The Constitution:
Evaluate the extent to which the UK needs a codified constitution.
YES NO
Clarify the nature of political systems to citizen The uncodified constitution is flexible and allows us to
especially after changes such as devolution adapt to changing circumstances- referendums and
and HoL reform. Public awareness and changing role of HoL. If it was codified, this would be
participation will grow if they know there is a more difficult and time-consuming. 2001 9/11 attacks-
single constitution. The voter turnout of 2019 the UK was able to create anti-terrorism laws which
was 67.3% which shows change must occur. would’ve been a harder process if they had a codified
constitution. The USA has had a hard time bringing in
anti-terrorism legislation
Safeguard citizens’ rights- human rights act is not Not necessary- our country has been running
entrenched in the law which means parliament can completely fine without a codified constitution- popular
overrule it at any point in time. An example of this is the sovereignty lies with the people. The parties want to be
right to vote which Cameron took from prisoners in voted in next time
Prevent further drift to excessive executive power- Lack of constitutional constraints allows executive
parliament is sovereign in the UK which means that government to be strong and decisive- this promotes
whatever they want to pass, they can as long as they democracy as the people vote for the government so
gain a majority- this is shown in the devolution of they should have more power than the constitution.
Scotland and Wales which was only done on their
word.
Evaluate how far Parliament retains sole sovereignty within the UK political system.
AGREE DISAGREE
Controls devolution and is still sovereign over them. The people have sovereignty- gives away a significant
This is seen in 2002 where increased tensions in the area of law making and reclaiming these powers in
Northern Ireland Assembly led to the government places like Scotland could be very controversial and
dissolving it. It only reopened in 2007. Many call for cause a problem. The reason why they have devolution
more powers to be dissolved but the parliament is the is because of the people’s demands.
only people who can have a say.
Can create constitutional reforms- made recall of MPs There is an increased use of referendums on
act 2015 which meant constituencies could call their constitutional reforms- technically they can disregard
MPs who have been involved in misbehavior. They sign the votes however it would be very detrimental to do so.
a petition of at least 10% of constituents. Fiona David Cameron stepped down after the UK voted to
Onasanya of Petersborough lost her seat. leave the EU in 2016.
Legal sovereignty- Can change laws which is the house of lords can delay and amend laws to stop
something the Supreme Court cannot do (interprets law them from passing a radical change. An example of this
and develops where necessary). This was seen with is in 2015, a secondary legislation was put in place to
the English Votes for English laws which was scrapped reduce the level of tax credits paid to low-income
easily as they claimed it added complexity and delay to families. the HoL vetoed it. This forced the govt to
the legislative process. amend the legislation
Evaluate the extent to which the UK needs a codified constitution.
YES NO
Clarify the nature of political systems to citizen The uncodified constitution is flexible and allows us to
especially after changes such as devolution adapt to changing circumstances- referendums and
and HoL reform. Public awareness and changing role of HoL. If it was codified, this would be
participation will grow if they know there is a more difficult and time-consuming. 2001 9/11 attacks-
single constitution. The voter turnout of 2019 the UK was able to create anti-terrorism laws which
was 67.3% which shows change must occur. would’ve been a harder process if they had a codified
constitution. The USA has had a hard time bringing in
anti-terrorism legislation
Safeguard citizens’ rights- human rights act is not Not necessary- our country has been running
entrenched in the law which means parliament can completely fine without a codified constitution- popular
overrule it at any point in time. An example of this is the sovereignty lies with the people. The parties want to be
right to vote which Cameron took from prisoners in voted in next time
Prevent further drift to excessive executive power- Lack of constitutional constraints allows executive
parliament is sovereign in the UK which means that government to be strong and decisive- this promotes
whatever they want to pass, they can as long as they democracy as the people vote for the government so
gain a majority- this is shown in the devolution of they should have more power than the constitution.
Scotland and Wales which was only done on their
word.
Evaluate how far Parliament retains sole sovereignty within the UK political system.
AGREE DISAGREE
Controls devolution and is still sovereign over them. The people have sovereignty- gives away a significant
This is seen in 2002 where increased tensions in the area of law making and reclaiming these powers in
Northern Ireland Assembly led to the government places like Scotland could be very controversial and
dissolving it. It only reopened in 2007. Many call for cause a problem. The reason why they have devolution
more powers to be dissolved but the parliament is the is because of the people’s demands.
only people who can have a say.
Can create constitutional reforms- made recall of MPs There is an increased use of referendums on
act 2015 which meant constituencies could call their constitutional reforms- technically they can disregard
MPs who have been involved in misbehavior. They sign the votes however it would be very detrimental to do so.
a petition of at least 10% of constituents. Fiona David Cameron stepped down after the UK voted to
Onasanya of Petersborough lost her seat. leave the EU in 2016.
Legal sovereignty- Can change laws which is the house of lords can delay and amend laws to stop
something the Supreme Court cannot do (interprets law them from passing a radical change. An example of this
and develops where necessary). This was seen with is in 2015, a secondary legislation was put in place to
the English Votes for English laws which was scrapped reduce the level of tax credits paid to low-income
easily as they claimed it added complexity and delay to families. the HoL vetoed it. This forced the govt to
the legislative process. amend the legislation
