UK Government essay plans
Explain and analyse three ways in which judicial independence is upheld in the UK - ANS - Security of
tenure
- Judicial Appointments Commission (2006)
- Separation of powers (the Supreme court is separate from the HOL and HOC, used to be Law Lords in
the HOL) (2009)
JAC and SOP are under the constitutional reform act (2005)
Explain and analyse three ways in which judicial neutrality is upheld in the UK - ANS - Set salary (no
bribes of pay rise from government officials)
- Verdict must be grounded in law
- Judges can't campaign or stand for parties
Explain and analyse three reasons why the UK Supreme Court is a powerful institution - ANS - It acts as
the final court of appeal in the UK (has the final say on all cases)
- Has the power to clarify and interpret the meaning of law (case law)
- Can scrutinise parliament (judicial review - Gina Miller case against BJ closing parliament a few weeks
before Brexit, acting Ultra Vires)
Explain and analyse three powers of the prime minister - ANS - The royal perogative (attending summits
like NATO and COP26, declaring war, powers on behalf of the monarch)
- The power to reshuffle cabinet when having a new goal, needing a refresh or when the government is
not popular with the public (however they can lose power as ministers can resign instead of taking the
new position - Jake Berry in the 2020 reshuffle, was moved from the "Northern Powerhouse minister" to
a position that would require substantial travel, and he had a newborn child, she he resigned)
- Appointing cabinet ministers (patronage) can be done strategically to keep ministers in check, or
appointing junior ministers as the payroll vote
Explain and analyse three ways in which judicial independence is upheld in the UK - ANS - Security of
tenure
- Judicial Appointments Commission (2006)
- Separation of powers (the Supreme court is separate from the HOL and HOC, used to be Law Lords in
the HOL) (2009)
JAC and SOP are under the constitutional reform act (2005)
Explain and analyse three ways in which judicial neutrality is upheld in the UK - ANS - Set salary (no
bribes of pay rise from government officials)
- Verdict must be grounded in law
- Judges can't campaign or stand for parties
Explain and analyse three reasons why the UK Supreme Court is a powerful institution - ANS - It acts as
the final court of appeal in the UK (has the final say on all cases)
- Has the power to clarify and interpret the meaning of law (case law)
- Can scrutinise parliament (judicial review - Gina Miller case against BJ closing parliament a few weeks
before Brexit, acting Ultra Vires)
Explain and analyse three powers of the prime minister - ANS - The royal perogative (attending summits
like NATO and COP26, declaring war, powers on behalf of the monarch)
- The power to reshuffle cabinet when having a new goal, needing a refresh or when the government is
not popular with the public (however they can lose power as ministers can resign instead of taking the
new position - Jake Berry in the 2020 reshuffle, was moved from the "Northern Powerhouse minister" to
a position that would require substantial travel, and he had a newborn child, she he resigned)
- Appointing cabinet ministers (patronage) can be done strategically to keep ministers in check, or
appointing junior ministers as the payroll vote
