Supreme court and judiciary: Key words

Question 1

2005 Constitutional Reform Act

Answer 1

Introduced a series of reforms, at the heart of the reforms, was the creation of the Supreme court.
It substantially strengthened the separation of powers between the legislature, executive and judiciary.

Question 2

Supreme court

Answer 2

Highest court in the UK.

Question 3

Judicial Appointments Committee (JAC)

Answer 3

JAC is an independent selection commission that was established, addressing the long term concerns over the control that ministers exercised over the control over the process of judicial appointments.

Question 4

Judicial neutrality

Answer 4

Judges should not allow their own prejudices/biases to sway their decisions so they can effectively uphold the rule of law

Question 5

Judicial independence

Answer 5

Judges should be free from any external pressures/influences so they can effectively uphold the rule of law

Question 6

Judicial review

Answer 6

The power review actions taken by legal bodies on the grounds that they are ultra vires and to review acts of parliament to see if they are compatible with the Human Rights Act.

Question 7

Ultra vires

Answer 7

‘beyond the power’ - this applies when public bodies have acted illegally because their actions have no statutory power