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UK Government > The Constitution > Flashcards

The Constitution Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a constitutions

A

rules which outline who has what powers and responsibilities and how government and the people are expected to behave and interact with each other

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2
Q

How can we describe the UK constitution as

A

an evolved constitution not an enacted constitution, developed over time

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3
Q

Is the Uk constitution codified or uncodified

A

uncodified

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4
Q

What does uncodified mean

A

not contained to single document written from lots of different sources,

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5
Q

Is the Uk entrenched or unentrenched

A

Unentrenched

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6
Q

What does unentrenched mean

A

easy to change constitution (bc parliament sovereign)

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7
Q

Is the Uk a federal or unitary state?

A

Unitary

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8
Q

Give an example of a federal state

A

US

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9
Q

What is a unitary state?

A

power is firmly centralised to parliament

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10
Q

Who made the “twin pillars” idea

A

A.V Dicey

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11
Q

What are the 2 twin pillars?

A

1: Parliament is the supreme law making body
2: Gov must be according to rule of law

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12
Q

Why is the UK constitution so different to other nations?

A

Since the Norman Conquest in 1066, there has not been a historical event that has entirely altered the principles on which the nation is governed.

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13
Q

What is the first stage of development of UK constitution

A

Anglo saxon england

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14
Q

What was anglo saxon england?

A

had a witan(group of nobles who advised the king)

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15
Q

Why was anglo saxon england significant?

A

early form of democracy

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16
Q

What is the second stage of development of UK constiution

A

Magna carta(1215)

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17
Q

What was magna carta?

A

Document which the barons tries to limit the kings power.

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18
Q

Why was magna carta significant?

A

-all trials need witnesses
-no imprisonment without fair trial
-everyone had right to fair trial
-HABEAS CORPUS- no one can be punished without fair trial
-Trying to establish RULE OF LAW

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19
Q

What is the third stage of development of UK constitution

A

The English civil war (1642-1649)

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20
Q

What was The English civil war

A

Civil war caused new democratic movement and radical ideas
Parliament gained more power and began to assert right to protect liberties of english people against monarchy

21
Q

Why was the english civil war significant

A

-Petition of right(1628) meaning crown isn’t above the law and that parliament is primary lawmaker against divine right of king

22
Q

What is the forth stage of development of UK constitution

A

Glorious revolution and the Bill of rights (1689)

23
Q

What was the Glorious revolution and the Bill of rights

A

King(William of orange) worked with parliament on bill of rights for the first time

24
Q

Why was the Glorious revolution and the Bill of rights significant?

A

-key moment in development of britains constitutional monarchy
-Bill of rights: summoning regular parliaments, free elections, freedom of speech

25
Q

What is the fifth stage of development of UK constitution

A

Act of settlement(1701)

26
Q

What was the Act of settlement

A

-confirmed primacy of parliament over crown
-confirmed judicial independence

27
Q

Why was the Act of settlement significant

A

-parliament had authority to determine succession to the throne
- a judge can only be removed on agreement of both houses

28
Q

What is the sixth stage of development of UK constitution

A

Acts of Union (1707+1800)

29
Q

What were the acts of union?

A

united parliament of scotland with england and whales

30
Q

Why were the acts of union significant?

A

-created united kingdom

31
Q

What is the seventh stage of development of UK constitution

A

Parliament acts(1911+1949)

32
Q

What was the 1911 parliament act

A

Lords lost right to veto

33
Q

What was the 1949 parliament act

A

established democratic legitimacy of parliament by asserting primacy of commons over lords

34
Q

Why was the 1911 parliament act significant?

A

lords wouldn’t be able to amend financial bills such as budget but able to delay bill for 2 years

35
Q

Why was the 1949 parliament act significant

A

delay bill from 2 years to one year

36
Q

What is the eighth stage of development of UK constitution

A

Representation of the people act 1918

37
Q

What was the representation of the people act 1918

A

allowed all men 21 and over, women over 30 + property qualification could vote

38
Q

Why was the representation of the people act significant 1918

A

in first world war men+women sacrifices changed political atmosphere, to recognise this bill was passed, men and women could vote

39
Q

What is the ninth stage of development of UK constitution

A

representation of people act 1928

40
Q

What was the representation of the people act 1928

A

men+women 21+ over could vote

41
Q

Why was the representation of the people act 1928 significant?

A

more rights to women as voting age was lowered to mens. “universal suffrage”

42
Q

What is the tenth stage of development of UK constitution

A

European communities act 1972

43
Q

What is the European communities act 1972

A

uk joined European economic community

44
Q

Why was the European communities act 1972 significant?

A

European law takes precedence over domestic law

45
Q

What are the advantages of having an uncodified constitution?

A

-greater degree of flexibility which allows political to be more responsive to changing ideas
-tend to release build up of public pressure without need for uprising

46
Q

What are the disadvantages of an uncodified constitution

A

-less effective at protecting rights can lead to discontent

47
Q

Give an example when uncodified constitution was used

A

Dunblane massacre

48
Q
A

UK Government (4 decks)

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