The Constitution

Question 1

Human Rights Act (1998)

Answer 1

• Sets out fundamental rights that everyone across the UK has access to
• Incorporates the rights set out in ECHR into domestic law
• Can now seek justice in a British Court for rights violations

Question 2

Freedom of Information Act (2000)

Answer 2

• Allows members of the public to request any information from any public body which has to be met unless confidential
• Can be an administrative fee
• Used in MP expenses scandal (2009)

Question 3

Judicial Reform (2005 & 2009)

Answer 3

• Established a Supreme Court in a separate building
• Removed law lords from HoL
• Created an independent commission for appointments

Question 4

House of Lords Reform (1999)

Answer 4

• Removed all but 92 hereditary peers
• reduced membership from 1,330 to 669
• Second stage never enacted

Question 5

Scottish Devolution (1998)

Answer 5

• Devolved powers such as agriculture, education, housing and health
• A result of growing nationalist sentiment in Scotland
• call for further devolution
• Indy Ref in 2014

Question 6

Scottish Devolution (2016)

Answer 6

• Following the Indy Ref (2014) - very close result (45% - 55%)
• Further powers were devolved including income tax powers and extensive welfare powers

Question 7

English Devolution

Answer 7

• Metropolitan mayors
• little desire for devolution (78% of public voted against a North East Devolution Referendum)
• Housing and transport transferred to local councils
• EVEL - Devolved bodies shouldn’t get to vote on strictly English laws
• Support for an English Parliament only 16-19%

Question 8

Welsh Devolution

Answer 8

• Narrowly devolution was passed with 50.3% of the vote (with a 50.2% turnout)
• Power over education, Welsh language board and Environmental agency
• 2014 gave borrowing and taxation powers

Question 9

What % of English population does devolution cover?

Answer 9

41%

Question 10

Example of regional policy from devolution

Answer 10

Cornwall offshore windfarm done by the Cornwall County Council

Question 11

What % of Cornish people wanted devolution

Answer 11

60%

Question 12

Example of representation from English devolution

Answer 12

In 2021, Oxfordshire had a Lib Dem, labour, green coalition - more views represented

Question 13

Example of urban areas being represented

Answer 13

Urban areas which are more likely to vote labour can be represented on mayoral level (In London, 3 terms of Labour mayor under Conservative government) even if not represented in government

Question 14

Example of approval of devolution

Answer 14

Sadiq Khan won 56.9% vote in 2016 - biggest personal mandate of anyone in history

Question 15

Example of desire for devolution

Answer 15

Mebyon Kernow (party for Cornwall) won 5 seats on Cornwall county council

Question 16

Turnout to PCC elections in Humberside 2024

Answer 16

18%

Question 17

What % of people voted against north-east devolution

Answer 17

78%

Question 18

Manchester mayor’s budget per year

Answer 18

£6 billion - for health and social care

Question 19

When was EVEL abolished

Answer 19

2021

Question 20

How many Conservatives MPs rebelled against HoL reform in the coalition

Answer 20

91

Question 21

What % of Scottish people said they would’ve voted for ‘devomax’ if it had been an option in the Scottish Referendum?

Answer 21

32%
Compared to 31% for leave and 25% no change