Devolution Flashcards
What are the major powers of the Scottish parliament and government?
Tax- income rate and tax bands
Health and social policy- abortion law, health service
Environment- agriculture, environment polices, housing
Education and culture
Law and home affairs- justice, police, prisons, elections
What did the Scotland act of 2016 introduce?
Westminster not legislate on developed matters w-out consent, Scottish gov and parliament permanent part of constitution
Scottish parliament + government can’t be abolished unless referendum in Scotland
What powers did the 2016 Scotland act introduce?
Road signs and speed limits
Franchise for Scottish parliament elections
Receive 50% if VAT raised in Scotland
What does the SNP say about the devolved powers given to Scotland?
Changes fall short of “devomax” where ideally, Scotland would have full powers
What are the Major powers of the Welsh government granted by the wales act of 2017?
Tax- rate of income tax, control over 10p share of income tax
Health and social policy- health and social services
Environment- same as Scotland
Education and culture- same as Scotland
Law and home affairs- elections
What did the wales act of 2017 also establish?
Assembly and welsh gov permnesnt part of uk constitution
Now enjoys legislative powers and has system of reserved powers to Scotland
However not as powerful as Scotland
What did the Good Friday agreement of 1998 establish?
Power sharing devolution and required uk and Irish government to amend constitution clarifying the status of Northern Ireland
What are the major powers of the NI government granted under Good Friday agreement 1998?
Tax- corporation tax
Health and social policy- health and social services
Environment- same as Scotland
Education and culture- same as Scotland
Law and home affairs- same as Scotland
How does the making up of the NI executive ensure fair representation?
First minister leader from largest party
Deputy minister leader from second largest party
This ensures representation of nationalist and unionists
When did the NI assembly collapse and why?
Collapsed 2017 due to- DUP and Sinn Feinn saw the latter refuse to nominate new deputy first minister
What an example of the west-Lothian question?
Health and social care bill and higher education bill only passed due to Scottish MPs
What is quasi-federalism?
When the central govt devolves power to other places but still could take back that power.
e.g.- central govt of UK is Westminster and it gives power to Scotland, NI and Wales.
but UK parliament can take back these powers whenever it wants because legally it remains supreme.
What are some examples of quasi-federalism?
different lockdown rules in all devolved states, no prescription charges in Scotland, abolition of higher education tuition fees.
What is the communal conflict of NI devolution?
Unionists tend to identify w British state and are often protestant.
Nationalists identify as Irish and tend to be Catholics.
around 45% of NI are catholic.
What happened in NI regarding security and death?
campaigns by both sides killed more than 3600 people during the “troubles” and British soldiers patrolled streets for several decades.
IRA have agreed to a ceasefire since 1995 but some Republican breakaway groups remain.
What is the separate system of govt in NI?
NI had been governed differently from rest of UK. Between 1922-72 it was only [art of UK to have it’s own parliament.
Under direct rule secretary of state for NI had significant policy-making powers.
Devolution in NI had been distinctive in its designs so thar unionists and nationalists share power.
