Consitutional reforms 1997-2010

Question 1

What is constitutional reform?

Answer 1

The act of modernising the way a country’s run

Question 2

Why would reform a constitution?

Answer 2

Fears of parliamentary sovereignty
Corruption and sleese associated with the HoC
Fairness in electoral system
Future of HoL
Exclusion of civil liberty’s

Question 3

What are the different areas of reform

Answer 3

Parliamentary reform
Rights
Electoral reform
Devolution
Judiciary

Question 4

What are the different parliamentary reforms?

Answer 4

House of lords act 1998
Pmq
MP express scandal

Question 5

Parliamentary reform- House of lords act 1999

Answer 5

stage 1- to remove all but 82 hereditary peers
Stage 2- new procedure if electeting peers into an new democratic chamber
Stage 3- never occurred

Question 6

Parliamentary reforms- PMQ

Answer 6

Replaced 2 15 minute sessions with single 30 minute sessions

Question 7

Parliamentary reforms- MP express scandals 2009?

Answer 7

Prompting a new system where by the issue if expenses and MPs pay was placed in hands of independence comments

Question 8

What are the rights act?

Answer 8

Human rights act 2003
Freedom of information act 2000

Question 9

Rights- HRA 1998?

Answer 9

Ensuring most of the provisions of the EU convention on human rights

Question 10

Examples of human rights?

Answer 10

-Right to libertys
-Personal security
-A right to a fair trial

Question 11

Times when human rights reflected work?

Answer 11

-A gay couple refused a flat due to benefit- this act protected them as it was the right to treat equally
-A man with special needs protected from going to care home
-Politician Abu Qatar refusal from being sent back to country on suspicion of terrors

Question 12

Rights- freedom of information act?

Answer 12

Rights for citizens to see information about themselves held by public bodies
Makes govt transparent

Question 13

Electoral reform acts?

Answer 13

STV
AMS
Regional list

Question 14

Electoral reform- STV?

Answer 14

Introduced in local election in scotland and northern ireland in 1999

Question 15

Electoral reform- AMS?

Answer 15

Introduced in scottish parliament 1990 and welsh assembly 1990 and national assembly in n. ireland 2001

Question 16

Electoral reform- Regional list?

Answer 16

In EU parliament 1999

Question 17

Constitutional reform Devolution?

Answer 17

Scotland act 1998
Wales act 1998
N. Ireland act 1998

Question 18

Devolution constitutional reform- Scotland act?

Answer 18

Yes 74.3%
Asked if they want tax varying powers by 1%
Also allowing administrative legislative and financial devolution allowing to do reserved matters and now devolved matters

Question 19

Devolution- Welsh act

Answer 19

Welsh national assembly created in 1999, weaker than scottish parliament
Had second legislative and executive powers but no primary legislative authority
Only in policy areas like education

Question 20

Develution- Northern ireland

Answer 20

Good friday agreement created N. Ireland assembly
Powers over primary legislation over education and health agenda of foreign policy and relationship with irish republic economy policy (social policy and taxation in west minster)
Granted legislative powers iver similar range of policy areas as the scottish parliament but not tax varying powers

Question 21

Judiciary constitutional reform?

Answer 21

Constitutional reform act 2005
Constitutional Reform and Governance Act (2010)

Question 22

Judiciary- constitutional reform act 2005

Answer 22

Establishing a new supreme court
-Reform role of lord chancellor (all 3 branches of govt decided into 3 jobs so one person didn’t overlook all)
-Reformed process of appointing judges
-Positions are now advertised instead of a talent scout, supreme court selection

Question 23

Criticisms of new labour policy’s- Liberalism?

Answer 23

Not gone far enough
Still hereditary peers in HoL
Still no written constitution

Question 24

Criticisms of new labour- conservatism?

Answer 24

Gone to far
Parliament has lost too much strength eu has it
HoL was institutional and it worked well
Devolution will break union

Question 25

Evaluation of constitutional changes?

Answer 25

Modernisation of political institution Democratisation Devolution Human rights

Question 26

Evaluation of reform- Modernisation of political institutional - successes

Answer 26

-Creation of supreme court enabled separation between executive and judiciary -HoL are now smaller so therefore more diverse and less controversial -Gendered equality's reached royal family

Question 27

Evaluation of reform- Modernisation of political instetutional - Failures

Answer 27

-Reforms of the HoL remain incompetent and unfair -The altercation to the line of royal succession is minor

Question 28

Evaluation of reform- Democratisation - succsesses

Answer 28

-Direct election of police and crime commission enhanced opportunity for political party's -Reform has european park elections has enabled a greater variety of party's to be replaced -Greater authority in larger city's

Question 29

Evaluation of reform- Democratisation- Failures

Answer 29

-Turnout in mayoral election was bad -Lack of enthusiasm for from the voting system for national election e.g. AV -Provisions of FPT were easy

Question 30

Evaluation of reform- Human rights- successes

Answer 30

-A huge role in the UK supreme court -Interpretive legislation and has increased protection of citizens rights -Renewed emphasis landmark legislation has increased awareness of citizens rights -Laws concerning privacy and access for information have enhances rights

Question 31

Evaluation of reform- Human rights- Failures?

Answer 31

-Rights lead to a rise in of identity politics and a class or collective rights -Growing role of the constitution on human rights have lead to controversy -Freedom of information act has not worked as for many requests from politicians the info breech was denied

Question 32

Evaluation of reform- Devolution- success

Answer 32

-Popular support for devolution has increased hugely in 1997 -Wide spread demand indy ref -Devolution has worked increasingly well especially in Scotland and Wales -N. ireland devolution process has helped end the violent period known as the troubles

Question 33

Evaluation of reform- Human rights failures?

Answer 33

-Support for england develution has increased -Only a devolved parliment that stopped full seperation from the UK in 2017 -Develution hasn't succseeded everywhere e.g. N.ireland policy