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Uk politics > UK government > Flashcards

UK government Flashcards

1
Q

Reasons why the constitution is reformed

A

modernisation
decentralisation
democratisation
strengthening citizens rights
clarity and transparency

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2
Q

Evidence of the role of passing legislation being carried out effectively

A

Governments with large majorities basically control the commons
Blairs govt didn’t lose a commons vote (97-05)

The lords can only delay up to a year- they cant veto legislation

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3
Q

Powers of the core executive

A

the powers of the PM come from the royal prerogative

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4
Q

Patronage

A

Power of the PM to appoint ministers as a result of loyalty or support

way of rewarding MPs on their side

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5
Q

evidence of PMs using the Royal Prerogative powers

A

cameron’s air strikes during Libyan civil war in 2011

Tony Blair supported invasion of Iraq in 2003

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6
Q

Anti-terrorism Laws

A

terrorism Act 2006:
increased number of days a suspected terrorist can be detained without trial

Prevention of terrorism Act 2005
control measures put in place

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7
Q

Quasi

A

used to describe devolution

means ‘resembling’

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8
Q

arguments for Further HOL reforms

A

-To improve Democratic Legitimacy
-Reducing membership
-HOL is expensive
-HOL doesnt have enough power to check the government

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9
Q

Strengths of select committees

A

40% of committee recommendations become policy
Good chairs
Quality of legislation will be high

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10
Q

Weaknesses of select committees

A

Quality of legislation depends on how briefed the MPs are
No legal obligation to attend
Only certain amounts of legislation can be covered

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11
Q

Why is the UK’s constitution flexible

A

If const law is not see as higher law It means changed can be made more quickly and adapt to an ever changing world

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12
Q

HOC overview

A

650 constituencies, 650 Members

Each constituency will be represented by the candidate with the most votes in the constituency

Party with the most MPs make government

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13
Q

Confidence and Supply agreement

A

An agreement where a party or independent MPs will support the government with its vote

May with DUP in 2017

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14
Q

Arguments against terrorism laws

A

-Too much power in hands of state
-Undermines HRA and civil liberties
-Reactive policies don’t help with the causes of terrorism
-alienates minority groups

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15
Q

3 things civil servants work under

A

neutrality- Must be neutral politically

anonymity- can’t get involved with the media

permanence- Job no matter what party is in power

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16
Q

Royal prerogative powers examples

A

-commander in chief of the army
-signing of international treaties
-cabinet reshuffles
-making key appointments
-controlling the civil service

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17
Q

Arguments for devolution

A

peace in N.I. has helped
Support for it in all 3 countries
has decentralised power
improves democracy
sense of britishness/unity

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18
Q

Impacts on relationship between PM and Cab

A

> what executive model the PM chooses
Management + leadership skills of the PM
development of the PM’s office and Cab office
size of Govt majority
global events

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19
Q

Key components of the core executive

A

PM
PM office
Cabinet
Cabinet office
Govt departments
SPADS
civil servants

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20
Q

Roles of parliament

A

-provide political legitimacy
-passing legislation
-scrutiny of the government (specifically over public finances and government spending)
-Representation of the electorate
-recruitment and training of ministers
-policy creation and implementation

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21
Q

Backbench business committee

A

made up of backbench MPs

They decide what issues are debated in parliament

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22
Q

Arguments for + against HOL being fully elected

A

for:
achieve DL
Scrutinisation would be far better

against:
voter fatigue- wayyyyy more elections
Ruduce levels of expertise in the HOL
Increase in legislation gridlock

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23
Q

Arguments for a codified constituion

A
  1. authority of Supreme Court would be enhanced
  2. better understanding of the constitution
  3. Relations between branches would be clearer
  4. decentralise power away from Govt
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24
Q

Parliament checks and balances on PM

A

PMQs
debates
Public accounts committee
BBC
Liaison committee
Public bills committee

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25
Q

Fundamental Human rights

A

freedom of speech
freedom of movement
right to a fair trial
freedom to assemble
freedom to privacy
ownership of property

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26
Q

Select committees

A

cross-party group of MPs or Lords given a specific remit to investigate and report back to the house that set it up

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27
Q

Bills to do with finances

A

Money Bills

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28
Q

Variable factors in PM power

A

> PM personality and character
Strength of the cabinet
the party
size of the majority
media
current events

variable factors are the reason the Pm’s power fluctuates

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29
Q

Difference between primary and secondary legislation

A

primary legislation is an act passed by parliament

Secondary legislation can make small changes to an act

however, the act must say what changes can be made by secondary legislation

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30
Q

Government and opposition

A

Government- the party in power/that governs

opposition- All MPs that aren’t part of Govt
Leader of the opposition is the leader of the largest party

31
Q

Devolution

A

The transferring of powers from national to local governments

not permanent

32
Q

legislation process

A

Law begins as Govt bill

first reading
second reading
committee stage
report stage
third reading
royal assent

happens twice because it goes through both houses

33
Q

branches of the government

A

executive
legislature
judiciary

34
Q

key elements of Uk constitution

A

Parliamentary sovereignty
rule of law
Royal prerogative
Unitary state-not federal
uncodified
party government

35
Q

West Lothian question

A

Asks why MP from evolved states can vote on purely English matters, that English MPs cant vote on

36
Q

Spatial leadership

A

a PM almost becoming bigger than the party, distancing themselves from it

Blair and thatcher

37
Q

populist outreach

A

Appealing directly to the public, claiming to be on the side of the everyday citizen

38
Q

Evidence of not carrying out the role of passing legislation

A

2019-2024 conservatives made several u-turns in fear of defeat

May’s minority govt was defeated 28 times in 2 years

May’s exit deal was defeated by a 230 majority

39
Q

HOL overview

A

Lords are appointed
1)688 life peers
2) 86 hereditary peers
3) 26 lords spiritual

HOL is not democratically legitimate

40
Q

Devolved bodies

A

Scottish parliament
Welsh parliament
N.I. assembly

41
Q

How are cabinet ministers chosen

A

Loyalty from patronage

“keep enemies close’

expertise

diversity

42
Q

Key powers of the HOC

A

Sole right to defeat a bill
Vote of no confidence
Right to commit UK to military operations
Right to represent the electorate
Select committees only exist in commons

43
Q

Arguments against devolution

A

N.I. assembly was suspended for a number of years
turnout in elections to devolved assemblies has been low
Scottish nationalism
Lack of clarity and coherence

44
Q

bicameralism

A

A system where there are 2 houses

45
Q

HOL reform act 1999

A

Removed all but 92 hereditary peers

largely seen as positive

46
Q

Role of the opposition

A

> force govt to explain and justify policy
highlight shortcomings in the way government is running
To present alternatives to proposals and strategies
to prepare itself for the govt should it win the next election

47
Q

Asymmetrical devolution

A

devolution that occurs within the UK

48
Q

Evidence of committees carrying out the role of scrutiny ineffectively

A

PMQs can be a punch “Punch and Judy” show.
minority of amendments come from opposition MPs
PMQs are prepared by Downing Street- prepared answers

49
Q

constitutional reform and government act 2010

A

ended ministers royal prerogative powers to negotiate and sign foreign treaties

50
Q

Rule of Law

A

Rights of individuals are determined by legal rights
No punishment unless court decides law was breached
Everyone is subject to the law

51
Q

Sofa government

A

Blair’s tactics of talking to ministers informally outside of cabinet

52
Q

Examples of Govt bill defeat in HoL

A

terrorism act 2008- labour

Welfare bill 2011- coalition

Internal market bill 2020- conservative

53
Q

theories of executive power

A

Core executive model

cabinet model

primine ministerial model

Presidential model

54
Q

reserved powers

A

Powers the government do not give to the devolved body

example:
military
immigration
the economy

55
Q

Importance of the opposition

A

Primarily so the opposition has someone to lose to

56
Q

Arguments for keeping codified constitution

A

Effective government
history and tradition
human rights are effectively protected
no desire from the people

57
Q

Powers of the cabinet

A

1) cab organises the presentation of official policy and legitimate government policy
2)they decide the policy agenda
3) doesnt have power to remove PM (but, they can refuse to support them which could force them to resign)

58
Q

Parliamentary influence over government

A

Increased influence and use of select committees
Parliamentary veto
Increased activism of HOL
Parliament can dismiss a government
PMQs, MQTs and debates
The opposition

59
Q

Ultra Vires

A

means “beyond the powers”

it is applied when a body is thought to have acted like this

60
Q

Judicial independence an judicial neutrality

A

independence:
judges should be free from any pressure or influence from other branches

Neutrality:
judges should not be politically motivated
decisions should be made from the law alone

61
Q

Composition of the Supreme Court

A

12 members- but cases are heard by an odd number of justices ensure a majority verdict

SC memes do not sit in HOL

Senior judges cannot be removed as a result of decision. only misconduct

62
Q

Minority government

A

> no political party has achieved a majority
largest party must receive support form over parties to win majority.

63
Q

Key powers of HoL

A

can delay bills for up to a year
More time to debate legislation
greater levels of independence (not controlled by whips)

64
Q

Strengths of PMQs

A

opportunity for PM to be held to account
Previous PMs say it was the most difficult time of the week
Urgent questions can be asked
Its entertaining and on the media

65
Q

Coalition government

A

> no political party has a majority
2 or more parties agree to form a government together

66
Q

powers given to devolved bodies

A

Legislative: ability to pass laws in their own region
Administrative: refers to power over health and education
Financial: Devolved bodies get funds from central government

67
Q

Elastic band theory

A

the power of a PM is determined by variable factors

for example-johnsons power contracted at the start of covid because he has to rely on cabinet

68
Q

impact of the Uk’s exit from EU

A

Uk parliament regains all sovereignty
Conservative Party divisions widened
Deep divisions in Uk society
DUP had disproportionate amount of power given May’s minority government
Increased Scottish independence calls (they voted to remain0

69
Q

4 Freedoms of the EU

A

-free movement of workers
-free movement of goods
-free movement of capital
-free movement of services

70
Q

Constitutional reform Act 2005

A

key objective was to improve independence of judiciary

introduced UK Supreme Court- increased separation of powers

71
Q

Role of the judiciary

A

-Dispensing justice through sentencing
-Interpreting law
-Establishing case law
-judicial reviews
-holding public enquiries

72
Q

Arguments for an English parliament

A

Would extend democracy and accountability

might improve participation in politics

Devolved govt could better help with issues specific to region

73
Q

Arguments against English parliament

A

create a need for too many elections- voter apathy

No demand for it

expensive

could lead to disunity

Uk politics (2 decks)

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