

Answer 28

A government where the executive dominates parliament, government little opposition from parliament, Government can easily pass legislation

Question 29

What did select committees being elected in 2010 do

Answer 29

Become more influential, led to the election of more high profile MPs that have been able to challenge the the government

Question 30

What was the Brexit referendum result

Answer 30

51.9% leave, 48.1% remain

Question 31

Which speaker allowed for many urgent questions

Answer 31

John Bercow

Question 32

Who reduced the amount of PMQs from 2 a week to 1

Answer 32

Tony Blair

Question 33

What does PMQs descend into

Answer 33

Political point scoring