AQA • UK POLITICS ESSAY

'Evaluate the extent to which constitutional changes since 1997 have been beneficial' - - Judicial Reform (CRA 2005) - However, arguably didn't do enough - Parliamentary Reform (Fixed Term Parliament Act 2011 & HOL Reform 1999) -However, FPTP system still hasn't been reformed and peers are still unelected and unrepresentative - Devolution - However, it's not binding and is asymmetrical 'Evaluate the extent to which the arguments that the UK constitution should remain uncodified are ...

State funding of parties is advantageous - Allows for parties to concentrate focus on representing the people rather than courting donors. (Blair in 1995 met Murdoch in Australia to gain support, led to 1997 Sun headline, "Sun backs Blair") Legislation passed to reduce inequalities between parties. (Political parties, Election and Referendums act 200 limits party spending at elections. All donations >£5000 need to be declared to the electoral commission) No state funding means that p...

backbenchers - The supporters of the leaders of the political parties in the House of Commons are called the ____. Shadow P.M. and Shadow Cabinet - The _____ and the _____ are the leadership members of the largest opposition party in the House of Commons. Caretaker - When an election is called for the House of Commons, the Queen designates the current government to be a _____ government. P.M. and Cabinet - The frontbenchers of the majority party in the House of Commons are the ____ and th...

Evaluate how far the UK system of representative democracy remains in need of improvement. - ANS Where it is working well: + Free and fair voting; Parliamentary function sovereignty; participation FPTP strengths: +stability: only 2/6 GE's in 2010's have produced coalitions or hung Parliaments +MP direct link to constituent, quick (i.e. Newcastle central declared 60 mins after poll closed, 2017) BUT: - 2 party dominate (Maurice Duverger's law) i.e. UKIP 2015, 12.6% of vote, 1 seat - Wa...

Compulsory voting most effective way of improving democracy?-ANS Compulsory Voting -Higher participation means more legitimacy, more representative parliament, politicians have to cater to whole electorate Rebut- Authoritarian, votes likely to be meaningless and unconsidered (detrimental to democracy), tax on existence Bill of Rights -Protects civil liberties, Theresa May talking about getting rid of some HRA bits, protects democracy in the long term Rebut- Flexibility, Gun laws in Ameri...

Evaluate the extent to which direct democracy, rather than representative democracy should be used in the UK - ANS P1: Direct democracy should be used because it increases participation and engagement. For example, referendums are a form of direct democracy. There wasa 72.2% turnout for Brexit, compared to 68.7% for the 2017 election and the petition to revoke article 50 exceeded 5m signatures. CP: However, brexit is an exception to this, perhaps due to its more emotive, identity based natur...

Three different post-1997 constitutional changes - gg Three sources of the British constitution - Three principles of the British constitution - Three ways collective and individual rights conflict - Three theories of representation - Three stages in the legislative process - Three ways select committees are effective - Three ways Parliament scrutinises the executive - Three ways Parliament influences government decisions - Three ways ministerial code and individual ministerial ...

Name three piece of legislation from the government which took/will take away rights of people in the UK? - - Police, Crime and Sentencing Bill - Repeal of the Human Rights Act 1998 - Section 28 (PCSB - right to protest, right to assembly, right to association, freedom of speech) (HRA repeal - authorities decide who gets rights, lack of rights can be abused, challenging of rights made harder) (Section 28 (1986, repealed in 2003) - made any reference to LGBTQ+ in schools illegal - trickled...

Evaluate the extent that the actions of pressure groups have been significant in defending and protecting our rights-para 1: influence over government (7) - ANS -majority of pressure groups unlikely to exert influence if not in line with aims of gov / majority opinion of society - fails to enhance REPRESENTATIVE democracy -Eg. Countryside Alliance fails to prevent passage of 2004 Hunting Act - because their views not in line with dominant views in society -if a pressure group represents a ...

INTRO - Changing factors Relative to time period, change in behaviour Once-class dominated, now a multitude of factors (interchanging, unpredictable results eg 2019 dec) Modern, complex and polarised times Not as simple as once thought Labour lowest seats since 1935 1. Two Party System vs Partisan Dealignment - SATORI-'uk is a clear example of a 2 party system SAM BEER-no point in measuring party cohesion Tribal politics (strong identification with party- 50% 1960) Also in Westminste...