The Constitution AO1 Flashcards
What does Scotland offer for prescriptions and university education?
Scotland has free prescriptions and free university (no tuition fees).
What does the Coronavirus Act 2020 demonstrate regarding devolution?
It demonstrates clear cooperation despite effective devolution.
How does Westminster generally interact with Scottish Parliament legislation?
Westminster largely avoids using the Scotland Act 1998 to block Scottish Parliament legislation, creating a convention.
What significant event occurred in 2014 in Scotland?
The 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum.
What type of state is the UK?
The UK is a unitary state with no calls for federalism from any parties.
What is the nature of parliamentary sovereignty and the constitution, in the UK?
Parliament is sovereign, and the constitution is held together by tradition and law.
What do reserved powers offer, regarding devolution?
Reserved powers of devolution enable effective governance.
What is the disparity in electoral systems among UK regions?
First Past The Post in England, AMS for Scotland and Wales, and STV for Northern Ireland.
Which party is the largest in Northern Ireland?
Sinn Fein (Nationalist party) is the largest party in Northern Ireland.
What is the largest party in Scotland and how many Scottish seats did they win in 2015?
The SNP (Scottish National Party) is the largest party in Scotland, winning 56 out of 59 Scottish seats in 2015.
What happened to Nicola Sturgeon?
Truss dismissed Nicola Sturgeon.
What challenge does Brexit pose to devolution?
There is no clear way to approach Brexit
What did the Supreme Court rule regarding May triggering Article 50?
The Supreme Court prevented May from triggering Article 50, ruling it was ultra vires
How did Scotland vote in the 2016 EU referendum?
Scotland voted to remain in the EU in 2016 but had to leave due to devolution.
What is EVEL?
EVEL stands for English Votes for English Laws, introduced in 2015.
What is the West Lothian Question?
The West Lothian Question asks whether England should have its own Parliament.
How much more are Scotland and Wales paid per head for citizens?
Scotland and Wales are paid £2000 more per head
How do Scotland and Wales view Westminster?
Scotland and Wales increasingly view Westminster as an English Parliament.
Do the devolved regions in England have primary legislative powers?
Current devolved powers in England have no primary legislative powers.
What percentage of the UK population resides in England?
84% of the UK population resides in England.
What trend was observed in the early 2020s regarding support for devolution in England?
There was steadily increasing support for devolution.
What happened to EVEL in 2021?
EVEL was abolished in 2021.
How does Scotland’s public spending compare to England’s?
Scotland is paid more in public spending to reflect additional costs of delivering public services.
It focusses on which country
What type of legislature is most prevalent in the Parliament?
Most legislature in Parliament relates to England.
What is the nationality of Westminster MPs?
The majority of Westminster MPs are English.
What issue arises from too many devolved powers?
Too many devolved powers can make way for extremist parties.
What happened to Labour’s regional assemblies?
Labour had to abandon elected regional assemblies after 78% of voters in the North-East voted against it.
How many elected mayors are there in England?
There are 25 elected mayors responsible for 17 million people in England.
Who are some popular mayors in England?
They were re-elected
Popular mayors include Johnson (London) and Andy Burnham (Greater Manchester).
How do Unionists and Republicans in Ireland interact post-devolution?
Unionists and Republicans in Ireland work together in government since devolution in Northern Ireland.
What did the 1998 Good Friday Agreement achieve?
The 1998 Good Friday Agreement gave Northern Ireland control over key areas like health and education.
What does the 2020 stay-at-home order show about policy divergence?
There were 99 days in Wales, 92 in England, and 50 in Northern Ireland.
Since 2016, how can regional parliaments/assemblies be overturned?
They can only be overturned via referendum.
What did the 2011 referendum in Wales result in?
Wales voted for further primary legislative powers.
What is the Conservative Party’s stance on devolution?
The Conservatives dropped their hostility to devolution long ago.
What was the voter turnout for metro mayors in 2017?
Voter turnout for metro mayors in 2017 averaged 29%.
What occurred in Northern Ireland from 2017-2020?
Northern Ireland was governed without ministers, losing the ability to make policy decisions.
What was the DUP’s response to the Northern Ireland protocol?
The DUP refused to form a new executive over the Northern Ireland protocol outcome.
What did Sturgeon push for regarding Scotland?
Sturgeon pushed for an Inderef2.
Which discussion arose in the Republic of Ireland due to Brexit?
Brexit led to a border poll discussion, where more than 4/5 are in favor of unity.
What powers does Scotland have compared to Northern Ireland?
Scotland has the most devolved powers, including abortion and some social security, while Northern Ireland has the least devolved powers and no Parliament.
How does the UK constitution compare to the US constitution regarding amendments?
It’s easier to introduce an Act of Parliament than amend the US constitution because the UK constitution is unentrenched.
What is an example of contemporary UK constitutional change?
The 1997 Devolution to Scotland and Wales is an example of the contemporary nature of the UK constitution.
What did the 1999 House of Lords Act achieve?
It limited the power of the unelected chamber.
What does parliamentary sovereignty enable?
It enables successive governments to implement their ideological visions for the nation.
What is the relevance of the Right to Bear Arms in the US?
Socially, culturally or temporally
It is considered dated because of their codified system.
What does the Freedom of Information Act 2000 protect?
It protects the rights of individuals.
What is breached with MPs leaking documents to papers?
Collective Ministerial responsibility is breached.
Which convention is unclear?
The Salisbury convention
What does parliamentary sovereignty mean about checks on power?
It means there are ineffective checks and balances on government.
What is the nature of devolution in the UK?
Devolution is quasi-federal, so reforms haven’t altered the unitary system of power.
What is the issue with the separation of powers in the UK?
There is insufficient separation of powers; the PM is head of the executive and often leader of the majority party in the legislative branch.
What limitation exists for opposing policies in a large majority?
There is little other parties can do to oppose the policies of a large majority.
What restriction was imposed in 2020 due to COVID-19?
COVID-19 restrictions removed the right to travel freely.
What is the status of the 1998 Human Rights Act?
It is still not an entrenched Bill of Rights.
What did Control Orders in 2005 threaten?
Control Orders threatened individual freedom.
What happened in September 2019 regarding Parliament?
The PM’s decision to prorogue Parliament was overturned by the Supreme Court.
What would constitutional codification achieve?
It would regulate Parliament beneath a constitutional ‘text.’
What does Johnson’s prorogation of Parliament in 2019 indicate?
It shows there is too much power given to Parliament.
What was the role of the three branches in Brexit?
All three branches were involved: Parliament passed the Act, the Supreme Court ruled for Article 50, and the Executive shaped the political direction.
What concern arises from the growth of the judicial branch?
It could lead to the politicisation of the judiciary.
How are US Supreme Court members appointed?
They are nominated by the President, making it impossible to be apolitical.
What significant legislation was passed in 2013?
The same-sex Marriage Act.
What does the 1998 Scottish Devolution represent?
It shows the modernisation of policy and law.
What was the UK’s stance on the EU in 1975 and 2016?
In 1975, the UK voted to remain in the EU; in 2016, it voted to leave.
What do codified constitutions reflect?
They reflect codified attitudes, such as the US Right to Bear Arms and Freedom of Speech.
What was established in 1999?
The Scottish Parliament, Northern Irish Assembly, and Welsh Assembly were established.
What voting system is used for elected mayors?
SV (Supplementary Vote) is used for elected mayors.
What was incorporated into UK law in 1998?
The ECHR (European Convention on Human Rights) was incorporated into UK law.
What significant legislation was passed in 2010?
The Equality Act.
What change occurred regarding Law Lords in the legislature?
Law Lords were removed from the legislature in the Supreme Court.
When was the Supreme Court opened?
The Supreme Court was opened in 2009.
How many hereditary peers remain in the House of Lords?
There are still 92 hereditary peers in the House of Lords.
What voting system does Westminster still use?
Westminster still uses First Past the Post, which is considered old-fashioned and unrepresentative.
What was proposed in 2022 regarding human rights?
The Bill of British Rights was proposed.
What happened to the Freedom of Information Act?
It was watered down; security services are exempt, and the government can conceal information if it could prejudice them.
What did the Supreme Court declare about the Rwanda Bill?
The Supreme Court declared the Rwanda Bill unlawful, leading to the government’s response with the Safety of Rwanda Bill 2023.
