UK Constitution

Question 1

Codified constitution

Answer 1

Contained in a single document which is the single source

Question 2

Uncodified constitution

Answer 2

Is not contained within a single written document

Question 3

Politically entrenched

Answer 3

Difficult/unlikely to change

Question 4

Unentrenched

Answer 4

Can be changed by a simple majority and normal legislative processes

Question 5

Unitary constitution

Answer 5

Legal sovereignty is contained in a single place

Question 6

Federal constitution

Answer 6

Document which sets out the relationship between the governors and the governed under a federal system of government

Question 7

Statue law

Answer 7

Written law produced by Parliament

Question 8

Common law

Answer 8

Law that is declared and derived from judicial decisions applying to everyone across the country

Question 9

Asymmetric devolution

Answer 9

Different devolved nations have different degrees of power and responsibility

Question 10

Quasi-federalism

Answer 10

Central government of a unitary state devolves some of its powers to subnational governments

Question 11

Fusion of powers

Answer 11

When the executive and legislative branches of government are intermingled

Question 12

Separation of powers

Answer 12

Division of a state’s government into branches, each with separate, independent powers and responsibilities, so that the powers of one branch are not in conflict with those of the other branches

Question 13

Decentralisation

Answer 13

Reduction in the authority of national governments over policy making

Question 14

Example - Two benefits of constitution flexibility

Answer 14

Formation of coalition government in 2010 and ‘O’Donnell Rules’

Question 15

Example - Statue law as a source

Answer 15

Fixed Term Parliament Act 2011

Question 16

Example - Unentrenched

Answer 16

Fixed Term Parliament Act 2011 was ignored in order to pass the Early Parliamentary General Election Act 2019

Question 17

Example - Authoritative works

Answer 17

John Bercow used Erskine May to decide Theresa May’s Brexit withdrawal agreement can be put before the House for a third time. But only if it had substantially changed from before.

Question 18

Example - Fusion of power

Answer 18

Until 2005 the Lord Chancellor would have the role of all 3 branches of Government with the last occurrence being with Baron Falconer Of Thornton

Question 19

3 Examples - Rights legislation since 1997

Answer 19

. Human Rights Act 1998
. Equalities Act 2010
. Freedom Of Information Act 2000

Question 20

Example - Breaches of the ECHR by the UK (number of breaches between certain years and percentage of cases brought to the court)

Answer 20

The European Court Of Human Rights ruled against the UK 301 times between 1959-2014. And this was only 2% of cases brought against the UK Government to the Court

Question 21

Example - Lack of clarity

Answer 21

The Supreme Court has to rule on whether the Governments prorogation of Parliament in 2019 was lawful (it wasn’t)

Question 22

Example - Amount of countries with an uncodified constitution (name the definite examples)

Answer 22

Debated but less than 10. Definite examples include Israel, New Zealand, Canada and Saudi Arabia

Question 23

Example - 6 Cities/Regions With Elected Mayors

Answer 23

London, West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Liverpool, South Yorkshire and North Yorkshire