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71 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What was the 1215 Magna Carta? |
Signed by King John, reduced his powers as King and allowed formation of powerful parliament + basis for English citizens rights |
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What was the 1689 Bill of Rights? |
Established basis for frequent parliaments, free elections + free speech in parliament - formalised declaration of rights - agreed parliament should wield supreme political power |
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What was the 1701 Act of Settlement? |
Law that forbade Catholics from becoming or marrying monarchs, thus ensuring the monarchy would never be captured by Catholics |
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What was the 1707 Act of Union? |
Joined England and Scotland under one flag and monarchy, forming the UK |
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What were the 1911+1949 Parliament Acts? |
Two acts which reduced to power of the House of Lords - could only delay, not block, bills voted for in the commons |
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What was the 1972 European Communities Act? |
Britain became EEC/EU member - became subject to EU laws and treaties |
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What was the 1998 Scotland Act? |
Weakened central power in Westminster in a major constitutional change, devolved some Westminster powers to a new Scottish parliament |
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What was the 1998 Human Rights Act? |
Incorporated European convention on human rights into British law - clear rights defined how judiciary protects people from government/ Insitutional abuse |
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What was the 2005 Constitutional Reform Act? |
Creates supreme court, ended fusion of powers + secretary of state for justice incorporated role of Lord Chancellor |
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What was the 2011 Fixed Term Parliaments Act? |
Ended royal prerogative right of PM to call 'snap' general election - Parliament runs full 5 years unless MPs vote for early election / vote no confidence lost by government |
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What is a codified constitution? |
A single written document that sets out the rules for government. |
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What is an uncodified constitution? |
When there's no single document that's sets out the rule for governance. |
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What is parliamentary sovereignty? |
Parliament is the supreme legal authority in the UK |
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What is a unitary constitution? |
All legal sovereignty is contained in a single place |
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What is a federal constitution? |
Sovereignty shared between central government and individual states - own rights |
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What is statute law? |
The body of law passed by parliament, underpinned by parliamentary sovereignty - not all laws are constitutional |
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What is common law? |
Legal principles laid down by judges in their ruling in court cases, important when statute law is unclear |
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What are conventions? |
Customs and practices that don't have legal force - challenged and changed by parliament and accepted over time |
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What are EU treaties and laws? |
Agreements with other EU member states, joined in 1973 - 2016 referendum chose to exit |
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What are the benefits of a constitution? |
Stops a small group taking over Regular fair elections Stops government acting too quickly Prevents unfair laws being imposed Stops government becoming too powerful |
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What are the features of the UK constitution? |
Unelected head of state Uncodified Unentrenched Partial fusion of powers Unitary constitution |
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What constitutional reforms did Labour introduce 1997-2010? |
Devolution Human Rights Act The Supreme Court House of Lords Electoral Reform |
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How did Labour reform Devolution 1997-2010? |
Reduced pro-independence support and brought conflicting unionist and nationalist factions together Raised West Lothian question and 'Barnett Formula' |
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How did Labour reform The Human Rights Act 1997-2010? |
Enshrined rights so judges couldn't strike them down Declared exemption from article 5 and introduced 2005 control orders e.g. limited movement |
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How did Labour reform The Supreme Court 1997-2010? |
2005 Constitutional Reform Act - 4 years later : high court of appeal, independent branches |
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How did Labour reform the House of Lords 1997-2010? |
Ended the right of all but 92 peers, reduced conservative party, no political dominance in the house of lords PM/party leaders continued to make political nominations, no agreement reached to make lords somewhat elected |
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How did Labour reform Electoral Reform 1997-2010? |
Proportional representation introduced for elections to Scottish parliament and other smaller assemblies Labour had no interest in Changing Westminster after crushing defeat in FPTP |
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What is the West Lothian question? |
Scottish MPs could vote on English matters but English MPs couldn't vote on Scottish matters |
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How did the coalition reform Fixed Term Parliaments post-2010? |
Established that a new parliament must be elected on a fixed date at 5 year intervals - only held earlier if 213 MPs vote for one / PM loses vote of no confidence Theresa May called early 2015 election |
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How did the coalition reform the House of Lords post-2010? |
No major reform since 2010 Plans for a elected House of lords- dropped after rebellion by 91 backbench Conservative MPs - 'revise and delay' |
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How did the coalition reform the Commons post-2010? |
Charis of House of Commons select committees to be chosen by MPs rather than have selection influenced by party leaders Select committees advisory only |
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How did the coalition reform Devolution post-2010? |
Wales referendum - March 2011 - direct law-making power in all 20 policy areas + 2012 Scotland Act - tax rights + EVAL - January 2016 - ended West Lothian queston Scotland remained part of UK (55%) |
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How did the coalition reform Citizens Rights post-2010? |
2015 Conservative manifesto pledged to replace Human Rights Act No change to current HR Act |
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How did the coalition reform the European Union post-2010? |
UK voted to leave EU June 2016 Undecided deal - limited law change but loss of EU authority |
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What is devolution? |
The dispersal of power but not sovereignty within a political system |
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How has devolution increased? |
Law making powers for devolved policy Significant policy areas fully devolved Scottish/Welsh assemblies have broad public support Scottish devolution strengthened demands for independence London devolution - congestion charge + elected mayors |
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What powers do Scotland have? |
Raise/lower tax Tourism Justice + Policing Fire services Fisheries and forests Social services |
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What powers do Wales have? |
Welsh language + culture Fire services Fisheries + Forests |
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What powers do Northern Ireland have? |
Justice + policing Social services Employment + Skills Welfare + Pensions |
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What powers do all assemblies have? |
Education Economic development Housing Local government Culture/sport Environment Agriculture Transport |
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What powers do England still have? |
Defence Most taxation Foreign policy Constitutional matters Welfare benefits Trade Currency / interest rates |
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What are the arguments for more devolution? |
Scotland voted to stay in the EU therefore should be given a chance to remain as an independent country |
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What are the arguments against more devolution? |
Scottish independence was rejected in the 2014 referendum and current system maintains a strong government |
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What are the arguments for more devolution in England? |
Heavily populated, strong but different regional identities which are currently underrepresented and have different needs |
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What are the arguments against more devolution in England? |
Current system effective, EVAL resolved issues 2004 - proposals for more regional assemblies was widely rejected |
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What are the arguments for more electoral reform? |
Smaller parties under-represented and current system overrepresents large parties and more proportional results in Scotland, Wales and N.Ireland |
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What are the arguments against more electoral reform? |
AV referendum in 2011 rejected and FPTP gives strong governments with clear mandates |
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What are the arguments for more House Of Lords reform? |
Lords lack democratic legitimacy and are unelected and unrepresentative |
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What are the arguments against more House Of Lords reform? |
Current system based on merit and experience and elected house would mirror the commons with professional politicians |
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What are the arguments for stronger human rights protection? |
Not entrenched and can easily be modified, requires move protection, government can take away liberties |
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What are the arguments against stronger human rights protection? |
1998 Act brought the UK into line with other EU states - human rights in national law - protected |
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What is direct democracy? |
Individuals express their opinions themselves - originated in Athens |
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What is a representative democracy? |
People elect representatives who take decisions on their behalf |
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What are features of direct democracy? |
Individuals express opinions themselves Not elective Citizens active in decision making |
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What are features of representative democracy? |
Citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf Citizens pass their authority to representatives Regular elections Elections for representatives are free / fair |
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What are the advantages of direct democracy? |
Equal weights to all votes Encourages participation Removed need for reps. Develops community + debate |
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What are the disadvantages of direct democracy? |
Impractical in large state People might not want to take part Open to manipulation Tyranny of the majority |
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What are the advantages of representative democracy? |
Practical in a large state Parties create pluralist democracy Reduces tyranny of majority Representatives held to account by elections Politicians are better informed |
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What are disadvantages of representative democracy? |
Reduced participation Parties pursue own agenda Minorities underrepresented Elections 5 years apart Politicians corrupt/incompetent |
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Referendum |
A direct vote on a single issue usually requiring response to yes/no question |
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What is an unentrenched constitution? |
Altered relatively easily by a simple majority vote in parliament so more flexible than codified |
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How can parliament be said to be sovereign? |
Legislation cannot be struck down by a higher body No parliament can bind it successor Parliament can make a law on any subject |
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What is covered by the rule of law? |
Everybody is entitled to a fair trial or be imprisoned without due legal process All citizens must obey the law Public officials are not above the law Judiciary must be independent |
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What are authoritative works? |
Textbooks explain the working of the political system such as Erskine May's Parliamentary Practice (1844) |
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How did the the Blair government try to extend regional decision-making? |
By setting up unelected Regional Development Agencies, to promote economic development - abolished by the coalition who created 'city regions' |
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What are the new city regions? |
Cambridgeshire + Peterborough Liverpool Greater Manchester Sheffield Tees Valley West Midlands West of England |
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How was devolution in Northern Ireland established? |
1998 Good Friday Agreement - brought Unionists (pro-UK and Protestant) and Republicans together |
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What are arguments for extending devolution? |
England is the most heavily populated part of the UK, receives less per person EVEL weakens unity Devolution has been effective Strong UK regional identity |
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What are arguments against devolution? |
England would dominate a federal structure EVEL has resolved the West Lothian question Most English people don't see the difference between England and British Defeat of Blair's 2004 proposals |
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What are arguments for an entrenched and codified UK constitution? |
Educate the public Wouldn't make it impossible to amend the constitution Greater clarity of rights Protected by constitutional court - more legitimacy |
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What are arguments against an entrenched and codified UK constitution? |
No public demand for change Greater flexibility Effective in complex situations Doesn't require interpretation Unjustified power in hands of unelected, unaccountable judges who are out of touch |
