Politics: Constitution - Key terms in a tweet

Definitions of Constitution key terms short enough to fit into a 140 character tweet! Not exactly detailled but good for a revision sesh of key terms! #enjoy

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Constitution
Document which defines relationship between different branches of government, its structure/powers and its relationship with citizens.
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Codified constitution
Constitution confined to one document, is usually inflexible and entrenched and amendment procedure is harder than for normal law.
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Uncodified constitution
Derived from a range of sources and it is flexible in that process for changing it is the same as for normal law.
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Unitary Constitutions
Centralized system in that power and sovereignty comes from one single authority.
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Federal Constitution
Sovereignty is shared between national and sub-national levels of government and states can have differing legislation to an extent - eg USA
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Entrenchment
Where constitutional law that is made is binding on future governments and not amendable save through a complicated process.
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Authoritative
Where there is a two tier legal system, constitutional law being higher law, in fact the highest law of the land.
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Judiciable
Constitutions where judges have the ultimate authority to interpret them and strike down unconstitutional laws.
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Autonomy
The power and independent status to self-govern and make your own legislation - can be said of states under a federal constitution.
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Parliamentary Sovereignty
Where Parliament is the source of all political power and can make or unmake any law it wishes
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Parliamentary Statute
Acts passed by Parliament that have constitutional significance, most important source of the UK's Constitution due to P'mentary Sovereignty
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Common law
Judge-made laws based on idea of precedence, binding on lower courts but can be overridden by new Acts of Parliament.
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Constitutional conventions
Parliamentary custom and practice that has developed over time, for example, Salisbury convention, Coll/indiv ministerial responsibility.
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Works of Authority
Books/documents with no legal authority but attempt to explain complexities/weirdnesses of our political system eg works by Bagehot, May
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Royal Prerogatives
Traditional powers of the monarch that are now transferred to Prime Minister, incl. patronage, war declaration, dissolution of P'ment.
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EU law
EU legislation and treaties that the UK became subject to in joining the EU. Takes precedence over UK law and new Acts must concord with it.
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Sovereignty
Principle of absolute power and supreme authority
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The rule of law
No one is above the law, it applies to everyone, citizens and government alike. Means that government is subject to legal checks/constraints
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Parliamentary government
Based on a fusion of powers between executive and legislature, government exercises power in and through Parliament.
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Constitutional monarchy
The monarch no longer has absolute power but is still constitutionally significant. Powers of the monarchy are transferred to ministers.
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'Dignified' parts
Traditional and respected bodies that are there to be a symbol of unity even if they don't have meaningful political power, ie monarch
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Popular sovereignty
Idea that sovereignty is not ultimately vested in a political institution but directly in the people
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Pooled sovereignty
Idea that when different states come together (eg EU) they can achieve more due to their collected sovereignty.
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Democratic rule
Because parliament is sovereign and has sole authority to change it, changes to it come from democratic pressure.
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Flexibility
Whereby the constitution is easy to change and requires only the same procedure as normal law.
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Organic
Idea that the constitution develops and evolves over time and stays in touch with the time, instead of being created all in one go.
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Elective dictatorship
Idea that governments, once elected with a decent majority, can do what they like because of Parliamentary Sovereignty
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Centralization
Criticism that power is concentrated in Westminster with not enough checks/balances. problem somewhat lessened by devolution though
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Judicial tyranny
Possible consequence of a codified constitution where unelected judges have too much power and influence over legislation
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Constitution confined to one document, is usually inflexible and entrenched and amendment procedure is harder than for normal law.

Back

Codified constitution

Card 3

Front

Derived from a range of sources and it is flexible in that process for changing it is the same as for normal law.

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

Centralized system in that power and sovereignty comes from one single authority.

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

Sovereignty is shared between national and sub-national levels of government and states can have differing legislation to an extent - eg USA

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
View more cards

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