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Politics > UK GOVERNMENT 1 > Flashcards

UK GOVERNMENT 1 Flashcards

1
Q

Nature of uncodified constitution?(6)

A
  • no one single document
  • flexible
  • unentrenched (no diff than statute laws)
  • non-judicable
  • unitary
  • evolutionary
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2
Q

Nature of codified constitution?(6)

A
  • single legal document
  • rigid
  • entrenched (‘higher law’)
  • judiciable
  • federal
  • revolutionary
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3
Q

What documents signify importance in UK’s democratic history?(4)

A
  • magna carta
  • bill of rights
  • parliament act
  • act of settlement
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4
Q

What are the 5 sources of the UK’s constitution?

A
  • Statute law
  • Works of authority
  • common law/case law (judge decisions)
  • conventions
  • EU treaties/law
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5
Q

What are 5 reforms that enhanced democracy?

A
  • House of Lords (1999), herniary peers
  • Electoral Reform, PR in all devolved bodies
  • Recall (2015), recalled for by-election
  • House of Commons ‘Wright Reforms’ redistributed power to backbenchers
  • EVEL, greater input
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6
Q

Reforms that enhanced rights?(2)

A
  • Human Rights Act (1998), ECHR- UK courts

- Freedom of information act (2000) public access

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7
Q

Reforms to decentralise power? (4)

A
  • Devolution
  • Exciting EU
  • Elected mayors
  • Police/crime commissioners
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8
Q

Reforms to modernise the system?(2)

A
  • Fixed term parliament act (2011)

- Constitutional reform act (2005) establish supreme court

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9
Q

Scottish parliament and government

  • 1998 (2)
  • 2012 (2)
  • 2016 (5)
A
  • primary powers/income varying powers
  • tax varying power/devolved additional taxes
  • transport/energy/social security/set income tax/national VAT
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10
Q

Welsh assembly and government

  • 1998
  • 2006 (2)
  • 2011 (2)
  • 2014 (2)
  • 2017 (2)
A
  • secondary legislative powers
  • referendum/primary legislative powers
  • direct law making for health/education
  • minor tax power/income tax varying
  • further transport and energy/income tax varying
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11
Q

Northern Ireland assembly and executive

  • 1998
  • 2006
  • 2010 (2)
  • 2015
A
  • legislate in transferred matters
  • renewed devolution
  • policing and criminal justice
  • set corporation tax
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12
Q

Devolution a success?(5)

A
  • not lead to break up of UK
  • very popular, no main parties want it to be overturned
  • welsh interest increased demand for more
  • peaceful in NI for 20 years
  • elected mayors have greater regional identity
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13
Q

Devolution not a success? (5)

A
  • Scottish demand for independence increased
  • interest is low, turnout
  • left west Lothian question unanswered
  • England short changed
  • different polices were necessary for each
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14
Q

Arguments for a codified constitution? (4)

A
  • entrenched ,safeguarding them
  • individual liberty securely protected
  • executive constrained
  • independent judges protect
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15
Q

Arguments against a codified constitution?(4)

A
  • less responsive/adaptable
  • US had entrenched bill of rights no help
  • gov power more effectively constrained by regular elections rather than this
  • judges, unelected/socially unrepresentative
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16
Q

Arguments for greater devolution in the UK?(5)

A
  • answer west Lothian question (EVEL doesn’t)
  • more federal
  • stronger regional identity, make decisions locally
  • largest with no devolution
  • currently receives less money per person
17
Q

Arguments against greater devolution in the UK?(5)

A

-complicate relationship
-more asymmetric devolution
little public support
-UK would dominate federal assembly
-EVEL has answered west Lothian question
-people don’t have strong regional identities or care

18
Q

What are 5 possible reforms for the House of Commons?

A
  • PM questions increase regularity
  • enforcement powers
  • remove membership whips
  • change electoral system
  • increase research support
19
Q

House of Lords should be reformed?(6)

A
  • legitimacy
  • selection benefit governing party
  • more effective check on executive
  • create balance from commons
  • inject a more ‘professional’ element
  • reduce size inc effectivity
20
Q

No House of Lords Reform? (5)

A
  • challenge authority of commons
  • eliminate experts currently in
  • formation closely mirrors popular vote
  • current chamber works well
  • useful check of executive dominated commons
21
Q

Is parliament effective at legislating,

(3 for 3 against)?

A

FOR

  • May’s deal rejected- back to commons
  • May has ‘working majority’, need all happy
  • gov doesn’t always get its way e.g. 2015 Cameron rules surrounding EU referendum

AGAINST

  • gov majority control
  • coalition only defeated twice on legislation
  • backbenchers vote for career prospects
22
Q

Parliament effective debating? (3)

A

FOR
-‘Wright’ recommendations MP’S have more control over agenda
-PM’s reluctant to initiate military action without parliament
AGAINST
-limited time for genuine debate

23
Q

What are the 3 ways MP’s represent?

A
  • Burkean idea (MP’s decide what they thinks best for constituents)
  • Delegate model ‘mouthpiece’
  • Doctrine of the mandate (MP’s represent party, elected with mandate for manifesto)
24
Q

How effective is MP representation? (2 for 2 against)

A

FOR

  • social media increases pressure
  • free votes on issues MP’s can listen to constituents/conscience

AGAINST

  • focus on parties ppl vote for party
  • coalition parties supported policies not voted for by constituents
25
Q

Powers of House of Lords? (8)

A
  • delay legislation for 1 year
  • amend legislation with commons approval
  • more independent less loyalty to parties
  • can on occasion provide ministers
  • no financial matters
  • no power to dismiss a gov
  • not represent constituents
  • lacks democratic authority
26
Q

Powers of Commons? (

A
  • veto legislation
  • amend legislation
  • reject legislation/manifesto pledges
  • approves government budget
  • dismiss gov under extreme conditions
  • limited power to legitimise (parties)
  • represent constituents interests
  • legitimise laws and gov
  • ministers selected from commons
27
Q

Lords more effective than commons 4 features?

A
  • party discipline
  • scrutiny
  • legislation
  • expertise
28
Q

Commons more effective than lords 7 features?

A
  • parliament acts
  • Salisbury convention
  • legitimacy, lords unelected
  • liaison committee
  • committees
  • scrutiny
  • media

Politics (18 decks)

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