The Supreme court, the EU, Parliamentary sovereignty Flashcards
Judicial neutrality
Absence of any
form of partisanship
or commitment;
a refusal to ‘take
sides’ so that the
decisions that are
taken are objective;
impartiality.
Judicial
independence:
The constitutional
principle that the
actions and decisions
of judges should
not be infuenced
by pressure from
other branches
of government.
This allows the
Supreme Court
to protect citizens
from the unjustifed
use of power by
government and
impartially resolve
disputes, whether
between individuals
or between
individuals and the
state.
Ultra vires:
Literally,
‘beyond the power’;
this applies when
public bodies have
acted illegally
because their
actions have no
statutory authority
Judicial review:
The
power to review
actions taken by
public bodies on the
grounds that they
are ultra vires and
to review Acts of
Parliament to see if
they are compatible
with the Human
Rights Act
European Union
(EU):
The European
Union is the term
adopted after the
Maastricht Treaty
of 1992 to describe
the political and
economic union that
fosters cooperation
between member
states
Customs union:
Internal free trade
among member
states with common
external tariffs on
goods from outside
the union
Pooled sovereignty:
The combination
of the national
sovereignties of
member states to
enhance their power
and infuence; the
whole is greater
than its parts.
Political union:
: The
establishment of
common citizenship
rights within the EU
and a strengthening
of EU institutions
to ensure common
policies in
designated areas.
Monetary union:
The establishment
of a single European
currency, the euro,
regulated by the
European Central
Bank
National veto:
The power of
member states to
block Council of
Ministers’ decisions
on matters that
threaten vital
national interests
The Four Freedoms:
The free movement
of goods, services,
capital and labour
are the four
freedoms that are
the key foundations
of the single market.
European Court
of Justice (ECJ):
The judicial branch
of the EU that is
responsible for
ensuring the equal
application of EU
laws across all
member states
and for interpreting
existing EU law
Legal sovereignty:
Refers to supreme
legal authority:
that is, an
unchallengeable
‘right’ to establish
any law one
wishes. (Parliament
is sovereign in a
strictly legal sense.)
Political
sovereignty:
Sovereignty refers
to absolute political
power: that is, an
unrestricted ‘ability’
to act however one
wishes
Popular
sovereignty:
Supreme authority
lies with the people.
