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Politics paper 2 UK Government essay plans
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Topic 1: the UK constitutionEvaluate the view that a british bill of rights (like in america) should be created to protect
civil liberties
Synoptic link protection of Rights liberal democracy
P1- understanding and egangement
The codi cation fo people rights will meant that more people will understand what their rights are
and give people a better political understanding which may even increase political participation.
At the moment our system dnrights are hidden in various di erent sources, the danger of not
knowing your rights can be sever. Increased education nd political participation
However
- it is already clear of what our right are due to the human rights act, simairliy it is unclear how
much the codi cation of right swould increased people swilling less to participate in decmroacy if
they know their rights
P2- protecting rights from arbitrary government and protect rights of minorities
The government have been clear that the recent bills that they have proposed clearly take away
peoples civil liberties such as the police crime and sentencing bill and the nationality and borders
bills that are currently being debated.
The codi cation of a bill of rights will make chaining the civil liberties of people much harder
meaning that govnermnt won’t have the tyrannical power of taking away rights as they have been
doing
However
Civil liberties are already adequately protected by common law and the HRA 1998 and the
equality act 2010. They could have easily been taken away by now and they haven as the
government don’t want to take away rights.
Simrialriy if the bill of rights was entrenched then it would be harder for the government to extend
peoples rights which in time may give them less rights
P3- authority of the supreme court
However
The supreme court already has power over declarations of incomaptiitly which are hard to ignore.
Simairly the entrenchment of the bill of rights would make the supreme court a more political body
making rulings as unelected. Judges which undermines the democratic mamdnadte that
politicians have gained from he eelctoiare through general elections
Evaluate the view that devolution has undermined the United Kingdom
P1- devolving powers leading to quasi federalism
However not in Wales or NI
P2- different parties controlllign different assemblies
fi fi ff
, Makes the UK more fragmenented different policies and view in different countries
However
Government in wesminsiter will always have all the power over foreign policy
P3-
Evaluate the view that devolution has been successful
Synoptic link- increased turnout lack of democratic de cit or multiparty system
P1) de-centeralisation
- one of Blairs most prominent aims of devolution has been to decentralise power away from
Westminster in order to prevent the breakup of the UK
- The 1998 and 1999 referendums that devolved powers to constituent part of the Uk gave them
legislative control over schools, healthcare and transport. Putting the power back into the
hands of the locals has been hugely successful at preserving the UK
- Arguably the Scottish independence referendum was struck down by 55% voting to remain
because the power that decision had given them to be more independent of westminster
However
- there is uneven power between scottish, welsh and northern Irish devolution with the Scots
have far more power over taxes for example than the other 2 which has created some tensions
- Similarly despite having some localised power Westminster stays soviergn over power of
foreign policy. For example if it were up to Scotland they would be against nuclear weapons but
due to parl soviet trident it o Scotlands shores
- Similarly scotland voted to remain in the Uk but due to the Sewell convention they had to leave
with us
P2) democratisation
- due to devolved assemblies having more power to make localised decisions it has successfully
improve democracy by increasing turnout
- Firstly the devolved powers were established through a referendum which gave the
development he democratic consent of the constituent parts of the UK 74% Scots voted for
However
- the more confusing systems of election in cosnitnet parts can see a very low turnout and
actually damage democracy
- The recent 2022 elections to welsh parlaiemtn only had 43% turnout
- The referndum to devoted a parlaiemtn in Wales had a turnout of 50.2% where only 50.1% of
them voted for parliament (only 1/4 tyranny of minority anti democratic
P3) representation
- electoral systems used in the di erent devoted bodies has allowed for more respretnation of
the di erent parties and view in the constant parts of the UK
- The more representative and propotaionl representation allows for people to be elected into
government that re ects the people’s needs
- Powershairng in NI healing divisions
However
- gave a platform for nationalists and SNPS calls for independence which have threatened the
breakup of the united kingdom
- Poersharing has failed 2x in norhetnireland decreasing the amount of successful eprestation
that can happen
- Asymmetrical
ff fl ff ff fi
, Evaluate the view that devolution has had an extensive impact on the UK as a whole
Synoptic link: turnout and democratic legitimacy
P1) scotland
Has prevented the breakdown of the constituent parts of the UK as 55% voted to stay in england
2016 devo max powers has given rise to more called for indigence referendum number tow wotiht
could lead to the break-up of the UK
Edging towards quasi federalism
However
Still
Foreign policy and defence
Sewell convention and brexit
P2) northern ireland
- healed divdiosn between the unionists and nationalists, has made the northern Ireland more
peaceful and has reduced the threat of con ict
- The STV system used has made the northern Irish assembly more representative and co-
operative which has led to calls for the electoral system to be changed in Westminster
However
The instability due to electoral system being STV means that the impact that devoted power has
been limited due to the fact that the assembly was closed for 4 years 2017-2020 which limits the
amount of localised laws and changes that it could make
P3) Wales
- asymmetry in powers in 1997 Wales act
- labour repsrentative
However
- due to a lack of enthusiasm from he electoral Wales have ben delved the same powers a
ssocaltand as the 2001 act to devolve Wales more power had a 35% turnout. So don have the
same impact on the union as Scotlands does as they are less powerful
- due to split between plaid crymu and labour there isn’t he nationalist sentiment that threatens to
have an impact ont he breakup of the entire of the UK
Evaluate the view that constitutional reforms since 1997 should be taken further
Sinoptic link- liberal democracy and protection of rights
P1) devolution
- English devolution due to Barnett formula means that England’s the more populous country yet
recives 20% less funding per head, a English devoted parliament would remove the issue of
eval
- Giving northern Ireland and Wales deco max powers would even out the very uneven control
present at the moment
However
- further devolution may damage democracy as places like Wales already have low turnout there
isn’t a clear want for more
- A referendum was held for the north of england to have an assembly of which x voted against
fl
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