UK Constitution Flashcards
What are authoritative works?
Works written by experts describing how a political system is run; they are not legally binding but are taken as significant guides.
What is the Barnett Formula?
The system for working out the funding for the devolved assemblies.
What does the Bill of Rights (1688) establish?
It sets out the basic rules of parliamentary sovereignty & privilege as well as frequent parliament and free elections.
What is a codified constitution?
A constitution where the rules are set out in a single document.
What is common law?
Laws made by judges where the law does not cover the issue or is unclear.
What is a constitution?
A set of rules determining where sovereignty lies in a political system, and establishing the relationship between the government and the governed.
What is a constitutional reform act?
An act that is specifically designed to amend the constitution.
What are conventions in a political system?
Traditions not contained in law but influential in the operation of a political system.
What is devolution?
The dispersal of power, but not sovereignty, within a political system.
What is an elective dictatorship?
The danger that due to the power of parliament is above all else in UK law.
What does EVEL stand for?
English Votes for English Laws; legislation that stops Scottish MP’s voting on laws that only impact England and Wales.
What is the Fixed Term Parliament Act?
The 2011 Act that set the length of Parliaments to five years.
What is the Freedom of Information Act?
An act that ensures for more open government.
What is the Good Friday Agreement?
Agreement that set out the rules for the Northern Ireland assembly to end the ‘troubles’.
What is the Human Rights Act?
The 1998 reform that entrenched the ECHR into UK law.
What is the Magna Carta?
1215 set of documents that first attempted to legally limit the power of the monarch.
What are metro mayors?
The main metropolitan areas and some regions allowed mayors who have region-wide power.
What is parliamentary sovereignty?
The principle that Parliament can make, amend or unmake any law, and cannot bind its successors or be bound by its predecessors.
What is the Parliament Act (1911 & 49)?
Removed the power of the House of Lords, making it subordinate to the House of Commons.
What is primary legislation?
The actual laws and acts passed by parliament.
What is the Recall of MP’s Act?
The 2015 act that allows for MP’s to face ‘recall petitions’ and then face a by-election if they have committed a variety of offences.
What is the reserved power model?
The idea that any powers not specifically given to Westminster are taken by the devolved assemblies.
What is royal assent?
The concept that the monarch has to approve all legislation passed by parliament before it becomes law.
What is royal prerogative?
The powers of the monarch held by and used by the Prime Minister (such as selecting the cabinet, ratifying international treaties and dissolving parliament).
What is the rule of law?
The principle that all people and bodies, including government, must follow the law and can be held to account if they do not.
What is secondary legislation?
Law created by ministers (or other bodies) under powers given to them by an Act of Parliament. It is used to fill in the details of Acts.
What is statute law?
Laws passed by Parliament.
What are statutory instruments (SIs)?
Documents drafted by a government department to make changes to the law. They usually have either rule, order or regulation in their title and can only be approved or rejected by parliament and NOT amended.
What is the Supreme Court?
The highest court in the UK; created in 2005. Largely concerned with complex legal and constitutional matters. Used to be part of the House of Lords.
What are treaties?
Formal agreements with other countries, usually ratified by Parliament.
What is an uncodified constitution?
A constitution not contained in a single written document.
What is an unentrenched constitution?
A constitution with no special procedure for amendment.
What is a unitary political system?
A political system where all legal sovereignty is contained in a single place.
What is the West Lothian question?
Term used to describe the issue of Scottish (and Welsh) MP’s being able to vote on English laws (but not on laws in Scotland).
What are the Wright reforms?
Reforms to the operation of select committees and parliament that gave more power to backbench MP’s.
