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15 A* EDEXCEL A-LEVEL POLITICS UK PAPER 2 ESSAY PLANS! CA$18.48   Add to cart
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15 A* EDEXCEL A-LEVEL POLITICS UK PAPER 2 ESSAY PLANS!
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This document contains 15 of the best UK Paper 2 content essay plans for Edexcel A-Level Government and Politics (except for ideologies which can be found in a different document altogether!). Every essay plan contains an abundance of contemporary examples and evidence which the examiners love! I s...

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  • March 1, 2023
  • 20
  • 2021/2022
  • Essay
  • Unknown
  • A+

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  • politics
  • a level
  • essay
  • essay plans
  • government and politics
  • edexcel
  • exams
  • uk politics
  • uk paper 2
  • paper 2
  • a
  • a
  • pearson

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  • A/AS Level
  • PEARSON (PEARSON)
  • Government and Politics
  • UK Paper 2
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UK PAPER 2 ESSAY PLANS


TOPIC: The constitution

The UK should introduce a codified constitution - To what extent do you agree?

AGAINST

- An uncodified constitution allows for a strong government that can pass publicly passed policies with
ease.

- This was seen with Boris Johnson's ability to pass Coronavirus Act 2020 with it being fast-tracked through
Parliament in 4 days.

- Executive resides 'de facto', enables then to act in the public mandate, voted for in general elections. But
there are conventions!

COUNTER

- There is too much concentration of power, allows for arbitrary exercise of state power. (Seen with Boris
Johnson separation of Parliament.

FOR:

- Entrenchment

- A codified constitution would allow for greater protection of human rights.

- Would prevent the government from acting 'unconstitutionally’.

- Seen in 2016, the government passing Jobseekers Act so that they didn't violate Human right.

- HRA does not have same entrenched values of US Bill of Rights

COUNTER

- A codified constitution may place too much power in the hands of the judges , who are unelected. Could
be perceived as undemocratic.

– Hence, although benefiting the protection of individuals, they can’t re-elect

AGAINST

- It allows for adaptability, but doesn’t guarantee accountability of the executive, unlike entrenchment that
does guarantee accountability

- The adaptability of an uncodified constitution allows for an orgabic evolution of the constitution through
reforms

- David Cameron was able to pass Scotland Actv2016 when Scotland felt that the constitution did not
provide them with enought powers

- Such adaptations would be harder with a codified constitution as the executive would be restricted from
altering the question of constitution

COUNTER

, UK PAPER 2 ESSAY PLANS


- These reformed, especially in Scotland, could result in a constitutional crisis where Scotland wishes to
become independent - a written constitution would help prevent such extremities.

TOPIC: The Constitution

To what extent have constitutional reforms in recent years made the UK more democratic?

FOR: Legislative efficiency

- Recent reforms have enabled the electorate to get closer to the legislative bodies l, increasing access
points to raise concerns

- Devolution, introduced by Tony Blair's Labour, gave Scotland their own Parliament with primary legislative
powers (Scotland have free University tuition vs England £9250)

- Allows Scottish voice to be heard more (like their call for independence)

COUNTER:

- However, Parliament (in Westminster) is still constitutionally sovereign, arbitrary government could
retract the developed phases

- (May lead to breakup of the UK)

AGAINST: Unelected Power

- Constitutional reforms has placed more power in the hands of unelected judges.

- Constitutional reforms Act 1999 saw the introduction of the supreme court appointed by the 'JAC'

- Unrepresentative, all white only 2 women

COUNTER:

- Generally, though it is democratic, it satisfies one of the key functions of constitution: Judiciary can hold
unlawful governments to account E.g Jobseekers Act violating HRA

- Independent and neutral

- Scrutiny of the government

- Boris suspending parliament

FOR: More representative

- Reforms has seen UK's political bodies become more representative.

- House of Lords Actv1999 saw ALL BUT 92 hereditary peers removed

- A higher proportion now appointed due to merit + diversity by the independent HOL Commission. NOT by
birth.

- Reduced the partisan ship in the Lords, allowed them to hold government to account. E g 12/13- Gov'
suffered 48 defects to the Lords (Matters like welfare reform, legal aid)

COUNTER

, UK PAPER 2 ESSAY PLANS


- However reform of the Lords is still incomplete - not yet fully elected or fully representative

- Clegg, in 2012, tried to reform to fully elected, but the Tory backbench rebelled

TOPIC: The constitution

Access the strengths and weaknesses of the UK constitution

STRENGTH

- Evolution of the constitution

- The uncodified constitution allows for flexibility and change.

- Introduction of devolution under Tony Blair was a response to the rising nationalism in Scotland + Wales.

- UK constitution is not entrenched, therefore can be altered.

- Statute Law an be passed through Parliament much easier

COUNTER

- Level of entrenchment= Weak protection of Rights--- (This could be an argument for WEAKNESS instead)

- Government would in theory remove the MRN 1998.



WEAKNESS

- The UK's Constitution is outdated and undemocratic

- Tony Blair able to use Royal perogative to go to war in Iraq without the consent of Parliament

- Although convention to vote in deployment of war soldiers, this is flawed in that huge parliamentary
majorities will back it

COUNTER

- Some "undemocratic" and outdated features beginning to be ammended

- House of Lords act 1999



STRENGTH

- Allows for a strong government to at in the best interests of the people quickly and decisively

- Anti- terrorism legislation was passed quickly in 2005 after the 7/7 bombing in London.

- Allows for an evolving constitution act on behalf of the people

COUNTER

- The executive could be perceived as an elective dictatorship, they can do whatever they please.

- Just like when Thatcher decided to privatise 40 industries in the 1980's as she had a very HOC majority

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