Constitution
,Spec points Key info Examples
1 UK CONSTITUTION Constitution- a set of fundamental rules, laws & E.g. of flexibility of the UK
practices that determine how a country is run. constitution- The Fixed Term
1.1 The nature and sources Parliaments Act 2011 removed the
of the UK Constitution, Magna Carta (1215)- limited the power of the prerogative power of the PM to
including: monarch, e.g. Habeas Corpus established. call a snap election at a time of
• an overview of the Bill of Rights (1689)- after the glorious revolution; their choosing. The Dissolution
development of the limited the King’s power & ensured the powers of and Calling of Parliament Act
Constitution parliament, e.g. parliamentary privilege 2022 repealed it.
through key historical established.
documents: Act of Settlement (1701)- clear rules on who could E.g. of a party changing the
Magna Carta (1215); Bill of take the throne it barred Roman Catholics & those constitution to suit their
Rights (1689); married to them from becoming monarchs. interests- in 2022, the
Act of Settlement (1701); Acts of Union (1707)- merged the Kingdoms of Conservative govt passed the
Acts of Union (1707); England and Scotland Elections Act which requires
Parliament Acts (1911 and Parliament Acts (1911 & 49)- limited powers of the voters to hold photo ID. This is
1949) HoL. much more likely to
• the nature of the UK disenfranchise Labour voters.
Constitution: unentrenched, Nature: unentrenched (simple to amend),
uncodified and unitary, and uncodified (not 1 doc), unitary, constitutional E.g. of rights not being protected-
the ‘twin pillars’ of monarchy, parliamentary system The Police, Crime and Sentencing
parliamentary sovereignty Act 2022 placed limits on the
and the rule of law Flexibility- easy to amend. right to peaceful protest.
• the five main sources of Pros of flexibility: easy to amend, allows for quick
the UK Constitution: statute constitutional changes when required, allows E.g. of the rule of law in practice-
law; constitution to keep up with society, prevents Peterborough MP, Fiona
common law; conventions; revolution due to clear democratic mechanism to Onasanya, convicted of perverting
authoritative works, and amend existing constitution. the court of justice in 2018 for
treaties. Cons: might create instability, the party in govt lying to the police about
can change the constitution to suit their whether/not she was driving a
interests, doesn’t protect rights, can over-rely on car caught speeding. She was
conventions which can be ignored. sentenced to 3 months and
removed as an MP (RoMPs Act
Unitary system- power concentrated in the 2015).
central government.
Pros of unitary system: streamlined E.g. of common law- ‘Murder’.
decision-making, more consistency & better Murder hasn’t been defined by
coordination between regions, greater national Parliament, it has developed
unity through common law.
Cons: govt may become too powerful, may reduce
participation because voters can be less E.g. of a convention- the Sewell
concerned with national politics. Convention- Westminster will
only legislate on reserved matters
Parliamentary system- there is a fusion of and not devolved matters without
powers. The PM has a role in all 3 branches. first consulting the devolved
Pros of a parliamentary system: clear parliaments.
accountability of the executive to parliament, - Some conventions have
ensures the govt has continued legitimacy been made redundant
(parliament can withdraw confidence), efficient by statutes. E.g. The
decision-making Fixed Term Parliaments
Cons: no clear separation of powers or checks & Act 2011 made the
balances to prevent govt becoming too powerful, Lascelles Principles (the
head of govt less accountable to citizens monarch could refuse to
dissolve parliament if
Sources: statute law (primary source- acts of certain conditions
parliament), common law (customs/practices existed) redundant.
developed through precedent set by judges’
decisions), conventions (a practice that is followed E.g. of a work of authority- A
but not legally binding), treaties (e.g. NATO), treatise on the law, privileges,
authoritative works (scholarly works) proceedings and usage of
Royal prerogative- powers traditionally held by Parliament (1844) by Erskine May
the monarch now exercised by the government. which is regularly updated.
- The PM can appoint/remove members - John Bercow (former
of their cabinet speaker of the HofC)
, - The PM can choose when to prorogue prevented a 3rd vote of
parliament Theresa May’s Brexit
- The PM can order military action & sign Deal, referencing
international treaties. E.g. May’s 2018 Erskine May.
bombing of Syria.
- The PM can make apts to the HoL
A.V Dicey’s twin pillars:
1. Parliamentary Sovereignty
- no limit on Parliament’s right to make
any law it pleases
- legislative supremacy
- equality of legislation
2. The Rule of Law
- everyone is equal under the law
- independent judiciary
- citizens have rights
Other principles:
● What Walter Bagehot called a ‘Fusion of
Powers’
● Constitutional monarchy- monarch’s
role is symbolic (the govt are now
delegated the monarch's role and act
upon the Royal Prerogative). The
monarch acts as Head of State & Head
of Nation.
1.2 How the constitution has Parliament Acts 1911 & 1949- 1911 Act limited the E.g. of the parliament act being
changed since 1997. ability of the HoL- only able to delay legislation used- Hunting Act 2004 which
• Under Labour 1997–2010: for only 2 years and could not block money bills. prohibited the use of dogs in
House of Lords reforms, 1949 Act limited power to delay to just 1 year. hunting foxes & other wild
electoral reform; - rarely used showing how likely it is for mammals.
devolution; Human Rights the HofL to back down.
Act 1998; 1997-2010–NEW LABOUR E.g. of the fixed term parliaments
and the Supreme Court. Democratic reforms act not working- 2019, Boris
• Under the Coalition House of Lords Johnson tried to persuade
2010–15: Fixed Term House of lords Act 1999- removed all but 92 parliament to vote for an early
Parliaments, hereditary peers. These 92 were able to remain by election but failed 3x so he passed
Act 2011; further devolution winning elections held by their fellow peers- a separate bill (DoPA) to ignore
to Wales. ‘excepted’ hereditary peers’. the FTPA and hold an early
• Any major reforms Didn’t achieve the goal of a wholly elected HoL. election.
undertaken by governments
since Referendums E.g. of an MP being recalled-
2015, including further Promised referendums on issues of primary Fiona Onasanya (Labour)
devolution to Scotland (in constitutional concerns imprisoned for lying about
the Scottish Devolution Referendum 1997- 74% in whether she was driving a car
context of the Scottish favour caught speeding. A by-election
Referendum). Welsh Devolution Referendum 1997- 50.3% in was held but she didn't stand.
favour
Northern Irish Good Friday Agreement
Referendum 1998- 71% in favour
Greater London Authority Referendum 1998- 72%
in favour (inc a directly elected mayor)
Voting systems
A more proportional voting system was
introduced for new elections, including devolved
assemblies, the EU & elected mayors.
Labour didn't hold the promised ref on the HoC
voting system. (Won a 179 majority- government
usually unlikely to proceed with reform against its
own political interests)
Creation of the Electoral Commission
Set up in 2001 to…
- regulate party & election finances
- oversee electoral registers &
, registration of voters
- give guidance & oversight of the
running of elections & refs
- oversee the distribution of seats in the
EU elections (before Brexit)
Designed to be independent but The Elections Act
2022 placed it under the supervision of the
government.
Public finance reform
Political Parties, Elections, and Referendums Act
2000 passed.
Devolution
Devolved assemblies for Northern Ireland (Good
Friday Agreement 1998), Scotland (Scotland Act
1998), Wales (Government of Wales Act 1998),
London (1999)
Plans for greater devolved assemblies in England
were dropped after a 78% ‘no’ vote in a
referendum for a North-East regional assembly
2004.
Constitutional reforms
Judicial reform
2005 Constitutional Reform Act- introduced a
Supreme Court and Judicial Appointments
Commission.
House of Commons modernisation
Moved PMQs to a Wed at 12pm, additional
debates in Westminster Hall to allow more time
for backbench debates (the Wright Reforms 2010),
sitting hours were made more family-friendly.
Rights
Incorporated the ECHR into UK law by passing
the Human Rights Act 1998.
Under Gordon Brown, the Equality Act 2010 was
passed.
Freedom of Information Act 2000- Blair reflected
on the stupidity of this bill in his autobiography
years later.
2010-15–THE COALITION
AV referendum 2011
Result was a conclusive 67.9% in favour of FPTP.
Elected HoL
Planned to pass a bill to make the HoL more like
the senate but 91 conservative members voted
against debating the issue so it came to a
standstill.
Fixed Term Parliaments Act 2011
An election is held every 5 years unless ⅔ of the
HoC agree a motion for an early GE or if a motion
of no confidence is passed and no alternative govt
is confirmed in 14 days. Since repealed.
Devolution
- Wales: new powers stamp duty & landfill
tax in 2014.
- Scotland Act 2012: introduced Scottish
Rate of Income Tax (could previously
,Spec points Key info Examples
1 UK CONSTITUTION Constitution- a set of fundamental rules, laws & E.g. of flexibility of the UK
practices that determine how a country is run. constitution- The Fixed Term
1.1 The nature and sources Parliaments Act 2011 removed the
of the UK Constitution, Magna Carta (1215)- limited the power of the prerogative power of the PM to
including: monarch, e.g. Habeas Corpus established. call a snap election at a time of
• an overview of the Bill of Rights (1689)- after the glorious revolution; their choosing. The Dissolution
development of the limited the King’s power & ensured the powers of and Calling of Parliament Act
Constitution parliament, e.g. parliamentary privilege 2022 repealed it.
through key historical established.
documents: Act of Settlement (1701)- clear rules on who could E.g. of a party changing the
Magna Carta (1215); Bill of take the throne it barred Roman Catholics & those constitution to suit their
Rights (1689); married to them from becoming monarchs. interests- in 2022, the
Act of Settlement (1701); Acts of Union (1707)- merged the Kingdoms of Conservative govt passed the
Acts of Union (1707); England and Scotland Elections Act which requires
Parliament Acts (1911 and Parliament Acts (1911 & 49)- limited powers of the voters to hold photo ID. This is
1949) HoL. much more likely to
• the nature of the UK disenfranchise Labour voters.
Constitution: unentrenched, Nature: unentrenched (simple to amend),
uncodified and unitary, and uncodified (not 1 doc), unitary, constitutional E.g. of rights not being protected-
the ‘twin pillars’ of monarchy, parliamentary system The Police, Crime and Sentencing
parliamentary sovereignty Act 2022 placed limits on the
and the rule of law Flexibility- easy to amend. right to peaceful protest.
• the five main sources of Pros of flexibility: easy to amend, allows for quick
the UK Constitution: statute constitutional changes when required, allows E.g. of the rule of law in practice-
law; constitution to keep up with society, prevents Peterborough MP, Fiona
common law; conventions; revolution due to clear democratic mechanism to Onasanya, convicted of perverting
authoritative works, and amend existing constitution. the court of justice in 2018 for
treaties. Cons: might create instability, the party in govt lying to the police about
can change the constitution to suit their whether/not she was driving a
interests, doesn’t protect rights, can over-rely on car caught speeding. She was
conventions which can be ignored. sentenced to 3 months and
removed as an MP (RoMPs Act
Unitary system- power concentrated in the 2015).
central government.
Pros of unitary system: streamlined E.g. of common law- ‘Murder’.
decision-making, more consistency & better Murder hasn’t been defined by
coordination between regions, greater national Parliament, it has developed
unity through common law.
Cons: govt may become too powerful, may reduce
participation because voters can be less E.g. of a convention- the Sewell
concerned with national politics. Convention- Westminster will
only legislate on reserved matters
Parliamentary system- there is a fusion of and not devolved matters without
powers. The PM has a role in all 3 branches. first consulting the devolved
Pros of a parliamentary system: clear parliaments.
accountability of the executive to parliament, - Some conventions have
ensures the govt has continued legitimacy been made redundant
(parliament can withdraw confidence), efficient by statutes. E.g. The
decision-making Fixed Term Parliaments
Cons: no clear separation of powers or checks & Act 2011 made the
balances to prevent govt becoming too powerful, Lascelles Principles (the
head of govt less accountable to citizens monarch could refuse to
dissolve parliament if
Sources: statute law (primary source- acts of certain conditions
parliament), common law (customs/practices existed) redundant.
developed through precedent set by judges’
decisions), conventions (a practice that is followed E.g. of a work of authority- A
but not legally binding), treaties (e.g. NATO), treatise on the law, privileges,
authoritative works (scholarly works) proceedings and usage of
Royal prerogative- powers traditionally held by Parliament (1844) by Erskine May
the monarch now exercised by the government. which is regularly updated.
- The PM can appoint/remove members - John Bercow (former
of their cabinet speaker of the HofC)
, - The PM can choose when to prorogue prevented a 3rd vote of
parliament Theresa May’s Brexit
- The PM can order military action & sign Deal, referencing
international treaties. E.g. May’s 2018 Erskine May.
bombing of Syria.
- The PM can make apts to the HoL
A.V Dicey’s twin pillars:
1. Parliamentary Sovereignty
- no limit on Parliament’s right to make
any law it pleases
- legislative supremacy
- equality of legislation
2. The Rule of Law
- everyone is equal under the law
- independent judiciary
- citizens have rights
Other principles:
● What Walter Bagehot called a ‘Fusion of
Powers’
● Constitutional monarchy- monarch’s
role is symbolic (the govt are now
delegated the monarch's role and act
upon the Royal Prerogative). The
monarch acts as Head of State & Head
of Nation.
1.2 How the constitution has Parliament Acts 1911 & 1949- 1911 Act limited the E.g. of the parliament act being
changed since 1997. ability of the HoL- only able to delay legislation used- Hunting Act 2004 which
• Under Labour 1997–2010: for only 2 years and could not block money bills. prohibited the use of dogs in
House of Lords reforms, 1949 Act limited power to delay to just 1 year. hunting foxes & other wild
electoral reform; - rarely used showing how likely it is for mammals.
devolution; Human Rights the HofL to back down.
Act 1998; 1997-2010–NEW LABOUR E.g. of the fixed term parliaments
and the Supreme Court. Democratic reforms act not working- 2019, Boris
• Under the Coalition House of Lords Johnson tried to persuade
2010–15: Fixed Term House of lords Act 1999- removed all but 92 parliament to vote for an early
Parliaments, hereditary peers. These 92 were able to remain by election but failed 3x so he passed
Act 2011; further devolution winning elections held by their fellow peers- a separate bill (DoPA) to ignore
to Wales. ‘excepted’ hereditary peers’. the FTPA and hold an early
• Any major reforms Didn’t achieve the goal of a wholly elected HoL. election.
undertaken by governments
since Referendums E.g. of an MP being recalled-
2015, including further Promised referendums on issues of primary Fiona Onasanya (Labour)
devolution to Scotland (in constitutional concerns imprisoned for lying about
the Scottish Devolution Referendum 1997- 74% in whether she was driving a car
context of the Scottish favour caught speeding. A by-election
Referendum). Welsh Devolution Referendum 1997- 50.3% in was held but she didn't stand.
favour
Northern Irish Good Friday Agreement
Referendum 1998- 71% in favour
Greater London Authority Referendum 1998- 72%
in favour (inc a directly elected mayor)
Voting systems
A more proportional voting system was
introduced for new elections, including devolved
assemblies, the EU & elected mayors.
Labour didn't hold the promised ref on the HoC
voting system. (Won a 179 majority- government
usually unlikely to proceed with reform against its
own political interests)
Creation of the Electoral Commission
Set up in 2001 to…
- regulate party & election finances
- oversee electoral registers &
, registration of voters
- give guidance & oversight of the
running of elections & refs
- oversee the distribution of seats in the
EU elections (before Brexit)
Designed to be independent but The Elections Act
2022 placed it under the supervision of the
government.
Public finance reform
Political Parties, Elections, and Referendums Act
2000 passed.
Devolution
Devolved assemblies for Northern Ireland (Good
Friday Agreement 1998), Scotland (Scotland Act
1998), Wales (Government of Wales Act 1998),
London (1999)
Plans for greater devolved assemblies in England
were dropped after a 78% ‘no’ vote in a
referendum for a North-East regional assembly
2004.
Constitutional reforms
Judicial reform
2005 Constitutional Reform Act- introduced a
Supreme Court and Judicial Appointments
Commission.
House of Commons modernisation
Moved PMQs to a Wed at 12pm, additional
debates in Westminster Hall to allow more time
for backbench debates (the Wright Reforms 2010),
sitting hours were made more family-friendly.
Rights
Incorporated the ECHR into UK law by passing
the Human Rights Act 1998.
Under Gordon Brown, the Equality Act 2010 was
passed.
Freedom of Information Act 2000- Blair reflected
on the stupidity of this bill in his autobiography
years later.
2010-15–THE COALITION
AV referendum 2011
Result was a conclusive 67.9% in favour of FPTP.
Elected HoL
Planned to pass a bill to make the HoL more like
the senate but 91 conservative members voted
against debating the issue so it came to a
standstill.
Fixed Term Parliaments Act 2011
An election is held every 5 years unless ⅔ of the
HoC agree a motion for an early GE or if a motion
of no confidence is passed and no alternative govt
is confirmed in 14 days. Since repealed.
Devolution
- Wales: new powers stamp duty & landfill
tax in 2014.
- Scotland Act 2012: introduced Scottish
Rate of Income Tax (could previously
