The Constitution (Edexcel A Level Politics): Flashcards
Exam code: 9PL0
1/710Still learning
Know0
Define the UK constitution.
Was this flashcard helpful?
Cards in this collection (71)
Define the UK constitution.
The UK constitution is the set of rules, principles and conventions that govern how the UK is run and how political power is distributed.
True or False?
The UK constitution is contained in a single written document.
False.
The UK constitution is not contained in a single document and has instead developed over time.
Define uncodified.
An uncodified constitution is made up of several written and unwritten sources rather than a single, supreme written document.
What are the three defining features of the UK constitution?
The three defining features of the UK constitution are that it is uncodified, unentrenched and unitary.
Define unentrenched.
An unentrenched constitution can be changed by ordinary parliamentary procedure, with no special procedure required to amend it.
Define parliamentary sovereignty.
Parliamentary sovereignty means Parliament can make or unmake any law, no Parliament can bind its successors, and Parliament is the supreme legal authority in the UK.
What are the twin pillars of the UK constitution?
The twin pillars of the UK constitution are parliamentary sovereignty and the rule of law.
In , Parliament passed the Elections Act, which introduced a requirement for voters to show photo ID at polling stations.
In 2022, Parliament passed the Elections Act, which introduced a requirement for voters to show photo ID at polling stations.
Define the Salisbury Convention.
The Salisbury Convention is an unwritten rule stating that the House of Lords should not block manifesto bills.
Which source of the constitution outranks all others?
Because Parliament is sovereign, statute law outranks all other sources of the constitution.
Magna Carta, signed in , limited royal power and forms the foundation of the rule of law and habeas corpus.
Magna Carta, signed in 1215, limited royal power and forms the foundation of the rule of law and habeas corpus.
What did the Parliament Act 1911 do to the House of Lords' power over money bills?
The Parliament Act 1911 removed the House of Lords' veto over money bills, replacing the absolute veto with a delaying power.
How many hereditary peers did the House of Lords Act 1999 leave in the House of Lords?
The House of Lords Act 1999 removed all but 92 of the House of Lords' hereditary peers.
Define the Human Rights Act (1998).
The Human Rights Act (1998) incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law, allowing individuals to enforce their rights in UK courts.
The House of Lords Act ( ) removed all but 92 of the House of Lords' hereditary peers.
The House of Lords Act (1999) removed all but 92 of the House of Lords' hereditary peers.
What did the Scotland Act 1998 create?
The Scotland Act 1998 created the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood, granting it primary legislative powers and limited tax-varying powers.
True or False?
The Human Rights Act incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights from the EU.
False.
The European Convention on Human Rights comes from the Council of Europe, not the EU.
Define a declaration of incompatibility.
A declaration of incompatibility is a formal statement by UK courts that legislation conflicts with human rights.
What did the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 create?
The Constitutional Reform Act 2005 created the UK Supreme Court, replacing the Law Lords in the House of Lords.
The Government of Wales Act (1998) created the Welsh Assembly with legislative powers.
The Government of Wales Act (1998) created the Welsh Assembly with secondary legislative powers.
In Miller v Prime Minister (2019), what did the Supreme Court rule about prorogation?
The Supreme Court ruled that Boris Johnson's decision to prorogue Parliament was unlawful.
True or False?
After the House of Lords Act 1999, the House of Lords became a fully elected chamber.
False.
The House of Lords remains unelected, with 92 hereditary peers and 26 Lords Spiritual still sitting.
Which two key cases has the Supreme Court ruled against the government in?
The Supreme Court ruled against the government in Miller v Brexit Secretary (2017) and Miller v Prime Minister (2019).
Define the Good Friday Agreement (1998).
The Good Friday Agreement (1998) created a power-sharing Assembly and Executive in Northern Ireland to end the conflict known as The Troubles.
Define the Fixed-term Parliaments Act (2011).
The Fixed-term Parliaments Act (2011) introduced fixed five-year parliamentary terms and removed the Prime Minister's ability to call elections without Commons approval.
True or False?
The 2010-2015 government was a single-party Conservative government.
False.
It was a Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition, formed after the 2010 election returned a hung Parliament.
What percentage voted to remain in the UK in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum?
In the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, 55% voted to remain in the UK.
Turnout in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum was nearly .
Turnout in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum was nearly 85%.
When was the Fixed-term Parliaments Act repealed?
The Fixed-term Parliaments Act was repealed in 2022, restoring election-calling powers to the Prime Minister.
Define the Recall of MPs Act (2015).
The Recall of MPs Act (2015) allowed constituents to trigger a by-election if their MP was suspended from Parliament for at least 10 sitting days or received a prison sentence.
True or False?
The Fixed-term Parliaments Act prevented any early general elections from being held.
False.
Early elections were still held in 2017 and 2019 after two-thirds Commons approval.
Which Act affirmed the Scottish Parliament as a permanent part of the UK constitution?
The Scotland Act 2016 affirmed the Scottish Parliament as a permanent part of the UK constitution.
What signature threshold must be reached for a recall petition to succeed?
A recall petition must be signed by at least 10% of registered voters in the constituency.
The Recall of MPs Act (2015) allows constituents to an MP between general elections, a power that has been used six times.
The Recall of MPs Act (2015) allows constituents to remove an MP between general elections, a power that has been used six times.
How did the Fiona Onasanya case demonstrate the Recall of MPs Act (2015) in practice?
After Fiona Onasanya was jailed in 2019 for perverting the course of justice, a recall petition was signed by over 10% of her Peterborough constituents, so she lost her seat and the by-election elected a new MP.
What was the result of the 2016 Brexit referendum?
In the 2016 Brexit referendum, 52% voted to leave and 48% voted to remain in the European Union.
Turnout in the 2016 Brexit referendum was around .
Turnout in the 2016 Brexit referendum was around 72%.
Define the Wales Act (2017).
The Wales Act (2017) moved Wales from a conferred powers model to a reserved powers model, allowing the Welsh Parliament to legislate on any matter not explicitly reserved to Westminster.
Define English Votes for English Laws (EVEL).
English Votes for English Laws (EVEL) was a House of Commons procedure giving English MPs a greater say over legislation affecting only England.
Which constitutional problem did EVEL aim to address?
EVEL aimed to address the West Lothian Question, where MPs from devolved nations could vote on England-only matters.
True or False?
EVEL was widely used and remains in place today.
False.
Fewer than 50 laws were voted on using EVEL procedures, and it was repealed in 2021.
What did the Elections Act 2022 require of voters?
The Elections Act 2022 required voters to show approved photographic identification at polling stations.
Define the Public Order Act (2023).
The Public Order Act (2023) expanded police powers to manage protests and introduced new criminal offences, including 'locking on'.
Why was the Public Order Act 2023 introduced?
It was introduced to expand police powers against disruptive direct-action protest, such as that by Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil, intensifying the debate over the balance between the right to protest and public order.
The Public Order Act (2023) allows police to act against protesters who interfere with key national , such as major roads.
The Public Order Act (2023) allows police to act against protesters who interfere with key national infrastructure, such as major roads.
How did Brexit affect parliamentary sovereignty?
Parliamentary sovereignty was reasserted, as EU law no longer had supremacy over UK statute law.
True or False?
According to the Electoral Commission, voter fraud in the UK was widespread before the Elections Act 2022.
False.
According to the Electoral Commission, voter fraud in the UK was already extremely rare.
Define devolution.
Devolution refers to the transfer of power from central government to regional or national bodies.
How do directly elected metro mayors illustrate devolution in England?
They give English regions directly elected leaders who can tailor policy to local needs, as when Greater Manchester's mayor Andy Burnham introduced the integrated Bee Network transport system.
Directly elected metro mayors in England control devolved powers over areas such as and housing.
Directly elected metro mayors in England control devolved powers over areas such as transport and housing.
Define the reserved matters model.
Under a reserved matters model, a devolved body can legislate on all matters except those explicitly reserved to Westminster.
True or False?
Scotland has had tax-varying powers since the Scotland Acts of 2012 and 2016.
True.
The Scotland Acts of 2012 and 2016 gave the Scottish Parliament tax-varying and welfare powers.
Give one distinctive policy introduced by the Scottish Parliament.
The Scottish Parliament introduced free university tuition for Scottish students.
In 2013, Wales introduced the Human Transplantation (Wales) Act, making organ donation rather than opt-in.
In 2013, Wales introduced the Human Transplantation (Wales) Act, making organ donation opt-out rather than opt-in.
When was Wales' opt-out organ donation policy adopted across the UK?
The opt-out organ donation policy was adopted across the UK in 2019.
Define the Good Friday Agreement (1998).
The Good Friday Agreement (1998) established a power-sharing model of devolution in Northern Ireland, requiring cooperation between unionist and nationalist parties.
When were policing and justice powers transferred to Northern Ireland?
Policing and justice powers were transferred to Northern Ireland in 2007.
True or False?
The Northern Ireland Assembly has operated continuously without suspension since 1998.
False.
The Northern Ireland Assembly has experienced repeated suspensions.
Which post-Brexit arrangements have continued to create instability in Northern Ireland?
The Windsor Framework, the post-Brexit arrangements, has continued to create political instability in Northern Ireland.
Define elective dictatorship.
Elective dictatorship is the doctrine that governments with strong Commons majorities can dominate Parliament.
What criticism of the House of Lords do partisan honours appointments illustrate?
They illustrate that the unelected House of Lords lacks democratic legitimacy, as Boris Johnson's 2023 resignation honours appointed Charlotte Owen as the youngest life peer in history.
Define First Past the Post (FPTP).
First Past the Post is the UK's electoral system, which can produce disproportionate results by rewarding the largest party with a share of seats greater than its share of votes.
In the 2024 general election, what share of seats did Labour win with around 34% of the vote?
Labour won nearly 64% of the seats in the House of Commons with around 34% of the national vote.
True or False?
Reform UK's 14% vote share in 2024 translated into a proportionate number of seats.
False.
Reform UK won around 14% of the vote but gained only five seats, as its support was spread thinly.
The (2020) allowed ministers to override parts of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, breaching international law.
The Internal Market Bill (2020) allowed ministers to override parts of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, breaching international law.
Give one argument in favour of codifying the UK constitution.
A codified constitution would protect rights more securely, as it would be more difficult to amend or repeal.
Give one argument against codifying the UK constitution.
Codification would weaken parliamentary sovereignty, which has been a central feature of the UK constitution for centuries.
True or False?
There is strong, consistent public appetite for major constitutional reform.
False.
Public support is inconsistent, and 67% voted against electoral reform in the 2011 AV referendum.
How did events in 2022 show the flexibility of the uncodified constitution?
In 2022, three Prime Ministers were replaced lawfully within a short period without constitutional crisis.
What reform has been proposed to extend devolution in England?
There have been calls to create an English Parliament to extend devolution in England.
Policies first introduced in devolved areas, such as the smoking ban and , were later adopted nationwide.
Policies first introduced in devolved areas, such as the smoking ban and opt-out organ donation, were later adopted nationwide.
Sign up to unlock flashcards
or