Edexcel A Level Politics - Paper 2
1. Constitution Set of rules outlining the powers of government and the rights of citizens
e.g UK Constitution defines Parliament's authority over law-making
2. What does it Can be amended by a simple majority in Parliament without special procedures.
mean for the
UK Constitution e.g Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022 repealed the Fixed-term Par-
to be unen- liaments Act 2011
trenched?
3. Uncodified Constitution is not contained in a single document but derived from statutes,
common law, conventions, treaties, and authoritative texts
e.g Magna Carta, Bill of Rights, and Human Rights Act 1998 all form part of the
UK's uncodified constitution
4. Unitary Sovereignty is concentrated in a central government rather than shared with
federal regions
e.g Westminster remains legally supreme despite Scottish and Welsh devolution
5. Parliamentary Parliament has supreme legal authority and can make or repeal any law
sovereignty
e.g Parliament passed the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement legislation, overriding EU
law
6. Rule of Law All individuals and institutions are subject to the law and accountable under it
e.g Prince Andrew facing legal proceedings after sexual assaults charges pressed
against him by Virgina Guiffre in 2022, striped of all titles by king October 2025.
e.g The Supreme Court ruled in Miller (2019) that the prorogation of Parliament
was unlawful
7. Statute Law Law created by Acts of Parliament
, Edexcel A Level Politics - Paper 2
e.g Human Rights Act 1998 incorporated the European Convention on Human
Rights into UK law
8. Common Law Law developed by judges through court decisions.
e.g Lee vs Ashers cake 2018, Supreme Court ruled that the bakery was refusing
service based on the message of the cake not the sexual orientation of the person
(cake promoting same sex message).
e.g Judicial rulings on habeas corpus protect individuals from unlawful detention
9. Conventions Unwritten rules followed by political actors, not legally enforceable
e.g salisbury convention he House of Lords does not oppose the second or third
reading of any government bill that was promised in its election manifesto
e.g government resigning after losing vote of confidence
10. Authoritative Texts that explain constitutional principles and practices
works
e.g Erskine May: Parliamentary Practice guides MPs and Lords on procedure
11. Treaties Formal agreements with other countries that can influence domestic law
e.g Brexit withdrawal treaty affected UK law despite EU legal frameworks
12. Devolution Delegation of powers from central government to regional governments
e.g Scottish Parliament has powers over health, education, and transport
13. Significance of Limited the monarch's power and established the principle that everyone is
Magna Carta subject to the law
(1215)
e.g Laid the foundation for judicial independence and habeas corpus
14. Bill of Rights Established parliamentary sovereignty over the monarchy, protected parliamen-
(1689) tary privileges, and basic civil rights
, Edexcel A Level Politics - Paper 2
e.g Ensured Parliament controlled taxation and succession disputes
15. Act of Settlement Regulated royal succession and reinforced parliamentary authority over the
(1701) monarchy
e.g Only Protestant heirs can inherit the throne
16. Acts of Union United England and Scotland into Great Britain under a single Parliament
(1707)
e.g Scotland retained legal and educational autonomy despite political union
17. Parliament Acts Limited the House of Lords' ability to block legislation, reinforcing the Commons'
(1911 and 1949) supremacy
e.g 1911 Act allowed money bills to bypass the Lords
e.g 1949 Act reduced Lords' delaying power to one year
18. Five main Statute law, common law, conventions, authoritative works, and treaties
sources of the UK
Constitution e.g Human Rights Act (statute law), Miller v Prime Minister (common law), Prime
Ministerial conventions
19. What House Most hereditary peers were removed to create a more meritocratic chamber
of Lords re-
forms occurred e.g House of Lords Act 1999 reduced hereditary peers to 92
under Labour
(1997-2010)?
20. What electoral PR was introduced in devolved assemblies and European elections
reforms occurred
under Labour? e.g Scottish Parliament elections use the Additional Member System
21.
, Edexcel A Level Politics - Paper 2
Created Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly, and Northern Ireland Assembly with
varying powers
e.g Scotland gained legislative powers over education and health
22. Human Rights Incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law
Act (1998)
e.g Citizens can challenge public bodies in UK courts
23. What did Created the Supreme Court and separated the judiciary from Parliament
the Constitution-
al Reform Act e.g Strengthened judicial independence from political influence
2005 achieve?
24. Fixed-term Par- Set general elections every five years, limiting the Prime Minister's discretion to
liaments Act call elections
2011
e.g Repealed in 2022 by the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act
25. What fur- Scotland gained control over income tax and some welfare powers after the
ther devolu- independence referendum
tion occurred
post-2015? e.g Scottish Government sets income tax rates independently of Westminster
26. What powers Legislation over health, education, justice, transport, and tax-varying powers
does the Scottish
Parliament have? e.g Introduced free university tuition and free prescriptions
27. What powers Primary legislative powers in health, education, and local government
does the Welsh
Parliament have? e.g Sets education policy and health regulations independently of Westminster
28. What powers
does the North-
1. Constitution Set of rules outlining the powers of government and the rights of citizens
e.g UK Constitution defines Parliament's authority over law-making
2. What does it Can be amended by a simple majority in Parliament without special procedures.
mean for the
UK Constitution e.g Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022 repealed the Fixed-term Par-
to be unen- liaments Act 2011
trenched?
3. Uncodified Constitution is not contained in a single document but derived from statutes,
common law, conventions, treaties, and authoritative texts
e.g Magna Carta, Bill of Rights, and Human Rights Act 1998 all form part of the
UK's uncodified constitution
4. Unitary Sovereignty is concentrated in a central government rather than shared with
federal regions
e.g Westminster remains legally supreme despite Scottish and Welsh devolution
5. Parliamentary Parliament has supreme legal authority and can make or repeal any law
sovereignty
e.g Parliament passed the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement legislation, overriding EU
law
6. Rule of Law All individuals and institutions are subject to the law and accountable under it
e.g Prince Andrew facing legal proceedings after sexual assaults charges pressed
against him by Virgina Guiffre in 2022, striped of all titles by king October 2025.
e.g The Supreme Court ruled in Miller (2019) that the prorogation of Parliament
was unlawful
7. Statute Law Law created by Acts of Parliament
, Edexcel A Level Politics - Paper 2
e.g Human Rights Act 1998 incorporated the European Convention on Human
Rights into UK law
8. Common Law Law developed by judges through court decisions.
e.g Lee vs Ashers cake 2018, Supreme Court ruled that the bakery was refusing
service based on the message of the cake not the sexual orientation of the person
(cake promoting same sex message).
e.g Judicial rulings on habeas corpus protect individuals from unlawful detention
9. Conventions Unwritten rules followed by political actors, not legally enforceable
e.g salisbury convention he House of Lords does not oppose the second or third
reading of any government bill that was promised in its election manifesto
e.g government resigning after losing vote of confidence
10. Authoritative Texts that explain constitutional principles and practices
works
e.g Erskine May: Parliamentary Practice guides MPs and Lords on procedure
11. Treaties Formal agreements with other countries that can influence domestic law
e.g Brexit withdrawal treaty affected UK law despite EU legal frameworks
12. Devolution Delegation of powers from central government to regional governments
e.g Scottish Parliament has powers over health, education, and transport
13. Significance of Limited the monarch's power and established the principle that everyone is
Magna Carta subject to the law
(1215)
e.g Laid the foundation for judicial independence and habeas corpus
14. Bill of Rights Established parliamentary sovereignty over the monarchy, protected parliamen-
(1689) tary privileges, and basic civil rights
, Edexcel A Level Politics - Paper 2
e.g Ensured Parliament controlled taxation and succession disputes
15. Act of Settlement Regulated royal succession and reinforced parliamentary authority over the
(1701) monarchy
e.g Only Protestant heirs can inherit the throne
16. Acts of Union United England and Scotland into Great Britain under a single Parliament
(1707)
e.g Scotland retained legal and educational autonomy despite political union
17. Parliament Acts Limited the House of Lords' ability to block legislation, reinforcing the Commons'
(1911 and 1949) supremacy
e.g 1911 Act allowed money bills to bypass the Lords
e.g 1949 Act reduced Lords' delaying power to one year
18. Five main Statute law, common law, conventions, authoritative works, and treaties
sources of the UK
Constitution e.g Human Rights Act (statute law), Miller v Prime Minister (common law), Prime
Ministerial conventions
19. What House Most hereditary peers were removed to create a more meritocratic chamber
of Lords re-
forms occurred e.g House of Lords Act 1999 reduced hereditary peers to 92
under Labour
(1997-2010)?
20. What electoral PR was introduced in devolved assemblies and European elections
reforms occurred
under Labour? e.g Scottish Parliament elections use the Additional Member System
21.
, Edexcel A Level Politics - Paper 2
Created Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly, and Northern Ireland Assembly with
varying powers
e.g Scotland gained legislative powers over education and health
22. Human Rights Incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law
Act (1998)
e.g Citizens can challenge public bodies in UK courts
23. What did Created the Supreme Court and separated the judiciary from Parliament
the Constitution-
al Reform Act e.g Strengthened judicial independence from political influence
2005 achieve?
24. Fixed-term Par- Set general elections every five years, limiting the Prime Minister's discretion to
liaments Act call elections
2011
e.g Repealed in 2022 by the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act
25. What fur- Scotland gained control over income tax and some welfare powers after the
ther devolu- independence referendum
tion occurred
post-2015? e.g Scottish Government sets income tax rates independently of Westminster
26. What powers Legislation over health, education, justice, transport, and tax-varying powers
does the Scottish
Parliament have? e.g Introduced free university tuition and free prescriptions
27. What powers Primary legislative powers in health, education, and local government
does the Welsh
Parliament have? e.g Sets education policy and health regulations independently of Westminster
28. What powers
does the North-
