Terms

Question 1

Judicial Neutrality

Answer 1

Judges must be fair and free from any partisanship or personal bias

Question 2

Judicial Independence

Answer 2

The principle that judges decide cases according to their own judgement, free from the influence, control or interference of the legislature and executive

Question 3

Elective Dictatorship

Answer 3

Term coined by Lord Hailsham
Power had become concentrated in the hands of the executive and the only real check on executive power is the periodic hold of general election (ballot box)

Question 4

Free Vote

Answer 4

A Parliamentary vote where MPs or Lords are not pressurised (whipped) by their parties to vote a certain way

Question 5

European Union (EU)

Answer 5

An association of 27 states (28 until UK’s recent departure) originally founded as European Economic Community in 1957, which evolved into a political and economic union

Question 6

Unanimous Voting (UV)

Answer 6

Some EU proposals are decided by unanimous consent of member states

Question 7

Qualified Majority Voting (QMV)

Answer 7

Some EU proposals can pass without every single country agreeing

Question 8

Legal Sovereignty

Answer 8

Ultimate authority to make laws that will be enforced within the state

Question 9

Political Sovereignty

Answer 9

Where political power lies in reality
Real power lies with those bodies which are able to determine what political decisions are actually made

Question 10

Sovereignty

Answer 10

Ultimate political and legal control and authority

Question 11

The Constitution

Answer 11

A set of principles, which may be written or unwritten, setting out:
The distribution of power within a political system
Relationship between and workings of political institutions
Limits of government jurisdiction
Rights of citizens
Method of amending the constitution itself

Question 12

Constitutional Government

Answer 12

Government that is constrained by a constitution and by constitutional principles

Question 13

Absolute Government

Answer 13

Government that faces no legal constraints and so has absolute power

Question 14

Bill of Rights (UK)

Answer 14

It sets limits on the power of the monarch, established the rights of both Parliament and of individuals (based on the ideas of John Locke)

Question 15

Fusion of Powers

Answer 15

Where the branches of the executive and legislature are intermingled

Question 16

Checks and balances

Answer 16

Where each branch of government has a form of control over the others to prevent one branch having total control

Question 17

Devolution

Answer 17

The distribution of power (but not sovereignty) to lower institutions

Question 18

Codified Constitution

Answer 18

Written in a single document, entrenched, judicable (comprised of ‘higher law’)

Question 19

Uncodified Constitution

Answer 19

Not written in a single document, combines written and unwritten elements, unentrenched, is not ‘higher law’

Question 20

Unitary

Answer 20

Sovereignty resides in one location at the centre

Question 21

Federal

Answer 21

Sovereignty is divided between central bodies and regional institutions

Question 22

Asymmetrical Devolution

Answer 22

Different part of the UK had different devolution arrangements

Question 23

West Lothian Question

Answer 23

The problem that issues which only affect England (due to devolution) are voted on by Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish MPs but not the reverse

Question 24

Constitutionalism

Answer 24

The principle that the power of government should be constrained

Question 25

Parliamentary Sovereignty

Answer 25

Westminster Parliament is the supreme law-making body in the UK

Question 26

Rule of Law

Answer 26

All UK citizens are equal under the law both in terms of being subject to it and protected by it Those in power can be held accountable under the law

Question 27

Statute Law

Answer 27

Law created by Parliament

Question 28

Democratisation

Answer 28

Making the UK more democratic

Question 29

Decentralisation

Answer 29

Spreading power out from central government

Question 30

Defending Rights

Answer 30

Protecting civil liberties in the UK

Question 31

Administrative Powers

Answer 31

Power to implement laws to ‘run’ the territory

Question 32

Legislative Powers

Answer 32

Power to make laws which will be enforced in the territory

Question 33

Financial Powers

Answer 33

Power to raise/lower taxes

Question 34

Bicameral Legislature

Answer 34

Two chambers

Question 35

Life Peers

Answer 35

Appointed to House of Lords by King, who follows advice of Prime Minister

Question 36

Hereditary Peers

Answer 36

Inherited peerage from their fathers

Question 37

Lords Spiritual

Answer 37

Most senior bishops are automatically granted peerages

Question 38

Legislative Bills

Answer 38

Proposed laws

Question 39

Government Bills

Answer 39

Bills proposed by the government

Question 40

Private Members’ Bill

Answer 40

Bills proposed by individual MPs or peers from backbenches or opposition benches

Question 41

Parliamentary Privilege

Answer 41

Members of Lords and Commons can speak freely during Parliamentary debates without fear of being taken to court on grounds of slander, contempt of court, breaching Official Secrets Act

Question 42

Select Committees

Answer 42

Check and report on areas ranging from work of government departments to economic affairs

Question 43

Civil Servants

Answer 43

Help ministers make and implement policy

Question 44

Cabinet

Answer 44

Team of senior government ministers who collectively govern the UK It is the supreme decision-making body in government

Question 45

Collecive Responsibility

Answer 45

Ministers must defend the government’s position publicly if ministers are unable to publicly agree with a government policy, then they must resign from the Cabinet

Question 46

Individual Ministerial Responsibility

Answer 46

Each minister is responsible to Parliament for actions and inactions of department and own personal conduct Must be prepared to face questioning and criticism from Parliament and should resign in case of serious mistakes

Question 47

Formal Powers

Answer 47

Powers which all Prime Ministers possess

Question 48

Informal Powers

Answer 48

Powers which vary according to the Prime Minister and their circumstances

Question 49

Power of Patronage

Answer 49

Power to make appointments to government

Question 50

Cabinet Government

Answer 50

Cabinet is senior element of executive Decisions are taken democratically Power is exercised collectively

Question 51

Prime Ministerial Government

Answer 51

Prime Minister has been able to dominate both the executive and Parliament