The Constitution Flashcards
1
Q
Sources of Power
A
- Statute law (momentous AoP that set the Constitution)
- Common law (Any AoP)
2
Q
Conventions
A
- PM shouldn’t sit in the Lords
- Salisbury convention (Lords don’t oppose legislation that was in the gov manifesto)
- CMR
- Ministerial code of conduct
- House of Commons should vote on military action
- Referendums for constitutional changes
3
Q
Blair’s development of the Constitution
A
- Decentralisation
- Democratisation
- Transparency
- Rights Protection
4
Q
Devolution
A
- Devolved powers to Scotland, Wales and NI
- Referendums in Scotland and Wales
- Good Friday Agreement
- Policies are more suited to those in the regions
- North-East rejected Assembly (78%:22%)
- London Mayor - encourage accountability and transparency - haven’t encouraged democracy (Andy Street, West midlands mayor, 31.2% turnout
5
Q
House of Lords Reform
A
- Removal of all but 92 hereditary peers
- Life Peers
- HOLAC established
- Greater expertise
- No democratic legitimacy
- Kier Starmer wants an elected Assembly of Nations and Regions
6
Q
Electoral Reform
A
- Jenkins commission
- AV alternative recommended
- Blair ignored reports
- Devolved bodies could have their own ES’s
7
Q
HRA
A
- 1998, incorporated the whole ECHR intro British Law
- Enacted in 2000
- Protects civil liberties - 2010 HJ+HT vs Home Office
- Public bodies are expected to work in accordance
- Could be repealed at any time
- Cannot be used to strike down Lords
- Belmarsh Case
8
Q
Supreme Court
A
- Established in 2009
- CRA 2005
- Law Lords to Justices
- JAC and HOLAC
- Powers of Lord Chancellor diminished
9
Q
(Coalition Gov) Fixed-term Parliament Act
A
- Election every five years
- Broken by May and Johnson
- Was repealed in 2022
- Meant to increase stability and prevent snap GEs when a gov is strong
10
Q
Electoral Reform
A
- AV referendum failed
11
Q
Parliamentary Reform
A
- PBBBC (gave backbenchers more control over parliamentary proceeding)
- Voting on SC membership
- E-petitions
12
Q
Devolution
A
- 2011, Wales voted for PLP (Wales Act 2014)
- Scottish Act 2016 - could borrow up to 5b
13
Q
Power of Recall
A
- Recall of MPs 2015
- Have to be sentenced, suspended from Parliament for 10 days or lied
- Peter Bone, Wellingborough 2024
14
Q
Scottish Devolution
A
- Ref in 1997 for PLP
- Have powers in health, housing and education
- Reserved powers like foreign policy
- Scotland Act 2012 - vary IT up to 10p and can borrow 5b
- Can only be abolished by referendum
- Ban smoking in public, voting age reduced, free uni education, free med prescriptions
- Voted to stay in EU - 62%
- Calls for Independence
15
Q
Welsh Devolution
A
- Voted against an Assembly at first
- 1997 gave SLP
- 2011 gave Wales PLP
- 2017 Wales Act gave domestic powers and can only be abolished by referendum
- Rid of single use plastic, opt-out organ donor scheme, climate emergency
