Theme B: The British Constitution Flashcards
What are the three institutions of the British Constitution?
The three institutions are the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and the Monarch.
What is the role of the House of Commons?
The House of Commons debates bills and passes laws.
What is the role of the House of Lords?
The House of Lords scrutinises and amends bills.
What is the role of the Monarch in the British Constitution?
The Monarch, as Head of State, formally approves new laws.
What does the British Constitution define?
It defines the laws and political principles of the UK and clarifies the relationship between citizens and the political state.
What is the key principle of the British Constitution?
The key principle is parliamentary sovereignty, which states that Parliament is the legal authority that can make and change laws.
What are the components of the British Constitution?
The constitution consists of laws and legislation passed by parliament, conventions developed over time, and common law or case law developed and decided by judges.
What functions do the institutions of the British Constitution have?
They include the power of government, the role of the opposition, the power of the Prime Minister, Cabinet, the role of the Civil Service, the roles of the legislature and judiciary, the role of citizens, political parties, and the monarch.
What is meant by an uncodified constitution?
An uncodified constitution is one that is not written in a single document but consists of various sources.
What is parliamentary sovereignty?
Parliamentary sovereignty is the principle that Parliament has the ultimate legal authority to make and change laws.
What is the basis of power in the constitution?
The government is the basis of power in the constitution, as it forms the main source of new legislation.
How is power derived in the UK government?
Power is derived from a majority of seats held in the House of Commons, which comes from the electorate who voted for the government.
What advantage do governments with large majorities have?
Governments with large majorities have more power to pass legislation.
Who are the most powerful in deciding the direction of new legislation?
The Prime Minister and the Cabinet are the most powerful in deciding the direction of new legislation and the work of individual government departments, with support of the experts in the Civil Service.
What are the three branches of political authority in the UK?
The political authority of the state is divided into legislative, executive, and judicial powers to ensure that laws are applied consistently and fairly to UK citizens.
Who makes up the opposition in the UK government?
The opposition is made up of those MPs from all political parties that are not in power.
What is one role of the opposition?
The opposition serves as a credible alternative to a current government in elections.
How does the opposition monitor the government?
The opposition monitors the work of government and challenges their policies.
What can the opposition do regarding unpopular policies?
The opposition can make a government reverse unpopular policies.
What can the opposition suggest regarding government bills?
The opposition can suggest amendments to bills proposed by government.
What is another role of the opposition?
The opposition can voice the public’s views and concerns.
