UK Constitution

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What are the five key historical documents of the constitution?
Magna Carta 1215; Bill of Rights 1689; Act of Settlement 1701; Acts of Union 1707; Parliament Acts 1911/1949; European Communities Act 1972
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What are the three main characteristics of the UK constitution?
Uncodified, unentrenched, unitary
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In what three ways is parliament sovereign?
Parliament can make a law on any subject; no parliament is bound by its successor and thus has the right to amend and repeal any acts of previous parliaments; legislation cannot be struck down by a higher body.
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What four points are established by the rule of law?
Everyone is entitled to a fair trial; all citizens are equal under the law and must obey it; public officials are not above the law; the judiciary must be independent of political interference.
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What are the five main sources of the UK constitution?
Statute law, common law, conventions, authoritative works, treaties.
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What two main factors demonstrated pressure for constitutional reform in the 1990s?
Demands for modernisation (New Labour was open to reform to modernise British institutions) and the experience of Conservative rule 1978-1997 (government had refused any proposal of constitutional change)
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In what five ways did the New Labour government (1997-2010) make reforms?
Reform of the House of Lords to remove all but 91 hereditary peers; devolution to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; introducing proportional representation voting systems for devolved assemblies; incorporating the European Convention of Human Rig
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Card 2

Front

What are the three main characteristics of the UK constitution?

Back

Uncodified, unentrenched, unitary

Card 3

Front

In what three ways is parliament sovereign?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What four points are established by the rule of law?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What are the five main sources of the UK constitution?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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