UK constitution revision Flashcards
What is a constitution?
Rulebook for the state, it sets out the fundamental principles by which the state is governed.
Sources of the UK constitution?
-Statute law
-Common law
-Conventions
-Authorative work
-Key historical documents
Parliamentary sovereignty = ?
The ultimate law-making power vested in the UK parliament to create or abolish any law- is commonly regarded as the defining principle of the British constitution.
Where is the UK constitution written?
It is not written in a single document but instead in a number of different documents. It is largely written.
Codified = ?
Written in a single document authoritative document.
Federal = ?
How legal sovereignty is centralized or shared.
Conventions = ?
Traditions not contained in law but influential in the operation of a political system.
Checks and balances = ?
How powers of the institutions of government are balanced.
Does the UK have a codified constitution?
NO
How will a codified constitution make politicians more accountable?
Will be able to hold politicians to account far more easily if their actions have broken the rules laid out by the constitution.
Overall arguments for codified constitution?
-Clear rules
-Stronger protection of rights as rights would be fully entrenched.
-Strengthen citizenship
-Policed and protected by judges, who are politically independent and neutral.
Overall arguments against a codified constitution?
-Difficult to change
-May become outdated
-Would give unelected judges a large amount of power just like in America.
-Hard for government to fulfil manifesto pledges.
-Longer to pass legislation with a codified constitution.
