The Constitution-Nature+sources

Question 1

What is a constitutions

Answer 1

rules which outline who has what powers and responsibilities and how government and the people are expected to behave and interact with each other

Question 2

How can we describe the UK constitution as

Answer 2

an evolved constitution not an enacted constitution, developed over time

Question 3

Is the Uk constitution codified or uncodified

Answer 3

uncodified

Question 4

What does uncodified mean

Answer 4

not contained to single document written from lots of different sources,

Question 5

Is the Uk entrenched or unentrenched

Answer 5

Unentrenched

Question 6

What does unentrenched mean

Answer 6

easy to change constitution (bc parliament sovereign)

Question 7

Is the Uk a federal or unitary state?

Answer 7

Unitary

Question 8

Give an example of a federal state

Answer 8

US

Question 9

What is a unitary state?

Answer 9

power is firmly centralised to parliament

Question 10

Who made the “twin pillars” idea

Answer 10

A.V Dicey

Question 11

What are the 2 twin pillars?

Answer 11

1: Parliament is the supreme law making body
2: Gov must be according to rule of law

Question 12

Why is the UK constitution so different to other nations?

Answer 12

Since the Norman Conquest in 1066, there has not been a historical event that has entirely altered the principles on which the nation is governed.

Question 13

What is the first stage of development of UK constitution

Answer 13

Anglo saxon england

Question 14

What was anglo saxon england?

Answer 14

had a witan(group of nobles who advised the king)

Question 15

Why was anglo saxon england significant?

Answer 15

early form of democracy

Question 16

What is the second stage of development of UK constiution

Answer 16

Magna carta(1215)

Question 17

What was magna carta?

Answer 17

Document which the barons tries to limit the kings power.

Question 18

Why was magna carta significant?

Answer 18

-all trials need witnesses
-no imprisonment without fair trial
-everyone had right to fair trial
-HABEAS CORPUS- no one can be punished without fair trial
-Trying to establish RULE OF LAW

Question 19

What is the third stage of development of UK constitution

Answer 19

The English civil war (1642-1649)

Question 20

What was The English civil war

Answer 20

Civil war caused new democratic movement and radical ideas
Parliament gained more power and began to assert right to protect liberties of english people against monarchy

Question 21

Why was the english civil war significant

Answer 21

-Petition of right(1628) meaning crown isn’t above the law and that parliament is primary lawmaker against divine right of king

Question 22

What is the forth stage of development of UK constitution

Answer 22

Glorious revolution and the Bill of rights (1689)

Question 23

What was the Glorious revolution and the Bill of rights

Answer 23

King(William of orange) worked with parliament on bill of rights for the first time

Question 24

Why was the Glorious revolution and the Bill of rights significant?

Answer 24

-key moment in development of britains constitutional monarchy
-Bill of rights: summoning regular parliaments, free elections, freedom of speech

Question 25

What is the fifth stage of development of UK constitution

Answer 25

Act of settlement(1701)

Question 26

What was the Act of settlement

Answer 26

-confirmed primacy of parliament over crown -confirmed judicial independence

Question 27

Why was the Act of settlement significant

Answer 27

-parliament had authority to determine succession to the throne - a judge can only be removed on agreement of both houses

Question 28

What is the sixth stage of development of UK constitution

Answer 28

Acts of Union (1707+1800)

Question 29

What were the acts of union?

Answer 29

united parliament of scotland with england and whales

Question 30

Why were the acts of union significant?

Answer 30

-created united kingdom

Question 31

What is the seventh stage of development of UK constitution

Answer 31

Parliament acts(1911+1949)

Question 32

What was the 1911 parliament act

Answer 32

Lords lost right to veto

Question 33

What was the 1949 parliament act

Answer 33

established democratic legitimacy of parliament by asserting primacy of commons over lords

Question 34

Why was the 1911 parliament act significant?

Answer 34

lords wouldn't be able to amend financial bills such as budget but able to delay bill for 2 years

Question 35

Why was the 1949 parliament act significant

Answer 35

delay bill from 2 years to one year

Question 36

What is the eighth stage of development of UK constitution

Answer 36

Representation of the people act 1918

Question 37

What was the representation of the people act 1918

Answer 37

allowed all men 21 and over, women over 30 + property qualification could vote

Question 38

Why was the representation of the people act significant 1918

Answer 38

in first world war men+women sacrifices changed political atmosphere, to recognise this bill was passed, men and women could vote

Question 39

What is the ninth stage of development of UK constitution

Answer 39

representation of people act 1928

Question 40

What was the representation of the people act 1928

Answer 40

men+women 21+ over could vote

Question 41

Why was the representation of the people act 1928 significant?

Answer 41

more rights to women as voting age was lowered to mens. "universal suffrage"

Question 42

What is the tenth stage of development of UK constitution

Answer 42

European communities act 1972

Question 43

What is the European communities act 1972

Answer 43

uk joined European economic community

Question 44

Why was the European communities act 1972 significant?

Answer 44

European law takes precedence over domestic law

Question 45

What are the advantages of having an uncodified constitution?

Answer 45

-greater degree of flexibility which allows political to be more responsive to changing ideas -tend to release build up of public pressure without need for uprising

Question 46

What are the disadvantages of an uncodified constitution

Answer 46

-less effective at protecting rights can lead to discontent

Question 47

Give an example when uncodified constitution was used

Answer 47

Dunblane massacre