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A-Level Politics: UK Government > UK Parliament > Flashcards

UK Parliament Flashcards

Key words, Key laws, examples of sovereignty, examples of lack of sovereignty, functions of Commons and functions of Lords

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1
Q

What does it mean if a constitution is unentrenched?

A

It is easily amended

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1
Q

What is a codified constitution?

A

Written in one place

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2
Q

What does unitary mean?

A

Power is held in one place (e.g Parliament)

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3
Q

What is Sovereignty?

A

Absolute power

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4
Q

What is statute law?

A

A law passed by Parliament

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5
Q

What is Common Law?

A

Unwritten laws often used when statute law is unclear.

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6
Q

What are conventions?

A

A way in which something is usually done

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7
Q

What is devolution?

A

Decentralisation of power, but not sovereignty

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8
Q

What is a select committee?

A

A committee in the commons/lords that checks governments work

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9
Q

What is Fixed term parliament?

A

Elections are to be held every 5 years.

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10
Q

What is a referendum?

A

A vote where the entire electorate is invited to vote.

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11
Q

What are hereditary peers?

A

Peers who are in the House of Lords because they inherited their title.

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12
Q

Who is the Legislative?

A

Law makers (parliament)

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13
Q

Who is the Judiciary?

A

Courts

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14
Q

Who is the Executive?

A

The Prime Minister and their government.

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15
Q

What is fusion of powers?

A

When the Executive sits IN the Legislative.

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16
Q

What is Parliamentary sovereignty?

A

Parliament has ultimate power

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17
Q

What is the House of Commons?

A

The elected lower chamber

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18
Q

What is the House of Lords

A

The unelected upper chamber

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19
Q

What is the salisbury convention?

A

The Lords can’t oppose 2nd or 3rd reading legislation that is in the governments manifesto.

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20
Q

What is Parliamentary Privilege

A

Legal immunity granted to MPs that allow them to carry out their duties without interference.

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21
Q

What are backbenchers?

A

A member of Parliament who is not in the government or shadow cabinet

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22
Q

What is a Life Peer?

A

Members of Lords whose title cannot be inherited

23
Q

What is a Private Members Bill?

A

Public Bills introduced by MPs and Lords who are not government ministers.

24
Q

What is the Party Whip?

A

Someone who ensures party discipline (members vote for what the party wants)

25
Q

What did the Parliament Act (1911, 1949) do?

A

Limited the power of the House of Lords

26
Q

What is common law?

A

Unwritten laws often used when statute law is unclear.

27
Q

What was the Scotland Act 1998? (Devolution) List one thing:

A
  • gave scotland power over healthcare
  • gave scotland power over education
  • gave power over roads and public transport
  • gave scotland power over criminal and civil law
  • gave scotland power over policing
  • gave scotland power over local authority services
  • gave scotland the power to change the rate of income tax by 3%
  • allowed scotland to remove tuition fees for scottish students at scottish universities
28
Q

Examples of flexibility.

A
  • Firearms Act, 1997 – following Dunblane massacre.
  • Brexit.
29
Q

What did the House of Lords Reform Act do? (1999)

A

Reduced the number of hereditary peers to 92.

30
Q

What did the Constitutional Reform Act do? (2005)

A

Created an independent judiciary (the supreme court)

31
Q

What did the Fixed Term Parliament Act do? (2011)

A

Parliament had to be called every 5 years, and no snap election unless a super majority.

32
Q

In most places, what was the turnout for Elected Police crime commissioners in 2012?

A

30%

33
Q

Examples of parliamentary sovereignty

A

The House of Lords cannot vote against legislation in the governments manifesto, or in its second or third reading.

34
Q

Example of parliamentary sovereignty being questioned

A

2023: Supreme court overrules Rwanda Policy.

35
Q

What was the highest court before the Supreme Court?

A

The Law Lords

36
Q

What is ‘Ping Pong Politics?’

A

A bill travelling back and forth between the Houses until all amendments are resolved.

37
Q

Who can’t amend money bills?

A

House of Lords

38
Q

How long can a money bill last without royal ascent?

A

One month

39
Q

Where do money bills start?

A

The commons

40
Q

What are money bills?

A

Bills designed to raise money through taxes or spend public money.

41
Q

What was the House of Lords Reform Bill? (2012)

A

Led by Nick Clegg. Planned to make the Lords largely elected. This was abandoned after conservative backlash.

42
Q

When was the hunting ban?

A

2004

43
Q

Who has sovereign powers? The Commons or the Lords?

A

Commons

44
Q

Who can kill a bill? The Commons or the Lords?

A

Commons

45
Q

Who remains sovereign even when the executive has made a mandate? The Commons or the Lords?

A

Commons

46
Q

Who can dismiss a government? The Commons or the Lords?

A

Commons

47
Q

Who has potential control over public finances? The Commons or the Lords?

A

Commons

48
Q

In which chamber can MPs defy the party whip if they choose? The Commons or the Lords?

A

Commons

49
Q

Who has the final say on legislative amendments? The Commons or the Lords?

A

Commons

50
Q

Who lacks democratic legitimacy? The Commons or the Lords?

A

Lords

51
Q

Who can only delay legislation by a year at most? The Commons or the Lords?

A

Lords

52
Q

Who can’t obstruct the governments manifesto? The Commons or the Lords?

A

Lords

53
Q

Who cannot dismiss a government? The Commons or the Lords?

A

Lords

54
Q

Who cannot regulate financial affairs? The Commons or the Lords?

A

Lords

55
Q

Who is constrained by the threat of reform or even abolition? The Commons or the Lords?

A

Lords

56
Q

Who can propose amendments, but can be overruled by the opposite chamber? The Commons or the Lords?

A

Lords

A-Level Politics: UK Government (6 decks)

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