The Constitution- fact test Flashcards
What is a constitution?
A set of rules to govern a country
What was the name of the 18th Century movement that created the modern constitution?
The Enlightenment
Name 2 features of a codified constitution.
Written down, single document, entrenched
Give 2 examples of countries with codified constitutions.
USA, France, Germany
Give 2 examples of countries with uncodified constitutions.
UK, Israel, New Zealand
Give one positive feature of an uncodified constitution.
Flexibility
Give one negative feature for the people of a country of an uncodified constitution.
Citizens don’t know their rights
Why are most codified constitutions entrenched?
To stop the constitution from being easily amended
Why was Magna Carta important to the development of the British constitution?
Because it limited the power of King John and gave some of it to the barons
What common law case limited the power of James 1 in 1610?
Case of Proclamations
Which monarch believed he rules by the ‘divine right of kings’ to his detriment?
Charles 1
What is the parliamentary sovereignty?
The principle that Parliament is the ultimate source of all authority and power within the political system
What is the royal prerogative?
The ancient powers of kings/monarchs to be used as they wanted (now passed to the PM)
What is the doctrine of the separation of powers?
Separation of all political institutions
Why is the Bill of Rights of 1689 such an important part of our uncodified constitution?
It gave specific written rights to citizens of Britain for the first time
