UK Constitution and Devolution Exam Questions with 100% Correct Answers

Key constitutional developments - ANSWER-Magna Carta (1215)- Crown isn't above the law, and one cannot be punished without process of law, law must be impartial Bill of Rights Act 1689- established a limited constitutional monarchy- creating regular parliament, free elections, no taxation w/o Parliamentary consent, parliamentary freedom of speech Act of Settlement 1701- confirmed Parliamentary primacy by declaring Parliament could determine succession, and made judicial independence in saying only both houses together could remove a monarch Act of Union 1707- united Parliament of Scot and Eng and kept some Scottish law Parliament Act 1911 and 1949- Made Lords unable to vote on money and reduced their veto to 2 years, and 49 made it 1 European Communities Act 1972- Heath brought the UK into the EEC, factortame showed European law would take prominence Devolution 1997- Devolved bodies can only be removed by regional referendum Brexit 2016 Constitution - ANSWER-Determines where power is located within a nation state and the rules by which it governs. It also establishes the extent of the government's authority and the rights that its citizens possess. Why is the UK's constitution unique - ANSWER-It developed gradually with no revolutions, into a Parliamentary democracy governing with consent. What did this cause - ANSWER-An uncodified constitution. Uncodified constitution - ANSWER-A constitution that has several sources, which may be written or unwritten. Because it comes from several sources it doesn't present a higher law. Unentrenched constitution - ANSWER-has no special amendment procedure and can be modified at any point in time with the support of a legislative majority, unless it would be deemed unconstitutional- such as increasing a Parliament for longer than 5 years Parliamentary soverignty - ANSWER-Parliament is the supreme legislative body, with freedom to act any legislation for which it has a majority since there is no authority greater than parliament. No Parliament could enact legislation that could force its successor to act in a certain way. What are protections of civil rights if there is no codified constitution (cornerstones of UK constitution) - ANSWER-The principle that the government should act according to the rule of law