Edexcel AS Level Politics
A constitution is a set of rules that determine where ultimate power lies within a political system
and define the relationship between the government and its institutions. The UK has an
unentrenched constitution, meaning it can be amended through the normal legislative process
without requiring special procedures. It is also uncodified, meaning it is not consolidated into a
single document, making it flexible but less straightforward to follow. As a unitary system,
power is centralized in one place, with no sovereignty granted to regional bodies. Parliamentary
sovereignty is a key principle, granting Parliament the ultimate legal authority to make or repeal
any law, ensuring that no past legislation can bind future parliaments, and preventing any higher
body from overturning its laws. The rule of law ensures that all individuals, including those in
power, are subject to the law, guaranteeing fair trials and prohibiting imprisonment without due
legal process. Statute law consists of laws passed by Parliament, such as the 1998 Scotland Act,
though only those affecting the political system or citizens' rights are considered constitutional.
Statute law is the most significant source of the UK constitution, as it is reinforced by the
principle of parliamentary sovereignty.
House of lords appointment commission established may 2000, recommends 2 people a year
to be crossbenchers and vets most other nominations for lords
Scottish devolution referendum september 1997, 75% yes, 25% no, 60% turnout
Welsh assembly referendum september 1997, 51% yes, 49% no, 50% turnout
Good friday referendum may 1998, 71% yes, 29% no, 81% turnout
West lothian question scottish MPs at westminster could vote on purely english matters, but
english MPs couldn't vote on scottish matters
The barnett formula determines relative levels of public spending for parts of the UK based on
population, meant that devolved bodies receive more
North east assembly referendum 2004, 78% no, 22% yes, 48% turnout
Human rights act 1998, incorporated ECHR into statute law, ensuring a right to fair trial,
freedom from slavery, etc and all future legislation has to be compatible
Limitation of HRA the government declared and exemption from article 5 (right to liberty and
security) in cases of suspected terrorism
Creation of the supreme court2005 constitutional reform act led to establishment in 2009, took
over from law lords
Scottish devolved powers education,
justice,
housing,
police,
fire,
vary income tax by 3p,
drink driving limits
Number of MSPs 129, elected every 4 years
Welsh devolved powers culture,
education,
,environment,
housing,
transport,
health,
language
Number of welsh members 60
Irish devolved powers education,
welfare,
transport,
justice,
reserved matters including financial, broadcasting, firearms
Advantages of devolution one region doesn't represent everyone,
brings decisions closer to the people,
solves west lothian question
allows cultural identity,
makes decisions based on consensus,
system can evolve
Disadvantages of devolution little public want for regional assemblies,
political parties have to fight harder,
increased taxes,
more arguments,
unstable,
service variations
Backbenchers are unable to scrutinise the government unwilling to defy the whips, 1997-
2010 only 7 government backed bills failed to pass, linked to payroll votes, depends on desire for
promotion
Backbenchers do scrutinise the government lack of support and ability to create negative media
like rees-mogg no confidence vote 85 no votes,
select committes 1997-2010 made 110 reports per year with 40,000 suggestions, about 40% are
taken up
PM's ability to remove government and ministers Parliament's power is limited in this area
MP's can lose position due to scandals published in the media
MPs can lose position due to general elections - Cameron 2016 brexit
Fixed term parliament act - vote of no confidence 14 days to form a new government when a
vote of no confidence is triggered
Theoretically remove funding to government - not happened since 1979 Callaghan
Unlikely that MP's will trigger a vote due to fear of losing seats - Major making division of the
Maastricht treaty
Government reduced power Government get a say of military intervention - Iraq war
Fixed terms parliament act 2011 ends the PM's right to set the date for a general election, unless
⅔ MP's close parliament
Increased number of backbench rebellions
Creation of the backbench business committees 2010 - allows MP's to scrutinise government by
putting forward issues
Select committees grown in status
Government control Whips and patronage - majority government rarely loses votes
, Government payroll - 100 MP's
Government controls legislative timetable - limits opposition debates
Ministers don't have to follow select committees and can obstruct - may MI5
Lords usually defer to commons after ping pong
Salisbury convention
Parliamentary acts override lords after 1 year
The prime minister Head of the executive who chairs the cabinet and manages its agenda
Appoints all members of the cabinet and junior ministers, and decides who sits on cabinet
committees
Organises the structure of government - can create, abolish or merge
departments
The cabinet Consists of 20-23 senior ministers including those who held the title secretary of
state
Several senior figures are not members of the cabinet but attend it's meetings
Government department Each one responsible for an area of policy eg department of
transport
Each headed by a cabinet minister, supported by several junior ministers responsible for specific
aspects of the work of the department
Executive agencies Semi independent bodies that carry out some of the functions of the
government departments - DVLA
Proposing the budget Need money for public services and spending priorities
Legislation from manifesto to deal with emergencies (terrorism), amend existing legislation to
bring UK into line with international law (doctors mandate)
Written by chancellor of the exchequer
Annual statement to the HoC outlining government spending and changes to taxation
Has to be approved by HoC
New governments can introduce emergency budget
Main prerogative powers Awards honours (a handful are given personally by the monarch)
Appoint ministers and other senior office holders
Grant legal pardons
Grant/withdraw passports
Sign treaties
Take action to maintain order in case of an emergency
Abolished/reformed powers 2010 fixed term parliament act removed the ability of the prime
minister to set election dates
Since 2003 iraq war, declaring war is parliaments choice
Initiating legislation The executive controls most of the parliamentary time available for
legislation
The exemptions are 20 opposition days, 13 for private members bills and a variable amount for
the backbench business committee
The guillotine (1887) is a procedure that allows the government to curtail debates of the
individual clauses of the bill
The supreme court - composition hears appeals on disputed points of law in matters of
public/constitutional importance (inc EU and devolved powers)
only UK wide court - Scotland and N ireland judicial system different
final court of appeal
A constitution is a set of rules that determine where ultimate power lies within a political system
and define the relationship between the government and its institutions. The UK has an
unentrenched constitution, meaning it can be amended through the normal legislative process
without requiring special procedures. It is also uncodified, meaning it is not consolidated into a
single document, making it flexible but less straightforward to follow. As a unitary system,
power is centralized in one place, with no sovereignty granted to regional bodies. Parliamentary
sovereignty is a key principle, granting Parliament the ultimate legal authority to make or repeal
any law, ensuring that no past legislation can bind future parliaments, and preventing any higher
body from overturning its laws. The rule of law ensures that all individuals, including those in
power, are subject to the law, guaranteeing fair trials and prohibiting imprisonment without due
legal process. Statute law consists of laws passed by Parliament, such as the 1998 Scotland Act,
though only those affecting the political system or citizens' rights are considered constitutional.
Statute law is the most significant source of the UK constitution, as it is reinforced by the
principle of parliamentary sovereignty.
House of lords appointment commission established may 2000, recommends 2 people a year
to be crossbenchers and vets most other nominations for lords
Scottish devolution referendum september 1997, 75% yes, 25% no, 60% turnout
Welsh assembly referendum september 1997, 51% yes, 49% no, 50% turnout
Good friday referendum may 1998, 71% yes, 29% no, 81% turnout
West lothian question scottish MPs at westminster could vote on purely english matters, but
english MPs couldn't vote on scottish matters
The barnett formula determines relative levels of public spending for parts of the UK based on
population, meant that devolved bodies receive more
North east assembly referendum 2004, 78% no, 22% yes, 48% turnout
Human rights act 1998, incorporated ECHR into statute law, ensuring a right to fair trial,
freedom from slavery, etc and all future legislation has to be compatible
Limitation of HRA the government declared and exemption from article 5 (right to liberty and
security) in cases of suspected terrorism
Creation of the supreme court2005 constitutional reform act led to establishment in 2009, took
over from law lords
Scottish devolved powers education,
justice,
housing,
police,
fire,
vary income tax by 3p,
drink driving limits
Number of MSPs 129, elected every 4 years
Welsh devolved powers culture,
education,
,environment,
housing,
transport,
health,
language
Number of welsh members 60
Irish devolved powers education,
welfare,
transport,
justice,
reserved matters including financial, broadcasting, firearms
Advantages of devolution one region doesn't represent everyone,
brings decisions closer to the people,
solves west lothian question
allows cultural identity,
makes decisions based on consensus,
system can evolve
Disadvantages of devolution little public want for regional assemblies,
political parties have to fight harder,
increased taxes,
more arguments,
unstable,
service variations
Backbenchers are unable to scrutinise the government unwilling to defy the whips, 1997-
2010 only 7 government backed bills failed to pass, linked to payroll votes, depends on desire for
promotion
Backbenchers do scrutinise the government lack of support and ability to create negative media
like rees-mogg no confidence vote 85 no votes,
select committes 1997-2010 made 110 reports per year with 40,000 suggestions, about 40% are
taken up
PM's ability to remove government and ministers Parliament's power is limited in this area
MP's can lose position due to scandals published in the media
MPs can lose position due to general elections - Cameron 2016 brexit
Fixed term parliament act - vote of no confidence 14 days to form a new government when a
vote of no confidence is triggered
Theoretically remove funding to government - not happened since 1979 Callaghan
Unlikely that MP's will trigger a vote due to fear of losing seats - Major making division of the
Maastricht treaty
Government reduced power Government get a say of military intervention - Iraq war
Fixed terms parliament act 2011 ends the PM's right to set the date for a general election, unless
⅔ MP's close parliament
Increased number of backbench rebellions
Creation of the backbench business committees 2010 - allows MP's to scrutinise government by
putting forward issues
Select committees grown in status
Government control Whips and patronage - majority government rarely loses votes
, Government payroll - 100 MP's
Government controls legislative timetable - limits opposition debates
Ministers don't have to follow select committees and can obstruct - may MI5
Lords usually defer to commons after ping pong
Salisbury convention
Parliamentary acts override lords after 1 year
The prime minister Head of the executive who chairs the cabinet and manages its agenda
Appoints all members of the cabinet and junior ministers, and decides who sits on cabinet
committees
Organises the structure of government - can create, abolish or merge
departments
The cabinet Consists of 20-23 senior ministers including those who held the title secretary of
state
Several senior figures are not members of the cabinet but attend it's meetings
Government department Each one responsible for an area of policy eg department of
transport
Each headed by a cabinet minister, supported by several junior ministers responsible for specific
aspects of the work of the department
Executive agencies Semi independent bodies that carry out some of the functions of the
government departments - DVLA
Proposing the budget Need money for public services and spending priorities
Legislation from manifesto to deal with emergencies (terrorism), amend existing legislation to
bring UK into line with international law (doctors mandate)
Written by chancellor of the exchequer
Annual statement to the HoC outlining government spending and changes to taxation
Has to be approved by HoC
New governments can introduce emergency budget
Main prerogative powers Awards honours (a handful are given personally by the monarch)
Appoint ministers and other senior office holders
Grant legal pardons
Grant/withdraw passports
Sign treaties
Take action to maintain order in case of an emergency
Abolished/reformed powers 2010 fixed term parliament act removed the ability of the prime
minister to set election dates
Since 2003 iraq war, declaring war is parliaments choice
Initiating legislation The executive controls most of the parliamentary time available for
legislation
The exemptions are 20 opposition days, 13 for private members bills and a variable amount for
the backbench business committee
The guillotine (1887) is a procedure that allows the government to curtail debates of the
individual clauses of the bill
The supreme court - composition hears appeals on disputed points of law in matters of
public/constitutional importance (inc EU and devolved powers)
only UK wide court - Scotland and N ireland judicial system different
final court of appeal
