The monarchy, sovereignty and the constitution Flashcards
When did the power of the monarchy start to diminish?
After Charles I was beheaded in 1649
Who was the English Civil War between?
The Royalists and the Parliamentarians
True or false, the monarch’s role is restricted to being largely ceremonial?
True
In what year was Britain governed by a monarchy who could overrule parliamentary decision?
1066
When was the Glorious revolution?
1688
When was the Bill of Rights passed and what does it protect?
1688 - parliamentary protection against royal absolutism
When did the monarch’s business begin to be carried out by a cabinet?
1800
In what year was the Great Reform Act?
1832
Which Reform Act was passed in 1867 and what was it for?
The Electoral Reform Act extended franchise to some male workers
Which Reform Act extended franchise to women and in what year?
The 1928 Equal Franchise Act
What does the constitution do?
-Sets out how a country is governed and run
-individual rights and freedoms
-Checks and balances of government
What are the 5 key feature of the UK Constitution?
PUUFF
1.Parliamentary Sovereignty
2.Uncodified
3.Unitary
4.Fusion of Powers
5.Flexible
What is Parliamentary Sovereignty?
Sovereignty = supreme, unrestricted power
The absolute and unlimited authority of Parliament which can in theory make, repeal or amend any law
What is uncodified constitution?
-This type of constitution is not confined to one single document.
Much of it may be written down, but in a variety of documents
What is unitary constitution?
Ultimate power lies within the sovereign.
What is the opposite of a unitary constitution and how does it work?
A federal constitution allows legal sovereignty to be shared between government at the centre and the constituent states
What country is an example of a federal constitution?
The United States
What is a fusion of powers constitution?
Where the executive branch and legislative branch of government intermingle
Give an example of two MPs who are involved in a fusion of powers constitution
David Cameron - a member of the legislative branch (MP for Witney) and the executive branch (Prime Minister)
Vince Cable is both a member of the legislative branch (MP for Twickenham) and the executive branch (a member of the Cabinet)
Describe a flexible constitution
-The type of constitution where changes can take place without a lengthy special procedure e.g Parliament can simply pass another Act of Parliament
What is the opposite of a flexible constitution?
A rigid constitution: changes can only take place as a result of a special constitutional amendment procedure
What is a statute law?
a system of laws that have been decided and approved by a parliament
What is a common law?
The body of law created by judges and similar quasi-judicial tribunals by virtue of being stated in written opinions
What is this the definition of? ‘Characterized as the institutionalised and legal power inherent in a job role or position that allows the holder of the job to perform their responsibilities effectively’
Work of authority
What is a convention?
‘Rules of constitutional practice that are regarded as binding in operation but not in law’
Name the 5 ways a constitution can be reformed
-Cabinet and Parliamentary Committees
-Referendums
-Investigatory Commission
-Act of Parliament
-European Law (pre-Brexit)
What are the key areas of constitutional reform?
-Devolution – Scotland, N.I, Wales
-Electoral reform
-London and Local Government
-Freedom of Information
-Human Rights
-The Judiciary
-Parliamentary Reform
When was the Welsh National Assembly established?
1999
Which NI agreement was established with powers of primary legislation, education and health
The Good Friday Agreement
When was the Human Rights Act established?
1998
Which PM decided to replace the House of Lords with the Supreme Court as the final court of appeal and constitutional court of the UK and in what year?
Gordon Brown in 2009
What is the privy Council and when was it formed?
It is the oldest form of legislative advisors and has been in place since the Norman times
What is the Royal prerogative ?
-Consists of a number of ministers on to make decisions on behalf of the monarch
Where is the authority of the royal prerogative derived from?
the Crown, not Parliament
Give 3 examples of the duties of the Royal Prerogative
declare war, make treaties, give orders to the armed forces
What type of constitution is the British constitution?
An unwritten constitution
British parliament is presided over by…
Speaker
Describe the concept of devolution
The decentralisation of governmental power. An example of a devolved government is the Welsh assembly
