The UK government, the law and your role flashcards

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Which document, signed in 1215, is considered a cornerstone of British democracy and limited the power of the monarch?

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Magna Carta — Magna Carta, signed by King John in 1215, was a foundational document that restricted royal power and established that even the monarch was subject to the law.

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What is the term for the set of laws, conventions and principles by which the United Kingdom is governed, which is not written in a single document?

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The unwritten constitution — Unlike many countries, the UK does not have a single written constitutional document; instead its constitution is made up of laws, conventions and principles accumulated over time.

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The UK has a fully written constitution contained in a single document, similar to the United States.

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False — The UK does not have a single written constitutional document; its constitution is formed from a combination of Acts of Parliament, court judgments and conventions.

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Which 1689 document established the supremacy of Parliament over the Crown and is a key part of the British constitution?

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The Bill of Rights — The Bill of Rights of 1689 confirmed the supremacy of Parliament over the monarch and set out certain rights for citizens following the Glorious Revolution.

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Who is the head of state in the United Kingdom?

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The monarch — The monarch is the head of state of the United Kingdom, while the Prime Minister is the head of government.

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What is the role of the monarch in relation to Acts of Parliament in the modern UK?

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The monarch gives Royal Assent, which is now a formality — The monarch must give Royal Assent for a Bill to become law, but in practice this is a formality and has not been refused since the early 18th century.

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The monarch personally appoints the Prime Minister based solely on their own preference.

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False — By convention, the monarch invites the leader of the party that can command a majority in the House of Commons to become Prime Minister, making it a constitutional convention rather than a personal choice.

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Which conflict in the 17th century led to the temporary abolition of the monarchy and the establishment of a republic under Oliver Cromwell?

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The English Civil War — The English Civil War (1642–1651) between King Charles I and Parliament resulted in the king's execution and the rule of Oliver Cromwell as Lord Protector.

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What name is given to the political event of 1688 in which King James II was replaced by William III and Mary II without armed conflict?

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The Glorious Revolution — The Glorious Revolution of 1688 saw William of Orange and his wife Mary replace James II, leading to the Bill of Rights and cementing parliamentary supremacy.

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Which TWO of the following are functions the UK monarch performs as part of their constitutional role?

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Opening each session of Parliament in a formal ceremony, Formally appointing the Prime Minister — The monarch opens Parliament with the King's (or Queen's) Speech and formally appoints the Prime Minister by convention; they do not set the budget or vote in Parliament.

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The Great Reform Act of 1832 was significant primarily because it:

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Extended the right to vote and reduced the number of 'rotten boroughs' — The Great Reform Act 1832 began the modernisation of the electoral system by extending voting rights and eliminating 'rotten boroughs' that had almost no voters.

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In what year did women over the age of 21 first gain the right to vote on equal terms with men in the UK?

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1928 — The Equal Franchise Act of 1928 gave all women over 21 the same voting rights as men; in 1918 only women over 30 who met a property requirement could vote.

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What is the term for the principle that no one, including the government, is above the law?

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The rule of law — The rule of law is the principle that all individuals and institutions, including the government, are subject to and accountable under the law.

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The monarch is the head of the Church of England.

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True — The monarch is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, a role established by Henry VIII when he broke away from the Roman Catholic Church.

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Which group of people in the early 19th century campaigned peacefully for working-class men to have the right to vote, using a large-scale petition strategy?

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The Chartists — The Chartists were a 19th-century movement that campaigned for democratic rights including votes for all men, presenting mass petitions to Parliament.

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Which TWO of the following statements about the UK Parliament are correct?

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Parliament consists of the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and the monarch, The House of Commons is the more powerful of the two chambers — The UK Parliament is made up of the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and the monarch; the elected House of Commons holds more legislative power than the appointed House of Lords.

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The Suffragettes were a movement that used militant tactics to campaign for which cause?

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Votes for women — The Suffragettes, led by Emmeline Pankhurst and the Women's Social and Political Union, used militant tactics to campaign for women's right to vote.

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Which Act of Parliament united the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland in 1801?

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The Act of Union 1800 — The Act of Union 1800 (effective 1 January 1801) united Great Britain and Ireland to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

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What is the minimum voting age for elections to the UK Parliament?

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18 — Under current UK law, as set out in the official handbook, you must be 18 or over to vote in elections to the UK Parliament.

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Which historical document from 1628 asserted that the Crown could not impose taxes without Parliament's consent or imprison subjects without cause?

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The Petition of Right — The Petition of Right (1628) was a statement of civil liberties presented to Charles I, asserting that taxation without Parliament's consent and arbitrary imprisonment were illegal.

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What is the maximum number of days the House of Lords can delay a public bill passed by the House of Commons?

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One year — Under the Parliament Acts, the House of Lords can delay a public bill passed by the House of Commons for up to one year, but cannot ultimately block it.

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Which of the following best describes the role of the Speaker of the House of Commons?

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The Speaker chairs debates in the Commons and must remain politically impartial — The Speaker is elected by MPs to chair debates in the House of Commons and must be strictly impartial, giving up all party affiliation on election.

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Members of the House of Lords are elected by the public in a general election.

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False — Members of the House of Lords are not elected; they are appointed, mainly as life peers, and also include some Church of England bishops.

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What term describes the group of most senior ministers who meet regularly with the Prime Minister to make key government decisions?

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The Cabinet — The Cabinet is the group of the most senior government ministers who meet regularly under the Prime Minister to make collective decisions on government policy.

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How is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom chosen?

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The leader of the party that wins a majority in the House of Commons is asked to form a government — The Prime Minister is the leader of the political party that wins the most seats and can command a majority in the House of Commons, and is then asked by the monarch to form a government.

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What is the name given to a Member of Parliament who represents a geographical area of the UK?

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A constituency MP — Each MP is elected to represent a specific constituency and is referred to as a constituency MP.

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The House of Commons is the more powerful of the two Houses of Parliament.

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True — The House of Commons is the more powerful chamber; it is democratically elected and ultimately has authority over the unelected House of Lords.

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By what process does a new bill become an Act of Parliament?

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It must pass through both Houses of Parliament and receive Royal Assent — A bill must pass through both the House of Commons and the House of Lords before receiving Royal Assent from the monarch to become an Act of Parliament.

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Which TWO of the following statements about the House of Lords are correct?

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The House of Lords can examine and suggest amendments to bills, The House of Lords includes appointed life peers — The House of Lords scrutinises and can amend bills, and its membership includes life peers who are appointed rather than elected.

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What is a 'constituency' in the context of UK parliamentary elections?

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A geographical area that elects one Member of Parliament — A constituency is a specific geographical area of the UK, each of which elects one MP to represent it in the House of Commons.

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Which electoral system is used to elect Members of Parliament to the House of Commons?

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First past the post — MPs are elected to the House of Commons using the first past the post system, in which the candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins.

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The Prime Minister must be a member of the House of Lords.

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False — By modern convention, the Prime Minister is a member of the House of Commons, not the House of Lords.

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What is the term for when the government formally opens a new session of Parliament and outlines its programme?

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The State Opening of Parliament — The State Opening of Parliament marks the start of a new parliamentary session, during which the monarch reads the King's (or Queen's) Speech outlining the government's legislative plans.

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Which TWO of the following are responsibilities of the Prime Minister?

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Appointing and dismissing Cabinet ministers, Leading the government and directing overall policy — The Prime Minister appoints and can dismiss Cabinet ministers and is responsible for leading the government and setting the direction of overall policy.

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How often must a UK general election be held at the latest?

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Every five years — Under the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022, a general election must be held at least every five years.

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What is the role of the 'Official Opposition' in the House of Commons?

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To scrutinise and challenge the policies and actions of the government — The Official Opposition, led by the Leader of the Opposition, holds the government to account by scrutinising its policies and proposing alternative approaches.

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Cabinet decisions are made collectively, meaning all Cabinet ministers are expected to support agreed policies publicly even if they disagreed in private.

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True — The principle of collective Cabinet responsibility means that all ministers must publicly support and defend decisions made in Cabinet, regardless of their private views.

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What happens during 'Prime Minister's Questions' (PMQs)?

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MPs question the Prime Minister on government policy and current issues — Prime Minister's Questions is a weekly session held in the House of Commons during which MPs, particularly the Leader of the Opposition, question the Prime Minister on government policy and current affairs.

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Which TWO of the following are true about the Speaker of the House of Commons?

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The Speaker is elected by fellow MPs, The Speaker must give up active party political allegiance — The Speaker is chosen by a vote of all MPs and, upon election, must relinquish active party allegiance to remain strictly impartial.

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Which chamber of Parliament must all money bills, such as the annual Budget, originate in?

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The House of Commons — All money bills, including the annual Budget, must originate in the House of Commons and cannot be amended by the House of Lords.