Relationship between Executive and Parliament

Question 1

Legal sovereignty

Answer 1

Concept defined by law, belongs to person, body or state with unlimited legal authority
Formerly exercised by monarch but now belongs to parliament

Question 2

Political sovereignty

Answer 2

Stands above legal sovereignty, derives its authority from the ppl
When ppl elect a parliament, they delegate their authority to representatives

Question 3

How far has power shifted between branches of govt: Executive

Answer 3

Although parliament is sovereign, real authority has shifted to executive
If large enough majority, can use whips + control legislative timetable to act on dominance

Question 4

How far has power shifted between branches of govt: Supreme Court

Answer 4

Supreme Court seen as a challenge to parliamentary sovereignty as made HofL lose power but in theory can be abolished by parliament

Question 5

How far has power shifted between branches of govt: Devolution

Answer 5

Involves transfer of powers to new bodies allowing them to make law on some subjects
UK parliament could abolish them but would be v unpopular so unlikely

Question 6

How far has power shifted between branches of govt: Referendums

Answer 6

Increased no. of elections since ‘97 seen as threat to parliament, even though result isn’t legally binding, would be hard to go against public’s view

Question 7

How far has power shifted between branches of govt: HRA

Answer 7

Passing of HRA increased power of judges as gives right to declare legislation incompatible with act but can’t compel parliament to change their law

Question 8

How far has power shifted between branches of govt: EU membership

Answer 8

Supporters of EU say sovereignty hasn’t been lost but pooled i.e power is shared
UK gained influence it couldn’t have on its own

Question 9

What are treaties?

Answer 9

Legal documents that set out powers of EU institutions

Question 10

How are European Treaties negotiated?

Answer 10

Mainly negotiated by European council
Heads of govt. that make up council can commit their countries to deals they make with each other
European parliament then votes on treaty then ratified by member states, usually by taking a vote

Question 11

What are the two main types of EU law?

Answer 11

Directive and regulation

Question 12

What are Directive laws?

Answer 12

Sets out goal that EU member states must work towards then pass own laws to achieve this

Question 13

What are Regulation laws?

Answer 13

Binding on all member states and is immediately enforceable

Question 14

6 principals of EU integration: Promoting peace

Answer 14

Founding members determined to avoid another European conflict like WWII

Question 15

6 principals of EU integration: Economic integration and the single market

Answer 15

Member states wanted to promote economic growth by creating customs union

Question 16

6 principals of EU integration: Enlargement

Answer 16

After Cold War, EU expanded boarders to inc. eastern and central European states that had previously been communist so 10 new members in 2004
New states couldn’t join until they became liberal democracies
Also issue of influx of eastern European workers, one of UK’s reasons for leaving

Question 17

6 principals of EU integration: Economic and Monetary Union

Answer 17

Establishment of EMU meant creation of European central Bank and a single currency
Euro introduced in 1999, intended to promote cross-border trade + travel as no exchange necessary
By 2015, 19 states had Euro

Question 18

6 principals of EU integration: Social Policy

Answer 18

To balance economic freedoms of single markets

From ’80s, EU developed social dimension ensuring workers didn’t suffer disadvantage + discrimination

Question 19

6 principals of EU integration: Political union

Answer 19

Instead of their being a single institution corresponding to the executive or legislature of a typical nation state, there’s a perpetual state of balance between institutions that operate in an inter-governmental way