The monarchy, sovereignty and the constitution

Question 1

When did the power of the monarchy start to diminish?

Answer 1

After Charles I was beheaded in 1649

Question 2

Who was the English Civil War between?

Answer 2

The Royalists and the Parliamentarians

Question 3

True or false, the monarch’s role is restricted to being largely ceremonial?

Answer 3

True

Question 4

In what year was Britain governed by a monarchy who could overrule parliamentary decision?

Answer 4

1066

Question 5

When was the Glorious revolution?

Answer 5

1688

Question 6

When was the Bill of Rights passed and what does it protect?

Answer 6

1688 - parliamentary protection against royal absolutism

Question 7

When did the monarch’s business begin to be carried out by a cabinet?

Answer 7

1800

Question 8

In what year was the Great Reform Act?

Answer 8

1832

Question 9

Which Reform Act was passed in 1867 and what was it for?

Answer 9

The Electoral Reform Act extended franchise to some male workers

Question 10

Which Reform Act extended franchise to women and in what year?

Answer 10

The 1928 Equal Franchise Act

Question 11

What does the constitution do?

Answer 11

-Sets out how a country is governed and run
-individual rights and freedoms
-Checks and balances of government

Question 12

What are the 5 key feature of the UK Constitution?

Answer 12

PUUFF
1.Parliamentary Sovereignty
2.Uncodified
3.Unitary
4.Fusion of Powers
5.Flexible

Question 13

What is Parliamentary Sovereignty?

Answer 13

Sovereignty = supreme, unrestricted power
The absolute and unlimited authority of Parliament which can in theory make, repeal or amend any law

Question 14

What is uncodified constitution?

Answer 14

-This type of constitution is not confined to one single document.
Much of it may be written down, but in a variety of documents

Question 15

What is unitary constitution?

Answer 15

Ultimate power lies within the sovereign.

Question 16

What is the opposite of a unitary constitution and how does it work?

Answer 16

A federal constitution allows legal sovereignty to be shared between government at the centre and the constituent states

Question 17

What country is an example of a federal constitution?

Answer 17

The United States

Question 18

What is a fusion of powers constitution?

Answer 18

Where the executive branch and legislative branch of government intermingle

Question 19

Give an example of two MPs who are involved in a fusion of powers constitution

Answer 19

David Cameron - a member of the legislative branch (MP for Witney) and the executive branch (Prime Minister)

Vince Cable is both a member of the legislative branch (MP for Twickenham) and the executive branch (a member of the Cabinet)

Question 20

Describe a flexible constitution

Answer 20

-The type of constitution where changes can take place without a lengthy special procedure e.g Parliament can simply pass another Act of Parliament

Question 21

What is the opposite of a flexible constitution?

Answer 21

A rigid constitution: changes can only take place as a result of a special constitutional amendment procedure

Question 22

What is a statute law?

Answer 22

a system of laws that have been decided and approved by a parliament

Question 23

What is a common law?

Answer 23

The body of law created by judges and similar quasi-judicial tribunals by virtue of being stated in written opinions

Question 24

What is this the definition of? ‘Characterized as the institutionalised and legal power inherent in a job role or position that allows the holder of the job to perform their responsibilities effectively’

Answer 24

Work of authority

Question 25

What is a convention?

Answer 25

‘Rules of constitutional practice that are regarded as binding in operation but not in law’

Question 26

Name the 5 ways a constitution can be reformed

Answer 26

-Cabinet and Parliamentary Committees -Referendums -Investigatory Commission -Act of Parliament -European Law (pre-Brexit)

Question 27

What are the key areas of constitutional reform?

Answer 27

-Devolution – Scotland, N.I, Wales -Electoral reform -London and Local Government -Freedom of Information -Human Rights -The Judiciary -Parliamentary Reform

Question 28

When was the Welsh National Assembly established?

Answer 28

1999

Question 29

Which NI agreement was established with powers of primary legislation, education and health

Answer 29

The Good Friday Agreement

Question 30

When was the Human Rights Act established?

Answer 30

1998

Question 31

Which PM decided to replace the House of Lords with the Supreme Court as the final court of appeal and constitutional court of the UK and in what year?

Answer 31

Gordon Brown in 2009

Question 32

What is the privy Council and when was it formed?

Answer 32

It is the oldest form of legislative advisors and has been in place since the Norman times

Question 33

What is the Royal prerogative ?

Answer 33

-Consists of a number of ministers on to make decisions on behalf of the monarch

Question 34

Where is the authority of the royal prerogative derived from?

Answer 34

the Crown, not Parliament

Question 35

Give 3 examples of the duties of the Royal Prerogative

Answer 35

declare war, make treaties, give orders to the armed forces

Question 36

What type of constitution is the British constitution?

Answer 36

An unwritten constitution

Question 37

British parliament is presided over by...

Answer 37

Speaker

Question 38

Describe the concept of devolution

Answer 38

The decentralisation of governmental power. An example of a devolved government is the Welsh assembly