Relations Between Branches

Question 1

R v Secretary of State for Exiting the EU

Answer 1

• Supreme Court ruled that Theresa May couldn’t trigger article 50 without parliamentary approval

Question 2

SC on proroguing of parliament

Answer 2

• SC ruled that Johnson’s decision to suspend parliament for 5 weeks was unlawful because it would prevent accountability
• Ruled there was no reason to advise the Queen to suspend parliament
• Unanimous decision
• No legal consequence except they had to resume the parliamentary session

Question 3

What % of Bills from 2015-2021 were tabled by the Executive

Answer 3

76.9%

Question 4

For how long did Blair not lose a single Commons vote?

Answer 4

8 years

Question 5

Since 2019, how many MPs haven’t voted against their party

Answer 5

321

Question 6

Same-sex marriage Bill

Answer 6

• 225 MP majority
• 136 Conservative MPs opposed it

Question 7

Theresa May’s Brexit deal

Answer 7

• defeated by 230 votes
• 118 MPs rebelled

Question 8

How many times longer was the Agriculture Act (2020) considered by the Lords vs the Commons?

Answer 8

3

Question 9

How many crossbenchers in the Lords

Answer 9

183

Question 10

How many questions is the leader if the Opposition given in PMQs

Answer 10

6

Question 11

How has the number of urgent questions a day changed?

Answer 11

• Increased
• 0.02 a day -> 0.88 a day

Question 12

How many independent MPs were elected in 2019

Answer 12

0

Question 13

How much is the average majority since 1945

Answer 13

58.5 seats

Question 14

How many defeats did Blair and Thatcher get

Answer 14

4 each

Question 15

What happened to the Fixed term Parliament Act in 2022?

Answer 15

It was repealed

Question 16

Johnson’s Plan B COVID-19 Measures

Answer 16

• In 2021, 99 Conservative MPs opposed it
• Still passed with Labour’s support

Question 17

How representative is the Supreme Court?

Answer 17

• 87.5% go justices attended Oxbridge
• 83% privately educated
• 87.5 % have been men

Question 18

Terrorist Asset Freezing Act (2010)

Answer 18

• made to overrule the common law ruling by the Supreme Court that said that the government acted unlawfully when freezing the assets of suspected terrorists

Question 19

Evans vs Attorney general (2015)

Answer 19

Court ruled that letter between Prince Charles and gov should be published under Freedom of Information Act

Question 20

Example of Supreme Court striking down secondary legislation

Answer 20

R v Lord Chancellor (2016) - struck down restrictions on civil legal aid

Question 21

Example of Declaration of Incompatibility

Answer 21

Crime & Security Act (2001) - replaced by Prevention of Terrorism Act (2005)

Question 22

Example of Supreme Court upholding rights protections

Answer 22

R v Metropolitan Commissioner of Police - ruled that DNA records of innocent people have to be destroyed

Question 23

Example of lack of diversity impacting decisions

Answer 23

Radmacher v Granatino - pre-nuptial agreements can be enforced by law - Only female justice dissented, saying it would affect more women