All notes from Paper 2 of the Edexcel Government and Politics A-Level
Includes:
- The Constitution
- Parliament
- PM and the Executive
- Relations between the branches
- Feminism
The constitution – contents:
1.1: Nature and sources of the UK Constitution
1.2: Constitutional changes since 1997
1.3: Devolution
1.4: Debates on further reform
Key:
Specification point + number
Title mentioned in specification
Title not mentioned in specification
Text
Case study
Case study subheadings are aims, methods, successes, failures, why is it
successful?
No full stops
Dates first then title (1215 Magna Carta)
1.1: Nature and sources of the UK Constitution
1215 – Magna Carta
Established that the rule of law should apply
Monarch should operate within framework of law
1689 – Bill of Rights
Resulted from placements of King James II by joint monarchy of William III
and Mary
States Parliament is sovereign and has final word of legislation and
government’s finances
1701 – Act of Settlement
Establish legal rules governing succession to the throne
Monarch should be member of Church of England
Established monarch’s position as ruler of whole of UK
1707 – Acts of Union
Two acts abolishing the separate Scottish Parliament, establishing modern
nation of Great Britain
1801 – Act of Union
Established United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
1911 – Parliamentary Act
House of Lords lost powers to regulate public finances and could only
delay legislation for two years
,House of Lords could no longer veto proposed legislation for good
1921 – Independence of Irish Free State
Establish United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
1949 – Parliamentary Act
Reduced delaying period for House of Lords to one year
Established House of Commons as the senior house
1998 – Devolution of power to Scotland
Brough back Scottish Parliament, although not sovereign body in country
1972 – European Communities Act
Brought UK into the European Community (EU)
2017 – European Notification of Withdrawal Act
Gave parliamentary consent to the UK’s exit from the EU
Nature of the UK Constitution
What Pros Cons Exampl Extra
this es
means
Uncodified Not Flexible to Confusion 1997 – Multiple
contain change when Dunblan sources
ed in a Political understan e
single system is ding massacr
docume therefore Less e
nt more effective at
responsive protecting
to rights
changing May lead
attitudes to
Constitutio upheavals
n can be based on
updated short term
Releases populist
build up of ideas
public
pressure
Unentrenc A Changes Lack in 1998 –
hed constitu can be right Human
tion made protection Rights
with no through Unclear Act
special acts of rules for 2011 –
procedu parliament political Fixed
re for and no procedures Term
amend special Lacks Parliame
ment procedure authority nts Act
s needed
,Unitary Political Quick Can be All other
power decision easily regions
centred making manipulate and
in one d political
place Ignores bodies
local are
issues inferior
Can
become
tyrannical
Parliament Parliam Ruling May not Courts
ary ent is party can work with cannot
suprem act quickly plurality of overrule
sovereignt
e legal on parties in its
y authorit promises modern legislatio
y made in times n
manifestos Constitutio No
Quick n is Parliame
decision changed to nt can
making suit ruling pass
Accountabi party laws that
lity Those future
beneath Parliame
are nts
displaced cannot
Few change
checks and
balances
Rule of law Ensures Rational Controls
constitu and well- needed
tion is ordered
based society
on law produced
and Equal
everyon treatment
e is and legal
bound consequen
equally ce
by
those
laws
Sources of the constitution
What is this? Examples
Statute law Laws passed by 1949 – Parliament Act
Parliament 1998 – Human Rights
Acts that have effect Act
of establishing 1999 – House of Lords
constitutional Act
, principles 2011 – Fixed Term
Highest legal authority Parliaments Act
in UK
Common law Development of law Definition of homicide
through historical Prerogative powers of
usage and tradition Prime Minister
Mostly been replaced exercised on behalf of
by European the monarch
Convention of Human
Rights
Conventions Unwritten rule Salisbury Convention
considered binding on Collective
all members of the responsibility
political community Government formation
Authoritative Works written by Parliamentary
works experts clarifying sovereignty
principles of the Rule of law
constitution and Constitutional
explaining how they monarchy
operate 2010 – O’ Donnell
Rules
Treaties Formal agreements 2007 – Treaty of
with other countries Lisbon
that are usually 2015 – Paris Climate
ratified by Parliament Change Accords
1.2: Constitutional changes since 1997
1997-2010 – Labour
Devolution
Parliamentary reform
- House of Lords reform
1. Plan to remove hereditary peers
Cranborne Compromise: Had to compromise by allowing 92/753 to retain
seats
2. Replace remaining House of Lords with elected chamber
Lack of political consensus so taken off the agenda
- House of Commons reform
1. Departmental select committees
2004: chairs of committees awarded additional salaries to raise their
status
2010: system for electing members of the select committees by the whole
chamber of the House of Commons
Increased their independence
2. Backbench Business Committee established
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