The Impact of the HRA and the ECHR on the British Political System Flashcards

1
Q

When was the ECHR established by the Council of Europe?

A

1950

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2
Q

What is the Council of Europe?

A

this is an intergovernmental body that is totally separate from the EU

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3
Q

Who investigates alleged violations of the ECHR?

A

the European Commission on Human Rights

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4
Q

Where is the ECHR based?

A

In Strasbourg

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5
Q

What is the highest court of the EU?

A

The ECJ

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6
Q

What does the ECJ do? (2)

A
  • ensures the uniform interpretation and application of EU law
  • adjudicates disputes between member states
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7
Q

When did the Human Rights Act (HRA) 1998 come into force?

A

2000

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8
Q

What did the HRA do?

A

It brought nearly all of the ECHR into UK law.

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9
Q

What did the incorporation of the articles from the ECHR into the HRA allow citizens to do?

A

This allows citizens to pursue cases under the ECHR through UK courts as opposed to having to go directly to the ECHR

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10
Q

What 2 things does the HRA not have the same legal status as?

A
  • US Bill of Rights

- EU law

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11
Q

Although the courts cannot void parliamentary statute under the HRA , what can they do?

A

they can make a declaration of incompatibility and invite Parliament to reconsider the offending statute

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12
Q

Why can the courts not void parliamentary statute under the HRA?

A

as it is based upon the Council of Europe’s ECHR rather than on EU law and therefore has only persuasive authority

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13
Q

What is article 5 of the HRA?

A

‘public emergency threatening the life of the nation’

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14
Q

When was part 4 of the Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Act 2001 only passed?

A

once the government opted to derogate Article 5 of the HRA on the grounds that there was a ‘public emergency threatening the life of the nation’

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15
Q

What did part 4 of the Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Act 2001 do?

A

-indefinite detention without trial

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16
Q

In what case was the HRA used in a non-terrorist-related case?

A

in the granting of lifelong anonymity to the killers of the toddler Jamie Bulger

17
Q

What article of the HRA did Newspapers use in defence to give them the right to publish details relating to the whereabouts and new identities of the two young men who had killed Jamie Bulger which the court disagreed with?

A

Article 10. freedom of expression

18
Q

Why did the court disagree that the Newspapers had the right from Article 10 to publish details relating to the whereabouts and new identities of the two young men who had killed Jamie Bulger? (3)

A
  • Breach of Article 2, right to life as their lives were threatened
  • Breach of Article 3, prohibition of torture as they were possibly subject to inhuman and degrading treatment
  • Breach of Article 8, the respect for private and family life
19
Q

Do all parties still support the HRA?

A

Broadly yes, but the conservative party has repeatedly talked of replacing it with a ‘British bill of rights’ that remove some of the restrictions that make it difficult to govern.