UK GOVERNMENT 1 Flashcards
Nature of uncodified constitution?(6)
- no one single document
- flexible
- unentrenched (no diff than statute laws)
- non-judicable
- unitary
- evolutionary
Nature of codified constitution?(6)
- single legal document
- rigid
- entrenched (‘higher law’)
- judiciable
- federal
- revolutionary
What documents signify importance in UK’s democratic history?(4)
- magna carta
- bill of rights
- parliament act
- act of settlement
What are the 5 sources of the UK’s constitution?
- Statute law
- Works of authority
- common law/case law (judge decisions)
- conventions
- EU treaties/law
What are 5 reforms that enhanced democracy?
- 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
Reforms that enhanced rights?(2)
- Human Rights Act (1998), ECHR- UK courts
- Freedom of information act (2000) public access
Reforms to decentralise power? (4)
- Devolution
- Exciting EU
- Elected mayors
- Police/crime commissioners
Reforms to modernise the system?(2)
- Fixed term parliament act (2011)
- Constitutional reform act (2005) establish supreme court
Scottish parliament and government
- 1998 (2)
- 2012 (2)
- 2016 (5)
- primary powers/income varying powers
- tax varying power/devolved additional taxes
- transport/energy/social security/set income tax/national VAT
Welsh assembly and government
- 1998
- 2006 (2)
- 2011 (2)
- 2014 (2)
- 2017 (2)
- 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
Northern Ireland assembly and executive
- 1998
- 2006
- 2010 (2)
- 2015
- legislate in transferred matters
- renewed devolution
- policing and criminal justice
- set corporation tax
Devolution a success?(5)
- 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
Devolution not a success? (5)
- Scottish demand for independence increased
- interest is low, turnout
- left west Lothian question unanswered
- England short changed
- different polices were necessary for each
Arguments for a codified constitution? (4)
- entrenched ,safeguarding them
- individual liberty securely protected
- executive constrained
- independent judges protect
Arguments against a codified constitution?(4)
- 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
Arguments for greater devolution in the UK?(5)
- 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
Arguments against greater devolution in the UK?(5)
-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
What are 5 possible reforms for the House of Commons?
- PM questions increase regularity
- enforcement powers
- remove membership whips
- change electoral system
- increase research support
House of Lords should be reformed?(6)
- legitimacy
- selection benefit governing party
- more effective check on executive
- create balance from commons
- inject a more ‘professional’ element
- reduce size inc effectivity
No House of Lords Reform? (5)
- challenge authority of commons
- eliminate experts currently in
- formation closely mirrors popular vote
- current chamber works well
- useful check of executive dominated commons
Is parliament effective at legislating,
(3 for 3 against)?
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
Parliament effective debating? (3)
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
What are the 3 ways MP’s represent?
- 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)
How effective is MP representation? (2 for 2 against)
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
