AQA A-Level Politics UK Government overview quiz quiz

Federalism and a fully codified, entrenched written constitution

A strict separation of powers and the legal supremacy of the judiciary

Parliamentary sovereignty and the rule of law

Popular sovereignty and the entrenchment of fundamental rights against repeal

It is contained in one entrenched written document that is very difficult to amend

It cannot be changed by Parliament without first holding a binding national referendum

It is interpreted only by the Supreme Court, which alone may declare its true meaning

It is not contained in a single document and can be changed by ordinary statute

Constitutional Reform Act 2005

Human Rights Act 1998

House of Lords Act 1999

Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011

Ministers must personally answer to Parliament for the failures of their own department

Ministers must publicly support agreed government policy or resign

The Prime Minister must consult and gain the approval of Parliament before any decision

Civil servants must remain politically neutral and serve governments of any party loyally

Representing the United Kingdom abroad at international summits

Chairing meetings of the Cabinet and directing its discussions

Hiring and firing ministers

Setting the overall policy agenda and direction of government

Because judges are appointed by the Prime Minister

Because the UK has a codified constitution

Because the Lords must approve all rulings

Because of parliamentary sovereignty

The Scottish Parliament

The Senedd (Welsh Parliament)

The Northern Ireland Assembly

The Greater London Authority

Whether Scotland should become an independent state and leave the United Kingdom altogether by referendum

Why non-English MPs can vote on English-only laws while English MPs cannot vote on devolved matters

Whether the unelected House of Lords should be wholly replaced by a directly elected second chamber

How the Barnett formula allocates central funding between the four nations of the United Kingdom

That triggering Article 50 required an Act of Parliament

That the Human Rights Act was incompatible with EU law

That the 2019 prorogation of Parliament was unlawful

That devolution could not be reversed

A strict separation of powers, with the executive sitting entirely outside the legislature

Complete constitutional independence of the two branches from one another at every level

Judicial control of both branches, with the courts able to overrule ministers and MPs alike

A fusion of powers, because ministers are also members of Parliament

Defence and foreign affairs

Health in Scotland

Education in Wales

Policing in Northern Ireland

It automatically strikes down the offending law and removes it from the statute book at once

It signals that a law conflicts with rights and invites Parliament to amend it

It forces the entire government to resign and triggers an immediate general election

It transfers the matter directly to the European Court of Human Rights for a binding ruling