EXTRA-Constitutional Change Flashcards

1
Q

Who has the oldest version of the constitution dating at 1874

A

the Swiss

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2
Q

More than how many constitutions have been drawn up since WW2?

A

more than 2/3rds

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3
Q

From what decade have many thinkers and writers began to urge the cause of ‘constitutional reform’’?

A

from the 1960’s

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4
Q

What are Quango’s?

A

They are publicly funded bodies that operate at arms length from a government department and carry out executive and advisory functions. Their members are not elected and therefore are not accountable to the voters

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5
Q

After what year were some academics worried about the increasing centralisation of government under the Conservatives?

A

1979

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6
Q

What 3 things could people see occurring after 1979 with the increasing centralisation of government?

A

1) the erosion of the functions and powers of local government
2) increased number of quangos
3) limitations on human rights

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7
Q

Who felt that the balance of the constitution had been undermined by the era of Conservative rule (1979-1990)?

A

radical reformers who wanted to see a fundamental change

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8
Q

Who were Charter 88?

A

This is a campaigning pressure group set up 300 years after the Glorious Revolution to urge the case for constitutional and electoral reform.

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9
Q

Who is an example of a moderate reformer who conceded that there was no need for change, but only to ‘strengthen the existing framework, not destroy it’.

A

Philip Norton

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10
Q

What did Philip Norton say in regards to constitutional change?

A

that there was no need for change, but only to ‘strengthen the existing framework, not destroy it’

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11
Q

What did moderate reformer Philip Norton suggest in terms of constitutional change?

A
  • strengthening of parliament
  • abolition or reduction of quangos
  • devolving more power to citizens at a local level
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12
Q

What did the Conservatives believe in their 1997 manifesto about the radical changes proposed by reformers?

A

They thought that this would endanger the character of our constitutional balance

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13
Q

What 3 names did Labour call the Conservative government in the 1997 election?

A

centralised
inefficient
bureaucratic

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14
Q

What are the 4 main constitutional reforms under Labour 1997+

A
  • removal of hereditary peers
  • passing of the Human Rights Act 1998
  • Creation of devolved machinery in Scotland and Wals
  • Constitutional Reform Act 2005
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15
Q

What are 5 other constitutional reforms until Laboru 1997?

A
  • the Freedoms of Information Act
  • Creation of the office of an elected London Mayor
  • Use of proportional representation for elections to devolved bodies in UK, EU parliament and London Assembly
  • Changes to modernise HOC such as reasonable hours
  • The principle of referendums to determine constitutional change
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16
Q

What was the Freedom of Information Act 2005?

A

citizens have been given a right to view information held about them and much internal detail relating to the work of government has been made accessible