15 A* EDEXCEL A-LEVEL POLITICS UK PAPER 2 ESSAY PLANS!
151 keer bekeken 3 keer verkocht
Vak
UK Paper 2
Instelling
PEARSON (PEARSON)
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...
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
Voordelen van het kopen van samenvattingen bij Stuvia op een rij:
√ Verzekerd van kwaliteit door reviews
Stuvia-klanten hebben meer dan 700.000 samenvattingen beoordeeld. Zo weet je zeker dat je de beste documenten koopt!
Snel en makkelijk kopen
Je betaalt supersnel en eenmalig met iDeal, Bancontact of creditcard voor de samenvatting. Zonder lidmaatschap.
Focus op de essentie
Samenvattingen worden geschreven voor en door anderen. Daarom zijn de samenvattingen altijd betrouwbaar en actueel. Zo kom je snel tot de kern!
Veelgestelde vragen
Wat krijg ik als ik dit document koop?
Je krijgt een PDF, die direct beschikbaar is na je aankoop. Het gekochte document is altijd, overal en oneindig toegankelijk via je profiel.
Tevredenheidsgarantie: hoe werkt dat?
Onze tevredenheidsgarantie zorgt ervoor dat je altijd een studiedocument vindt dat goed bij je past. Je vult een formulier in en onze klantenservice regelt de rest.
Van wie koop ik deze samenvatting?
Stuvia is een marktplaats, je koop dit document dus niet van ons, maar van verkoper jamieannand. Stuvia faciliteert de betaling aan de verkoper.
Zit ik meteen vast aan een abonnement?
Nee, je koopt alleen deze samenvatting voor €12,39. Je zit daarna nergens aan vast.
