UK Constitution

Question 1

Unentrenched

Answer 1

Easily amended

Question 2

Codified

Answer 2

Written in one place

Question 3

Unitary

Answer 3

Power is held in one place (Parliament)

Question 4

Sovereignty

Answer 4

Absolute power

Question 5

Statute Law

Answer 5

A law passed by Parliament

Question 6

Common Law

Answer 6

Unwritten laws

Question 7

Conventions

Answer 7

A way in which something is usually done

Question 8

Devolution

Answer 8

Decentralisation of power, but not sovereignty

Question 9

Select Committee

Answer 9

A committee in commons/lords that checks governments work

Question 10

Fixed term Parliament

Answer 10

Elections to be held every 5 years

Question 11

Referendum

Answer 11

A vote where the entire electorate is invited to vote

Question 12

Hereditary Peers

Answer 12

Peers who are in the House of Lords because they inherited their title

Question 13

Legislative

Answer 13

Law makers (parliament)

Question 14

Judiciary

Answer 14

Courts

Question 15

Executive

Answer 15

Prime Minister and their government

Question 16

Fusion of Powers

Answer 16

Executive sits IN the legislative

Question 17

Sources of the Constitution

Answer 17

• Statute law
• Common law
• Conventions
• Landmark decisions
• Authoritative Works
• Treaties

Question 18

Statute law

Answer 18

Not all statute laws are part of the constitution, but ones that affect power are.
- Parliament Act 1911, 1949: Limited the power of the House of Lords.
- Scotland Act, 1998, Human Rights Act, Equality Act, 2010.

Question 19

Common law

Answer 19

Unwritten law often used when statute law is unclear.

Question 20

Conventions

Answer 20

Not laws, but conventions develop over time.
- No law saying a member of the Lords can’t be a PM, but by convention they are not.
- Tony Blair created a convention by asking for a vote on the Iraq war in 2003.

Question 21

Landmark decisions

Answer 21

Like the Magna Carta

Question 22

Authoritative Works

Answer 22

John Bercow cited Erskine May’s authoritative work (published in 1844) to stop May having a 3rd Brexit vote.

Question 23

Treaties

Answer 23

Lisbon treaty forms the constitutional basis of the EU

Question 24

Devolution Scotland Act 1998

Answer 24

Gave power over healthcare, education, roads and public transport, criminal and civil law, policing, local authority services, the power to change the rate of income tax by 3% and other powers. No tuition fees for Scottish students at Scottish universities.

Question 25

Devolution Wales

Answer 25

No prescription charges

Question 26

Devolution Northern Ireland

Answer 26

No executive since Jan 2017 because the power sharing deal has fallen apart. However, Good Friday Agreement ended a conflict that had killed 3500 people, 52% of which were civilians. July 2019, Parliament voted to extent abortion and LGBT rights to Northern Ireland if they did not have an executive in place by October 2019 (evidence of Parliament taking back some of the devolution?).

Question 27

Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016

Answer 27

This introduces directly-elected mayors in combined local authorities.

Question 28

Quasi- federalist

Answer 28

The idea that whilst Parliament HAS the power to take back power it grants through devolution, it ultimately won’t because of political consequences.

Question 29

Constitutional reform For and Against

Answer 29

For - Lack of clarity currently - Lack of accountability in the House of Lords - Limits on power of executive - Greater protection of Human Rights Against - Flexibility - Long view - House of Lords serves a purpose - Further reforms to the House of Lords

Question 30

Lack of clarity currently

Answer 30

Brexit = confusing process. Referendums not binding to the government, but being followed regardless. Public unable to effect change to stop Brexit. Clear and concise would mean understanding of this process.

Question 31

Lack of accountability in the House of Lords

Answer 31

HOL Act 1999 attempted to make elected but still 92 hereditary peers and Bishops. Lord Lester accused of sexual harassment in 2018.

Question 32

Limits on power of executive

Answer 32

Unrestrained executive power as led to decisions such as calling for a referendum for Brexit.

Question 33

Greater protection of Human Rights

Answer 33

Hirst V UK, 2005 – ECHR ruled that the blanket ban of prisoners votes was against their human rights.

Question 34

Flexibility

Answer 34

Firearms Act, 1997 – following Dunblane massacre. Brexit.

Question 35

Long view

Answer 35

An unelected House of Lords allows for a non partisan view of change. Rejection of the tax credits cut, 2015. Amendment to Children’s and Families Act, 2014.

Question 36

House of Lords serves a purpose

Answer 36

Experts in HoL helps with legislation. EG: Lord Bird, an ex-homeless person and founder of Big Issue represents homelessness in the Lords. Lord Adonis is an economics and education expert.

Question 37

Further reform to the House of Lords

Answer 37

The Burns Report in 2017 suggested cap to 15 years appointments instead of for life and cut down members to 600 from 800.

Question 38

Reform 1997-2010

Answer 38

- Human Rights Act, 1998 - House of Lords reform, 1999 - Constitutional Reform Act, 2005 - Freedom of Information, 2000 - Elected London mayors, 2000

Question 39

Human Rights Act, 1998

Answer 39

Still problems as Parliamentary Sovereignty rules. Shamima Begum causes questions with this as in Feb 2019 her British citizenship was revoked when she asked to return to the UK

Question 40

House of Lords reform, 1999

Answer 40

Reduction to 92 peers. Nick Clegg pushed for Lords reform that was abandoned after too much opposition from Tories

Question 41

Constitutional Reform Act, 2005

Answer 41

Created an independent judiciary. Miller V Secretary of State of Exiting the EU ruled that a vote was required for the Secretary of State for exiting the EU to call a Parliamentary vote before triggering Article 50. Pimlico Plumbers V Smith, 2017. Smith argued he had been unfairly dismissed due to a disability and not given annual leave pay. Pimlico Plumbers argued that he was ‘self-employed’, but an Employment Tribune ruled that under the Employment Act 1996 and the Equalities Act 2010, he was a ‘worker’ and therefore entitled to claim disability discrimination. The Court of Appeals found the same and the SC dismissed it, agree with the original findings.

Question 42

Freedom of Information, 2000

Answer 42

Allowed for the request of MPs finance, starting expense scandal in 2009. Freedom of Information Act 2012 shows that Blair had wanted to knight Syrian leader Assad

Question 43

Reform 2010-2018

Answer 43

- Fixed Term Parliament, 2011 - Elected Mayors, 2012 - Elected Police crime commissioners, 2012 - English Votes for English Laws, 2015 - Recall of MPs Act, 2015

Question 44

Fixed Term Parliament, 2011

Answer 44

Parliament has to be called every 5 years. Snap elections only with super majority – however, this is not infallible because a majority is easily reached as the opposition is almost always wanting of an election, it doesn’t work well. Nick Clegg put forward referendum in 2011 to change to alternative voting system but was rejected

Question 45

Elected Police crime commissioners, 2012

Answer 45

Only 30% turnout in most places

Question 46

English Votes for English Laws, 2015

Answer 46

Known as the West Lothian Question

Question 47

Recall of MPs Act, 2015

Answer 47

Christopher Davis was recalled in 2019 for being convicted of providing false evidence for expenses claims.