UK Constitution Exam Prep -
Introduction and Background Exam
Questions and Answers
What is (roughly) the Hugh Heclo and Aaron Wildavsky quote and what does it mean? -
ANSWER-They express the idea that the UK constitution is ambiguous but when
changes are suggested, this ambiguity is used against them and changes are against
the "spirit" of the UK constitution
What does Nevil Johnson think about "constitution"? - ANSWER-How a country is
constituted and its constitution are different concepts, very similar to Anthony King idea
of big versus small "c" constitution.
"The Political Constitution" author and date - ANSWER-J.A.G Griffith, 1979
The Political Constitution main ideas and argument - ANSWER-- Generally very
pessimistic about the idea of constitutions, says that the idea expounded by mid 19th
century writers like JS Mill, Bagehot, Dicey of liberal pluralist society governed by a
constitution may not capture real conflicts in society
- Concerned that judges are supposedly looking for ideals of justice or moral standards,
when he doesn't believe such thing exists
- Points out that rights are so varied, and that the Bill of Rights may not capture
everything
- "Law is not and cannot be a substitute for politics"
JAG Griffith quote - ANSWER-"Law is not and cannot be a substitute for politics"
Nevil Johnson on the constitution - ANSWER-- Believed the political class was
"floundering in a world of pure pragmatism" in 1980 (when Labor was in power), and he
wanted major constitutional reform
- He changed radically to say constitutional reforms were unnecessary (when Thatcher,
to whom he was an adviser) was in power - later published Reshaping the Constitution
in 2004, in which he critiqued Labor constitutional reforms.
- In Reshaping the Constitution, Nevil Johnson also argues that the constitution in
constant debate illustrates that the commitment to it is (was) weakening
Martin Loughlin, The British Constitution (2013) Argument - ANSWER-Similar to Nevil
Johnson, suggests a weakening of constitutional values. While we have more written
rules, we have less sense of public values these rules are supposed to assist. Political
class has lost faith in customary constitution
Introduction and Background Exam
Questions and Answers
What is (roughly) the Hugh Heclo and Aaron Wildavsky quote and what does it mean? -
ANSWER-They express the idea that the UK constitution is ambiguous but when
changes are suggested, this ambiguity is used against them and changes are against
the "spirit" of the UK constitution
What does Nevil Johnson think about "constitution"? - ANSWER-How a country is
constituted and its constitution are different concepts, very similar to Anthony King idea
of big versus small "c" constitution.
"The Political Constitution" author and date - ANSWER-J.A.G Griffith, 1979
The Political Constitution main ideas and argument - ANSWER-- Generally very
pessimistic about the idea of constitutions, says that the idea expounded by mid 19th
century writers like JS Mill, Bagehot, Dicey of liberal pluralist society governed by a
constitution may not capture real conflicts in society
- Concerned that judges are supposedly looking for ideals of justice or moral standards,
when he doesn't believe such thing exists
- Points out that rights are so varied, and that the Bill of Rights may not capture
everything
- "Law is not and cannot be a substitute for politics"
JAG Griffith quote - ANSWER-"Law is not and cannot be a substitute for politics"
Nevil Johnson on the constitution - ANSWER-- Believed the political class was
"floundering in a world of pure pragmatism" in 1980 (when Labor was in power), and he
wanted major constitutional reform
- He changed radically to say constitutional reforms were unnecessary (when Thatcher,
to whom he was an adviser) was in power - later published Reshaping the Constitution
in 2004, in which he critiqued Labor constitutional reforms.
- In Reshaping the Constitution, Nevil Johnson also argues that the constitution in
constant debate illustrates that the commitment to it is (was) weakening
Martin Loughlin, The British Constitution (2013) Argument - ANSWER-Similar to Nevil
Johnson, suggests a weakening of constitutional values. While we have more written
rules, we have less sense of public values these rules are supposed to assist. Political
class has lost faith in customary constitution
