The Constitution

Question 1

Overall Effect of the Constitution (5 things)

Answer 1

Reduce all powers of the monarchy and extend it to parliament
Increase rights and freedoms of ordinary citizens
Draw together component parts of the UK
Increase the power in the elected HOC at the expense of the unelected HOL.
Define the UKs relationship with institutions that later evolved into the EU

Question 2

Elements of the Constitution

Answer 2

The Magna Carta
The Bill of Rights
The Act of Settlement
The Acts of Union 
The Parliament Acts
The European communities Act

Question 3

What is the magna carta

Answer 3

Agreement between king john and the barons, who rebelled against the abuse of power of royal power

Question 4

Significance of the Magna Carta to the constitution

Answer 4

States that no one should be deprived of liberty or property without due process of law.

Question 5

What is the Bill of rights

Answer 5

William III gave parliaments rights

Question 6

Significance of the Bill of Rights to the constitution

Answer 6

included provisions for:
regular parliaments
free elections
freedom of speech within parliament

Question 7

Significance of the Act of Settlement to the constitution

Answer 7

The act established the right of parliament to determine the line of succession to the throne

Question 8

What is the act of union

Answer 8

united England and Scotland which had a shared monarch since 1603 but retained separate parliaments
both countries are now placed under Westminster until Blair gave Scotland its own parliament again in 1997

Question 9

What is the Parliament act

Answer 9

Reduce power of the HOL

Question 10

Significance of the Parliament Acts to the constitution

Answer 10

1911 the house of lords could not delay money bills
For non-financial bills power was changed from veto to the power to delay a bill by two years
1949 act reduced power from 2 years to 1 year.

Question 11

What is the European Communities Act

Answer 11

The act that took Britain into the European Economic Community (EEC)

Question 12

Significance of the European Communities Act to the constitution

Answer 12

EU law takes president over UK law where a conflict occurred

Question 13

Nature of the UK constitution

Answer 13

uncodified
unentrenched
unitary

Question 14

What does uncodified mean

Answer 14

There is no singe legal document in which its key principles are gathered together.
It is derived from a number of sources, some written, some not

Question 15

What does unentrenched mean?

Answer 15

Altered relatively easily by majority vote in parliament and therefore it makes it more flexible

Question 16

What does unitary mean

Answer 16

Ultimate authority located at the center

Question 17

What are the twin pillars?

Answer 17

Parliamentary Sovereignty

Rule of Law

Question 18

What is parliamentary Sovereignty

Answer 18

No parliament can bind its successor and it can amend or repeal any act
Legislation passed by parliament cannot be struck down by a higher power such as the supreme court
Parliament can make a law on any subject

Question 19

What is the rule of law

Answer 19

every one is entitled to a fair trial and no one should be imprisoned without due legal process
All citizens must obey the law and are equal under it
Public officials are not above the law and can be held to account by the courts
The Judiciary must be independent of political interference

Question 20

What are the 5 main sources of the constitution

Answer 20

Statue law
Common law
Conventions
Authoritative works
Treaties

Question 21

Statue law

Answer 21

Laws passed by parliament

Question 22

Common Law

Answer 22

laws made by judges where the law does not cover the issue or it is unclear

Question 23

Conventions

Answer 23

customs and practices that do not have legal force, but have been broadly accepted over time. Can be challenged or changed by an act of parliament

Question 24

Authoritative works

Answer 24

works written by experts describing how a political system is run, not legally binding but are taken as significant guides.

Question 25

Treaties

Answer 25

formal agreements with other countries usually ratified by parliament