UK

Question 1

General Features

Answer 1

• Devolved State - England, Nothern Ireland, Scotland, Wales
• Sovereignty rests with Parliament in London
• Scotland own legislation basically but Sewel act can request for Westminster to legislate in Scotland
• Westminster can revoke Scotland act anytime

Question 2

Upper Chamber

Answer 2

House of Lords - Lords Spiritual and Lords Temporal :

• Spiritual = 2 archbishops + three specific bishops + 21 senior bishops of church of England, appointed by King on advice of PM
• Temporal are non clerical peers, hereditary and life peers, hereditary peers no longer get automatic seat
• Power of initiative

Question 3

Lower Chamber

Answer 3

House of Commons :

• Five years period
• UK divided into constituencies so 650 (thats also number of members)
• Constituencies use First past the post majoritarian system
• Early elections only by 2/3 majority including vacant seats or after vote of confidence
• Power of initiative
• Power of initiative for finance bills

Question 4

Head of State

Answer 4

King :

• Appoints Prime Minister
• Appoints Ministers

Question 5

Head of Government

Answer 5

Prime Minister :

• Leader of House majority party
• If no majority party in the House, by coalition
• Appointed by King
• Selects Ministers (usually members of Parliament)

Question 6

Legislative process

Answer 6

3 readings :

1. House get notice of the bill and goes quickly through it
2. The bill is discussed :
   - Bill referred to committee for scrutiny and amendment
   - The committee reports back
3. Bill is voted on

Then, the bill is sent to the other House to follow the same procedure.

If bill passes both houses, it goes to the King which gives it royal assent. If it does not, it is sent back and forth.

Veto power :

• Only in House of Commons. Lords can delay but not veto a bill (unless they started it).
• If the House of Commons adopt the bill in 2 consecutive parliamentary session with at least one year between the 2 sessions

Question 7

Motion of confidence

Answer 7

• PM and Cabinet (or individually) accountable to Commons
• Same as normal act
• Usually they will just resign

Question 8

Court System

Answer 8

• Separate Court system for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
• County court and magistrates at lowest level
• High court above
• Crown Court for Criminal Cases
• Supreme Court since 2005
• Judges appointed by King upon advice of Lord Chancellor upon advice of Commission

Question 9

Constitutional Amendments

Answer 9

Constitution not codified so simply by legislative process

Question 10

Dualist or Monist ?

Answer 10

Dualist, Parliament must transpose treaty into national law