rights

Question 1

what are the civil liberties

Answer 1

-freedom of speech
-the right to a fair trial
-freedom of religion
-freedom of association

Question 2

what is common law

Answer 2

refers to rules that have been established through customs

Question 3

what is statute law

Answer 3

takes precedence over common law

Question 4

human rights act 1998

Answer 4

-incorporated the ECHR 1950 into UK law
-citizens can challenge laws in UK courts rather than the ECHR
-UK courts can issue a ‘declaration of incompatibility’ -can put pressure on the gov to back down
-brexit will have no effect on the ECHR

Question 5

freedom of information act 2000

Answer 5

-created a more open system of government
-allows the public to access files from every government body
-it affects national security

Question 6

the equality act 2010

Answer 6

protected characteristics= religion, gender reassignment, age, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy + maternity, belief, race, sex + sexual orientation

Question 7

threats to civil liberties

Answer 7

surveillance, stop + search, freedom of expression, political demonstration, anti terrorism

Question 8

how are rights protected

Answer 8

-HRA + other laws mean that rights are set out clearly and in detail
-a rights based culture has been established
-this allows the judiciary to be active in defending rights
-pressure groups work to stop governments undermining rights

Question 9

how are rights not protected

Answer 9

-citizens rights have been restricted as governments seek to protect citizens from terrorism
-the right to protest means parliament has been restricted
-the gov has introduced ’control orders’ to restrict freedom of movement
-the media undermines rights protection by portraying acts like the HRA as restricting rights