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Summary Paper 2 Politics A level Edexcel Key Notes
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Paper 2 Politics A level Edexcel Key Notes - Summary notes
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Politics 2 Quick NotesConstitution
Set of laws and guidelines setting out how a political system works. Defines powers and functions of the govt
and rights of citizens in relation to the govt.
Limit govt power, enshrine rule of law, ensure no one above law, protect rights, remove govt if violates.
UK Constitution evolutionary. Power gradually moved away from crown to HoC. Parliament is sovereign law-
making body. Civil liberties protected by govt compliance to rule of law and independence of judiciary.
Uncodified, unentrenched.
Statue law – parliamentary bill which has been approved by both houses and royal assent. 2005 Constitutional
Reform Act. Supersedes all other sources.
Common law – judgements made by judges. Sets precedent to be followed in future.
Magna Carta 1215 – crown is not above law, Bill of Rights Act 1689 – free election, no tax without
representation, freedom of speech, Act of Settlement 1701 – primacy of parliament, Act of Union 1707 –
united Scotland, England, Wales, Parliament Act 1911 (lords right to veto) + 1949– reduced delay powers to a
year, primacy of commons, European Communities Act 1972 – EU precedence over domestic law until 2020.
HoL only real force able to curtail excess of commons. Unelected 2 nd chamber defeats will of people.
Elected dictatorship? Executive power increased + parliamentary power diminished. Majority = power.
Power from – people, parliament, monarchy, honours system.
Source of UK Constitution – authoritative works, treaties, landmark decisions, conventions (Salisbury
convention), royal prerogative, common law, statue law.
Constitutional changes 1997 – powers extended to Scotland, Wales, NI.
Constitutional Reform Act 2005 established SC. Separation of 3 branches. SC weaker than counterparts.
1998 HRA incorporated EU law. Rights clearly laid out. Can be repealed by act of parliament. Bill of Rights?
HoL Act 1999. Hereditary peers reduced 92.
Electoral reform less popular following Blair’s landslide majority 1997. New systems for devolved assemblies.
Reforms 2010 – Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 general elections held every 5 years. Johnson repealed Fixed-
term Parliaments Act in 2022.
Electoral reform – coalition agreement. AV referendum – 68% in favour of keeping FPTP.
Parliamentary reform – Backbench committees established to give MPs greater influence.
Further devolution – greater devolved powers given to Scotland and Wales.
Elected mayors and elected police commissioners.
Recall of MPs Act 2015. By-election if MP imprisoned, banned from parliament. 10% constituents must sign.
Many reforms under coalition govt were a compromise by Cameron to maintain compliance. More reform
needed. HoL – 2017 Burns Report called for a reduction in size of HoL and for term limits of members.
Devolution outside London. Govt granted cities with financial independence. 2016 Manchester. Mayors.
Devolution – 1998 Scotland, NI, Govt of Wales Act. Regional development agencies aimed to extend regional
decision making failed to win support. 78% voted no in 2004 North East England.
Scotland – 1997, Yes 74.3%, No 25.7%. 2014 Scottish referendum on independence – 55.3% No. Further
powers given to Scotland due to Smith Commission vow. Result of EU referendum encourage demands?
Wales – 1997, Yes 50.3%, No 49.7%. Inequality between Scotland and Wales – nationalism weaker.
NI – devolution part of peace process. Good Friday Agreement 1998. 2016 EU referendum issue of boarders.
Major main policy 1997 GE was opposing devolution – believed could lead to break-up of union – 2014.
West Lothian Q – whether MPs from devolved assemblies should be able to vote on English matters.
Barnett formula – used by Treasury to adjust amounts of public expenditure to devolved assemblies. Funding
per person in Scotland is over 30% higher than in England. 2019 – NI £11,590. England £9,296.
, English Votes For English Laws – 2015 introduced to address issue of West Lothian Q. Only used handful of
occasions, scrapped 2020.
Extended to England? Growing regional identity, popular in devolved assemblies, address issues of over-
centralisation, address WLQ, less demand for independence, Barnett formula, accountability for local
communities, regional issues better addressed, increase political participation. Overall support put at 41%,
power too fragmented to create unified legislation, location of sovereignty questioned, EVEL, some regions not
have as much regional identity, accelerate demands independence, defeat Blair’s proposals, voter apathy.
UK entrenched and codified? Would educate public, scrutinise actions of executive and parliament, greater
clarity of rights, reduce govt interference amendments harder, Bill of Rights. No public demand, require
interpretation, SC dealing with disputes – not elected challenge parliamentary sovereignty, strong executive
respond to situations e.g., threat of terrorism, flexibility.
Reforms far enough? Lords reform incomplete, no clear principles, reform does not include codification, too
much power with executive, elected dictatorship, unelected elements, representation distorted due to
electoral system. 2017 SNP won 35 seats winning 3% votes whilst LibDem 12 seats but over 7.4%
Reforms structured checks and balances, HoL more legitimacy, Freedom of Info Act impact, HRA led to legal
victories, judiciary more independent, devolution successful, fixed term election check on power.
PM and the executive – one before Thatcher and one after.
PM – elected to HoC, asked by Queen to form govt – transfer of royal prerogative powers. Not head of state,
still MP, 10-year unofficial limit. 2018 May sent fighter jets to carry out airstrikes on Syria without Parliament’s
approval. After terror attack 2017 May used emergency powers to raise terror threat to critical.
Powers of PM – chair cabinet meetings, appoint members, reshuffle cabinet - Brown Chancellor for 10 years,
negotiates treaties, directs military forces, decides whether to launch missiles, direct narrative of govt
Cameron moved away from Thatcherism to become more socially liberal, no longer has powers to dissolve
parliament, Fixed term parliament act repealed by Johnson in 2022. May snap election 2017.
Reshuffle? Get rid of unwanted ministers 2006 Clarke sacked as Home Secretary because of failing in Home
Office. Ex-ministers make trouble for PM on backbenches Howe and Heseltine high critics of Thatcher.
“Ejected, rejected and dejected.” Creates future leaders. New policy opportunities. Represents population.
Truss cabinet most diverse. Creates competition. Obvious change – “Tories less posh”. Problems with who the
PM sacks/promotes – tactical. Following EU withdrawal bill most ex-ministers consisted of Tories who had
rebelled.
Constraints on PM – media, economy, foreign policy, public boredom, party splits, rivalry, scandal, majority.
Electorate decide when PM time in power is up. Blair pressure from Brown. Cameron after Brexit.
Leadership styles – PM personality more important. (Thatcher iron lady). PM deals with media directly. Blair
hired Alistair Campbell as his press secretary to help set media agenda. Demonstrates special leadership.
Johnson personality politics. Range of special advisors and sofa govt. Acts as voice in times of crisis. Cabinet
reshuffles push will of PM. Thatcherite cabinet. First among equals. PM persuade ministers and officials of
support. Ministers have support from own departments. Support from PM party can be withdrawn. Indirectly
elected. Not head of states. Scrutiny of executive.
Foley’s theory of presidentialism. BUT cabinet is instrumental part of govt and PM must retain confidence or
risk govt splits. Lack of support removed Thatcher in 1990. Johnson suffered 20+ cabinet resignations.
Thatcher – Bold, innovative, ideological, strong sense of self. Determined to break post-war consensus.
Personalised and imperious leadership style. Assertiveness essential to her success.
Blair – sofa-style govt. criticised for informality when regarding important decisions. Cabinet not consulted and
un-documented meetings allowed Blair to evade accountability. Small no. of key ministers involved in British
involvement in Iraq war. Blair’s cabinet were asked for approval on invading Iraq in 2003 3 days before
invasions, where ministers claim they were forced to agree to war.
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