UK government case studies Flashcards
example of statue law?-UK constitution
HRA, Scotland act 1997 and 2016, freedom of information act
Examples of common law?-UK constitution
Supreme court ruling that Theresa May had to go to parliament to trigger article 50 and ruling that Johnsons proroguing of parliament was unlawful
Examples of conventions?-UK constitution
Gordons Browns convention of consulting parliament before taking any military action.
Examples of works of authority?-UK constitution
Walter Bagehot’s, Erskine May, AV dicey and cabinet manual (201)
Example of the royal prerogative?-UK constitution
Boris Johnson got the queens permission to prorogue parliament for a period of longer than the usual five weeks to avoid scrutiny of his Brexit bill.
What are some historically significant documents?-UK constitution
Magna carta (1215), Bill of rights (1689), Act of settlement (1701), parliaments acts (1911 and 1949)
Examples of reforms to the constitution?
devolving power top Scotland, Wales, NI and English regions, HoL reform, Brexit referendum, invention of UK SC
Example of conflict between individual and collective rights?-UK constitution
Religious Faith and LGBTQ+ community; FGM and uber drivers.
Example of Burkean model?- Theories of representation, UK parliament
Nick Bowels was a Remainer but his constituency was leave. He continued to vote against Brexit.
Example of Delegate model?- Theories of representation, UK parliament
Stephen Lloyd was a Remainer in a leave constituency so voted to trigger article 50; Zac Goldsmith resigned when the govt went ahead with Heathrow’s third runway.
Example of Mandate model?- Theories of representation, UK parliament
Douglas Carswell resigned as Tory MP for Clacton, ran again as a UKIP candidate, and won in 2014
Example of a Salisbury convention?-UK parliament
Lid Dems voted down Labour’s manifesto pledge of ID Cards because Labour lost seats in 2005
Example of private members bill?-UK parliament
Abortion act 1967 (David steel) abolition of capital punishment 1965 ( Sydney Silverman)E
Example of government rebellions?-UK parliament
21 Tory rebels over Boris Johnsons proposed no-deal Brexit in 2019 (Nicholas Soames and Ken Clarke)
Example of government defeats?-UK parliament
May 3 times on 2018 Brexit bills but did not resign. James Callaghan resigned in 1979 after vote of no confidence (Winter of discontent)
Example of select committee?-UK parliament
Jeremy Hunt and Dr Sarah Wollaston both been head of health select committee; Leveson inquiry.
Mike Ashley and sports direct hearing- Mark Zuckerberg’s refusal to attend hearing; 40% of select committee proposals are taken accepts by the govt.
Example of famous backbenches?-UK parliament
Jeremy Corbyn voting against New Labour (Iraq and Terror legislation)
Examples to evaluate HoL reform?- UK constitution
92 hereditary peers remain in, Parliament tried to make further reform to the Lords in 2012 but failed
Examples where people took individual ministerial responsibility?-UK cabinet and Prime Minister
Amber Rudd, David Blunkett, Peter Mandelson, Priti Patels’ unauthorised meetings and Andrew Mitchell’s “plebgate”
Example of cabinet reshuffles?–UK cabinet and Prime Minister
Darling refused resign as Chancellor in 2008, Macmillan in 1962 sacked one third of his cabinet in “night of the blond knives”, Hunt refused to resign as Health sec under May.
Example of Cabinet big beasts?-UK cabinet and Prime Minister
Brown under Blair and Boris Johnson under May
What was the Quad?-UK cabinet and Prime Minister
David Cameron (CON), Nick Clegg (LD), George Osbourne (CON), Danny Alexander(LD)
Example of sofa government?-UK cabinet and Prime Minister
Blairs bilateral meetings. Him and Brown decided on entering Eurozone prior to Cabinet meetings.
Example of PM being presidential?-UK cabinet and Prime Minister
High powered unelected SPADs e.g.- Campbell and Cummings, also Fiona Hill and Nick Timothy wrote in 2017 Tory manifesto.
Blair and Thatcher had big majorities so had more power. May struggled to pass Brexit bill in minority government
Example of PM leading on policy?-UK cabinet and Prime Minister
Thatcher on Poll tax, Blair on the war in Iraq, May’s decision to call the 2017 election
What was the constitutional reform act 2006?- UK supreme court
Created SC but removing senior judges from House of Lords, took power from Lord Chancellor and gave it to judicial appointments commission
What were the 2 Brexit cases?- UK supreme court
SC ruling that May had to go to parliament to trigger Article and ruling that Boris Johnson’s proroguing of parliament was unlawful.
What was the Scottish referendum ruling?- UK supreme court
The court ruled that a Scottish referendum w-out parliaments approval would be illegal.
What is Factortame?- UK supreme court
Spanish fishing case which set precedent that ECJ could challenge acts of parliament under it violating EU law.
Example of a daily mail headline?- UK supreme court
Enemies of the people headline after Article 50 ruling because of judges ruling against May.
Example of declaring incompatibility?- UK supreme court
Law which said a deceased father’s details were x allowed to be entered on his child’s birth certificate was declared incompatible with the right to respect for family and private life.
What is ultra vires?- UK supreme court
PM John Mayor wanted the 2 child murders of toddler Jamie Bulger to be tried as adults. He was found to be acting “Beyond his authority”
What was the Scotland act 1998?- Devolution
created Scottish parliament that gave power to raise income tax by 1% and powers in Health Care and education.
What was the Scotland act 2016?-Devolution
Gave Scotland more power after the referendum. More tax powers, speed limits, abortion law. Could only remove the powers through a referendum.
What is the west Lothian question?-Devolution
English votes for English laws. 2015, Cameron withdrew his plans to relax fox hunting ban in England and Wales due to SNP saying they would vote against the measure.
What was the Wales act 1998?-Devolution
Created Welsh assembly, gave education powers
What was the Good Friday agreement?-Devolution
Created a North Irish Assembly and power sharing executive.
What is regional devolution?-Devolution
City Mayors (Johnson and Sadiq Khan in London) 2004 North East referendum for Mayor-77% voted NO.
