To Know Flashcards
Example of johnson control over cabinet appt
Priti patel- storng imigration anti euy
Thatcher devotee- sajid javid
Jrm- chair of pro brexit erg- leasdder hoc
Balance in therea may cabinet
Brexiteer mordaunt- britain internat development nminister
Removed osbourne
Appt johnson foriegn sec
Philip hammond as remainer as chancellor
Twe do nat have pessimistic view human nature
-rational-
Lib, anti post yes
Con no- hence rely on security of state
Expan integral
-who can be part of nation- exclusive or not
-superiority of some chauvanism v lib internat
Twe do nat agree on the core ideas and principles of the state
Rational in approaches to state- roussau v romantyic and msytical herder and arguably mazzini
Inclusive v exclusive
Self determination
Impact of backbenchers in shaping legislation
Duncans snith- death by dangerous cucling- folowing campaigning of victims husband- matthew briggs
Homelessness illegal- 40bb
Scotland laws passed
Scotland freedom of information act 2002- compared to 2010 in westminster
Didnt introduce tuition fees, free tuitionn for scottish residents
2016 scottish gov ended the right of council tenants to purchase the houses they live in
Scotland was the first member of the uk to ban smoking in public places
After scot independene ref what set up
Smith commission established
Reccommended that significant new powers be devolved to the scottish parliament and executive
Formed basus of scotland act 2016
Changes under scot act 2016
Varying the rate of income tax by up to 10p/pound
Having the right to receieve 50% vat gathered in scotland
Determining abortion laws
Deciding air passenger duty
Determining speed limits
Increased devolution in wales
Wales act 2014
Control of no of taxes- stamp duty, land and landfill tax
Change no of welsh assembly gov to welsh gov- symbolise its significance
Example clash dup and sinn fein
Lang act 2017
2022 winsor framwrok
Sources of constitution
Statute law
Convention
Authoritative works
Common lawe
Treaties
Customs
common law
Legal principles and precedents set and applied by courts
Aim to create precedents where none exist, so that application in future cases s consistent
coalition years devol signif
Westminster lost more legislative control over scotland and was challenging parliamentary soveirgnty
No conceerte measure for evel other than set up mckay commission- proposed introducing parliamentary convention on issue
All but 1 bristol mayroal ref sucess
Scotland almost voted yes in last week- huge change to constiitution
Post 2015 devolution
Further devolution scot and wales
Evel established new legislative stage
Evel highliy complex and rarely used but creates seperate status for english mps
Eg. Used jan 2016 housing bill
Parliament new lab reforms
Removed al but 92 heredtary peers- stage 1
Set up lords appontemnt to nominnate non parisan peers
Wrght com to recommend select comm reforms
Alter format pmqs and attempt to make parliament sittng times more family freindly
Coalition reforms to parliament
80/20 elected appointed upper house, use stv, stagger elections, end hereditary principle- dropped due to alck of con support
Fixed term palriament act- remove pm prerogatove power to call an election
Follow through wright comm proposals- elected sc chars
Hol reform act 2014- can retire, can be expelled for no attendance in a session`
Coalition changes to judiciary
Conn manifesto plegde to enact ‘british bil of rights’
Watered down by ld who established comm to consider issue- no consensus reached`
Voting and direct democracy- new lab
Set up jenkins commission to propose further voting system for ge, to be put to public in ref
Av proposed but no ref
Pr intro into devolved and eu bodies
More ref held uring this moment than before
Coalition voting and direct democracy
2011 av referendum deal breaker for ld enter into coaltion
Reuction in no mps to 600 with boundary review
Epetition set up wit h quota of public signatureies gaurentee gov repsonse and parliamentary debate
Proposed open primaries for saffe seats- pans droppped due to cost
Power of recall introduced
Police and crime commissioners elected- using sv
Post 2015 reforms to voting and direct democracy
Boundary review and changes have occured ready for 2024 ge
33rd national referdnums over brexit- eu withdrawal act 2018- absorb eu c
Voter id laws- greater restrictions
Mayoral elections no longer sv
should uk codify constitution
Parliamentary soveregnty
Public support/benefit
Legtmacy and transparency vs practicalty
Should uk codify- parliamentary soveignty yes
Ps undermined by exec soveriegnty, courst- ensure long term health through codificiation
Conventions eroded too easily- 2015 hol vote aganst tax credt changes
Agaisnst sailsbury convention and issues around ministeral responsiblity
Proper constutional court would be able to enure consttutionality of legislation, increasing legitimacy of polictcal proceedings`
Public support benefit codification no
No demand for codified constitution
Frew writtten constitutionss are self explanatiory and readable and exensiive iinterpretation
Much of consttution is currently written- with legislative details and authortative works providing guidence
Should constitutional reforms be taken further
Devolution
Votings ystem
Hol
Hra
Devolution not taken further
Shutdown of stromont shows devolution not totlly solved ni divisions with some westmeinster intervention been required to ensure constunaliity of security
Has already modified a heavy centralised constitution- enabling to politicans to meet needs of poeple at more local level
Ne devolution shows no demand for regional devolution00- uniformty not best n uk
Hol needs more reform
Lords lack democratic legitmacy as no ii=one is leected- hereiditary principle outdated
Chambers too big and role not understood public
Elections ensure greater checks and balances on gov that can act too powerful
Clear electoral distiinctions- diff structure, term limits, stagger voters, givediff character
Hol does not need reform
Based firmly on merit and expensive- not poplar consent
Already become more assertive in holding gov to account, wthout election
Elected chamber could mirror the comm- produce chamber of professional politicans, reducing experience or value
Tv that constitutional reform has not gone far enouugh and has not iproved democracy uk
Accontability participation
Representation
Or could just do hra, hol, devolution
Accountability- y reform not far enough not improved
Recall of mps act 2015- diff to pass due to strict criteria- 10^% consttuency sign, only if mp in prison more than 12 months or supsended hoc for more than 21 dyas
Used infrequently- twice
Cra 2005- sc- ot signiicant chamge to democracy as law lords existed before
Accountability no reform not far enough and not improved democracy
Sc allowd dispersal of power and greater independance- judciaoary appointment comm set up to nominate sc justices rather than lord chancellor
Create accountability against gov- 2020 dolan and ors v secreatry of state for health- lockdown restirctions unlawful- failed
Recall of mps act- ensures not used as personal vendetta, accountability between elections
Foi- 2000- rght of accesss to recorded info held by public bodies- 2009 expenses scandal and sky westminster accounts
Electoral comm 32001- result of political parties eelections and ref act 2000- monitor finances of parties, look over ref q- bias minimised
Participation y reform not far enough and not improved democracy
E petition 2011- high threshold- gov can still postpone or ignore- deter
Fptp demoralise smal parties
Participation constituttional reofrm not gone far enough and not imrpoved - y
Lack voter turnout— more that parliament system worsening- scandals and resignations- johnson 2020-22- 500 ministerial resignations))
Devolved bodies greater prartcpation as vote in local elections
Relevant policies passed- alcohol (min pricibg) act 2012- scotalnd- alcohlism greater ssues
Trunout devloved bpdies despite pr- 32012 welsh assembly trounout of 47% compared 2019 ge 67%
E petition increase participation- hhansard society audit of politcial engagemnet found 233% british public created ro signed e etition in last year
Reading online hansard increased 300% and parliamentary tv vewiing increase 900% according to pettions comm 20135
Representation constituional reform not far enough and not improved democracy
No support for regional devolution- ne 20004- 78% agaiinst. 40% turnout
Wrright reform ineffective- figures such as jrm filibuster deebates in backbench business comm- limit abiility for balances debate and rep
Gov can ignroe sellect comm reports
Rep reform far enough and imporved democracy
Select com, mps elect rather than whips (not obedient so get selected for miinisteral appoiintments)) and paid so viable career
Bbcomm- important bills debated- forced adoption in uk and importance of refugee family reunions
National devolution ppilcar- ref on good friday agreement- turnout 81^% with support 71%
Hol reform 1999 decrease hereditary peers to 92, ncrease no life peers, signif ipact to society- scentist who pioneered ivf and fertility treatments
Hereditary v unrep- old wea;thy men limited contribution to society
Blair amined to create fully elected house- 2022- starmer annouce would contnue
name rwanda case
Aaa v sec of state home dpt 2023
name rwanda case
Aaa v sec of state home dpt 2023
Convention on devolved region
Sewel convention- uk gov not interfere in areas of devolved competence
Challenged with judicial review for seco fo state for scot decision prevent gender recognition billl passing
Sewel convention of last resort veto to block- disagree with scot opionion
Convention on speaker of the house
Impartial
Bercrow not with brexit as sir jenkins highlighted ‘it is remarkable how often you please one lot and not the other lot’
Arguably sir lindsay hoyle also do so with gaza debate giving labour ammendment on snp opposition day
Gov shares in pm royal prerogative
2013 ministry of justice requested a posthumous royal pardon for alan turning- after he was convicted of gross indecencyy with another man in 1952
Amber rudd resignation
2018
May home secretary
Resigned as not told truth to hoc when she stated no home offcie targets for removing illegal immigrants- but there was
Coalition gov strengthened david campaign as pm
Lasted 5y- fixed term parliament act 2011
Cameron could fulfill most of his manifesto commitments- esp austerity
Collective ministerial responsibility, apply to all areas of policy agreed by coalition agreement
Coalition weakned cameron
cameron had to give 5 lib dem inc nick l=clegg as deputy pm , cabinet positions
Agree to referendum on av
Hol suspended sialsbury convention so could oppose measures in gov parties manifestos- as no one won
Quad established- core policies first agreed- cameron, clegg, osbourne, danny alexander (lib dem chief secretary to the cabinet)
Presidential model in uk
‘Spatial leadership’- political writer, michael foley
Pm create own space by distancing from party in order to achieve personal mandate- eg boris
Presidential style blair
Personal- gov decisions as his own ‘this is the Britain I offer you’
Put case for iraq war directly to the public through television discussions and debates
More white house feel- position of chief of staff establiished, §
Pm cast narrative of gov eg
Thatcher- free- market, right wing, uncompromising
Cameron- increasingly socially liberal- legislating in favour of same-sex marriage
How boris presidential
concentration of power no 10
-sidelining cabinet and parliament
-(failed) attempt to appoint allegra stratton- white-house style dailiy press briefinngs
Factors affecting pm power
Ability to use powers, changes with context
-party unity
Majority
Mandate
First term gov
Threat election or resignation
Economic problems
How mandate affect pm pwoer
May failed to gain electoral mandate in 2017
So droppoed many prooposals from manifesto- reforms to social care, mental health and prisons
Also due to brexit
Cabinet gov
pm supported by civil service- neutral and independannt
-tradtional model of gov- collective responsibility, negotiation, no personal
-mini budget- not cabinet?
-all ministers equal in their capacuty to shape gov policy
-individual ministerial responsibility- w/in department- priti patel- guilty of bullying
-elastic band theory
Core exec model
More realistic
-pm and cabinet work with ‘’core executive’ or network of power
Inc. pm, cabinet, cabinet comm, civil service, pm office, spads
-smith- traditional pm v cabinet gov too simplistic
-wider factors- economu, international diplomavy and circumstances influence workings of gov
Constraints on pm too powerful
Cabinet party events and electoral sucess