Week 1 - British Constitution

Question 1

just about all countries have a

Answer 1

written constitution

Question 2

a written constitution forms

Answer 2

the basic or supreme laws of the state

Question 3

in constitutional states all other laws are

Answer 3

subordinate to the constitution

Question 4

Britain doesn’t have a

Answer 4

written constitution

Question 5

Britain doesn’t have a single written document

Answer 5

the body of rules that govern our political system are to be found in black letter law

Question 6

the British constitution and its democratic traditions were formulated over

Answer 6

several centuries

Question 7

the laws that form the basis of our constitution have several sources

Answer 7

Statute
Treaties
The Common Law
Constitutionally Binding Conventions

Question 8

Statute

Answer 8

laws made by parliment

Question 9

Treaties

Answer 9

the uk is signatory to many national and supra-national treaties

Question 10

what treaties have the UK signed?

Answer 10

European Union treaties and charters
World trade agreements
Climate change accords

Question 11

some of the treaties signed by the UK bind

Answer 11

UK administrations while others need to be ratified by Parliament

Question 12

The common law

Answer 12

the ancient law of england based upon societal customs and recognised and enforced by the judgements and decrees of the courts

Question 13

Sovereignty in the United Kingdom vests in

Answer 13

parliament

Question 14

devolved institutions in the UK have

Answer 14

limited sovereignty

Question 15

at the moment the UK’s sovereignty is limited by

Answer 15

its membership to the European Union

Question 16

what did William Gladshone say?

Answer 16

the american constitution is the most wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of man

Question 17

when was the United States Constitution retified?

Answer 17

1789

Question 18

its unusual that since the United States Constitution has remained

Answer 18

largely unchanged

Question 19

written constitutions are

Answer 19

hard to change

Question 20

because written constitutions are difficult to change

Answer 20

this has its advantages and its disadvantages

Question 21

Amendments to the US Constitutions

Answer 21

the 13th Amendment to the Constitution (1865) the abolition of slavery

Question 22

the US constitution prevents

Answer 22

change

Question 23

the UK constitution allows

Answer 23

change

Question 24

the United States of America is a

Answer 24

federal state

Question 25

a federal nation is one that has

Answer 25

self governing states (these have limited sovereignty)

Question 26

the US was found by a

Answer 26

federal constitution

Question 27

other federations

Answer 27

India and South Africa

Question 28

Devolved institutions

Answer 28

the UK is governed centrally

Question 29

how is the UK governed centrally

Answer 29

by MPs at the house of commons

Question 30

UK powers are devolved to

Answer 30

The Scottish Parliament
The Welsh Assembly
The Northern Ireland Assembly

Question 31

devolution does not equate to

Answer 31

independence for the devolved nations

Question 32

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland may have devolved governments but

Answer 32

they remin within the UK and are govered in the main by the UK parliaments - most of the power remains in Westminister

Question 33

Supra-national bodies

Answer 33

the european union is neither a federal nor unitary state

Question 34

the european union retains

Answer 34

limited sovereign (law making) powers over all its member states