Constitution Reforms 1997-2010

A set of laws and guidelines setting out how a

political system works, and where power is
located within the system. It defines the powers
and functions of government and the rights of
ordinary citizens in relation to the government.

Reforms 2010 onwards

Sources of the UK constitution

Entrenchment is where constitutional rules are Further devolution – more powers to assemblies
safeguarded against change by a future government English votes for English laws 2016
Statute Law House of Lords Reform (didn’t happen) and boundary
or legislature. reform/fewer constituencies (not happened yet)
Essentially the UK is an unentrenched constitution Electoral reform AV referendum (failed)
because it can be altered relatively easily Scottish Independence referendum (16+ voting)
(compared to the US) and there is no special, fixed Fixed Term Parliaments
legal procedure in place for amending it. European Union Act
Reforms of the House of Commons – Select Committee Chairs
Parliamentary sovereignty – legal sovereignty lies elected and Backbench Business Committee
with UK Parliament Elected mayors in major cities (only Bristol said yes in
referendum)
Unitary constitution – legal sovereignty resides in 1
Recall of MPs Act 2015
location Common Law English votes for English laws 2016
Power – powers of the different branches of gov are
clearly defined and separated Conventions Authoritative Works
 Devolution

Devolution: the transfer of power

from the central government to
subordinate regional institutions,
but without a transfer of
sovereignty (i.e. central
government could, in theory,
abolish the regional institutions,
and take back their powers.
 Parliament
The House of Commons The Lords has three main roles:

The business of Parliament takes place in two Houses: Making laws

Publicly elected chamber of Parliament. the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Their
Members of the Commons debate the big Members spend more than half their time in the House
work is similar: making laws (legislation), checking the considering bills (draft laws). All bills have to be
political issues of the day and proposals work of the government (scrutiny), and debating
for new laws. 650 MP’s considered by both Houses of Parliament before they
current issues. can become law. During several stages, members
The House of Commons is also responsible for granting examine each bill, line-by-line, before it becomes an Act
Parliament's role money to the government through approving Bills that
Parliament is an essential part of UK of Parliament (actual law). Many of these bills affect our
raise taxes. Generally, the decisions made in one House everyday lives, covering areas such as welfare, health
politics. Its main roles are examining and have to be approved by the other.
challenging the work of the government, and education.
In this way the two-chamber system acts as a check and
debating and passing all laws and balance for both Houses.
enabling the Government to raise taxes In-depth consideration of public policy
Members use their extensive individual experience to
Functions of Parliament
Making laws Approve legislation
investigate public policy. Much of this work is done in
Law making is one of Parliament’s Parliament has to approve legislation, taxation and public select committees - small groups appointed to consider
essential roles. Find out how new laws spending. specific policy areas. Many select committee meetings
are made and learn how a Bill passes Provide political legitimacy involve questioning expert witnesses working in the
In a general sense passing the Government’s proposals give field which is the subject of the inquiry. These meetings
through Parliament and becomes an Act legitimacy to them in the eyes of the are open to the public.
Hold the Government to account
Committees Parliament is meant to bring the Government to account and
Much of the work of the House of question it if it looks as if it has done something wrong. Holding government to account
Commons takes place in committees, Broader scrutiny Members scrutinise the work of the government during
made up of around 10 to 50 MPs. These
Scrutiny is a process by which Parliament examines what the question time and debates in the chamber, where
Government is doing government ministers must respond. In the 2016-17
committees examine issues in detail, from A place for debate
government policy and proposed new session, members held the government to account with
Parliament should be the forum for debate about major
laws, to wider topics like the economy decisions.
7,380 oral and written questions and 154 debates on
A place to raise people’s issues topical issues and public policy. The public is welcome
Parliament is a place where the concerns of different groups in to visit and sit in the galleries overlooking the chamber
society can be raised. during business.
Legislative process Role and significance of backbenchers, select committees and opposition
The opposition are there to hold the
government to account and to present an
alternative option to the electorate (in
the case of general elections).
Labour – Kier Starmer
As leader of the opposition, he has to
strike a balance between criticising
ministers (holding the government to
account) as well as coming across as
statesmanlike in the position as a
possible future PM.
Opposition parties are allocated 20 days
a year to propose subjects for debate.
The Prime Minister answers questions
from MPs in the Commons every sitting
Wednesday from 12pm to 12.30pm.

The Salisbury Convention is a constitutional convention under which the House of Lords will not
oppose the second or third reading of any government legislation promised in its election manifesto.
Prime minister Powers of the PM
Role of the cabinet
Dispute resolution

Forum for debate

Symbol of collective
government

Policy approval

Policy coordination

Party management
 The supreme court
The Judiciary

Ultra vires
A legal principle that literally
means ‘exceeding one’s power’.
When an action is ruled ultra vires
by a court it means the individuals
or body that takes the action was
exceeding its legal power.
EU structure

Sovereignty is returned to the UK – ALL HAIL BREXIT!