UK 1 & 2 Flashcards
What are colomers two functions of constitutions
o ‘to regulate the allocation of functions, power and duties to different government agencies’
o ‘To define the relationship between these and the public’
what are four basics of british parliamentary system
• A !constitutinal monarchy! in which monarch is nominally the supreme political authority
o but has negligible ability to act on their own terms
• A !bicameral parliament! with two ‘houses’
o House of Commons (elected)
o House of Lords (appointed)
• The !Supreme Court! replaced House of Lords as the final court of appeal in 2010
o but does not have as extensive powers as the Supreme Court in the US
o Can only make ‘declarations of incompatibility’ in relation to the European Convention on Human Rights
o Basically took Law Lords and made separate Supreme Court
• Complex and !asymmetric system of devolution !`
what is the british constitiion
o Comprises a body of statutes (laws), case law (legal rulings), and conventions
• Example: there is no law, statute or ruling establishing the position of Prime Minister in the UK
• There are key documents however
what is th democratic reform summery for who can vote
1832: Men who owned land (more than 10lbs p/a) + intro of electoral register
1867: Men who owned or rented land (more than 10lbs p/a)
1884: Rural as well as urban seats
1918: Universal male suffrage, limited female
1928: Equal suffrage for men and women
reasons for a weak constitution
o Reasonably easy to change in response to changing political circumstances
o Has facilitated reasonably peaceful transformation of an absolute monarchy to a de facto democratic public
reasons against a weak constitution
o Exacerbates uncertainty about relevant rules defining the system of government
o Flexibility means system vulnerable to drift
• Especially an excessive flow of power towards a particular institution
• In 20th cent. This has meant facilitation of executive dominance
what does the british political system favour
two party outcome
