Half Term One

Question 1

What are the Sources of the Uk Constitution?

Answer 1

Statute Law, Common Law, Authoratitive Works, Conventions, Royal Perogative and formerly External Relations (EU Law).

Question 2

When was the Magna Carta and which monarch was reigning at the time?

Answer 2

King John in 1215 signed the Magna Carta.

Question 3

What did the Magna Carta include?

Answer 3

The King cannot raise a tax without the consent of the people, trial by jury is guarenteed (for freemen), Nobles could select a comittee to scrutinise the actions of the monarch.

Question 4

Where did the Magna Carta come from?

Answer 4

It came from a disagreement between King John and the Barons.

Question 5

What was the Bill of Rights and when was it signed?

Answer 5

It was signed in 1689 by William III and Mary. It made sure elections were free from interference, limited the monarch’s powers, established parliamentary sovreignty, ensured parliaments were held reguarly, no taxation without the consent of Parliament and Parliamentary freedom of speech.

Question 6

What was the Act of Settlement and when was it signed?

Answer 6

Signed in 1701, the Act of Settlement decided that the monarch had to be protestant, parliament had the power to chose the monarch, judges could not be removed without parliament’s consent. The monarch could not take England to war without Parliament’s consent, the Monarch had to make decisions with the Privy Council.

Question 7

What was the Act of Union and when was it signed?

Answer 7

It formed the Kingdom of Great Britain.1707.

Question 8

What was the 1911 Parliament Act?

Answer 8

It confirmed that the commons had power over the lords, it made sure only the commons could decide on monetary bills, the lords could only delay a bill that had passed in the commons for two years not veto it, parliaments would be elected for 5 years not 7.

Question 9

What was the 1949 Parliament Act?

Answer 9

The Lrods could only delay legislation by one year, Any government oculd pass legislation and bypass the Lords if they tried to block it.

Question 10

What was the 1972 European Communities Act?

Answer 10

The EEC could make laws, these took priority over statute law. If the Uk Parliament passed a law that was incompatible with EU law, it be struck down.

Question 11

What does parliamentary sovereignty mean?

Answer 11

Lesgislation passed by parliament cannot be struck down by a body such as a cort. The Highest court in the land can interpret a law but cannot overturn it.

Question 12

What was the Scotland Act 1998?

Answer 12

It allowed for the creation of a Scottish Parliament. It followed the 1997 Scottish devolution referendum.

Question 13

What was the Wales Act 1998?

Answer 13

It allowed for creation of a Welsh Assembly. It followed the narrow 1997 Welsh devolution referndum.

Question 14

What did the Godd Friday Agreement create?

Answer 14

The Northern Irish Assembly was created.

Question 15

Why did New Labour devolve so much power?

Answer 15

They felt it was necesary to stop the rise of nationalism and to appease unionists.

Question 16

What did Human Rights Act 1998 do?

Answer 16

It made the European Convention on Human Rights more binding on all puublic bodies except the uk parliament.

Question 17

What was the House of Lords Act 1999?

Answer 17

It limited the number of hereditary peers to 92.

Question 18

What was the Greater London Authority Act 1999?

Answer 18

It established a powerful elected mayor in London with and elected assembly to which he or she is accountable.

Question 19

What was the Local Government Act 1999?

Answer 19

It allowed for communities to elect a mayor if approved by a local referendum.

Question 20

What was the Freedom of Information Act 2000?

Answer 20

It gave the right to citizens to veiw documents and records of public bodies as long as national security or personal confidentiality would not be compromised.

Question 21

What was the Constitutional Reform Act 2005?

Answer 21

It established the Supreme Court to replace the Law Lords. It removed the highest court from the legislature.

Question 22

What did the Liberal Democrats during the coalition want the House of Lords to become?

Answer 22

They wanted the Lords to become a democratically elected house. This was blocked by the tory back bench.

Question 23

How many MPs do the Conservative party want there to be?

Answer 23

They want there to be 600 rather than 650 seats in teh House of Commons. This was blocked by the Liberal Democrats.

Question 24

What was the dispute over voting systems during the coallition government about?

Answer 24

Whether or not there should be first past the post of Alternative Vote (AV). The Conservatives supported First past the post and the Liberal Democrats supported Alternative Vote. The British public rejected AV in a referendum.