The UK Constitution

A constitution is a body of laws, ​ (a)   and practices that sets out the way in which a ​ (b)   or society is ​ (c)   .

• rules
• state
• organised
• regulations
• government
• structured
• code
• community

Which of the following are functions of a constitution? Choose all correct answers.

• Establishes the relationship between state and citizens.

• Establishes the distribution of power within a state.

• Establishes the relationships between institutions in a state.

• Establishes the government.

• Protects the basic rights of citizens.

Match the following

• Sets out the powers of government branch

• Lists the rights of individual citizens.

• Sets limits on what the executive can do

• Provides a key role for the courts.

• Courts interpret the constitution.

• Sets out who does what in government.

• Guarantee certain rights for individuals

• Curtails the power of those at the top.

The UK has an ​ (a)   constitution which means the British constitution is not written down in one ​ (b)   document:

· It can be found in multiple places/sources including: ​ (c)   (Acts of parliament), ​ (d)   (unwritten rules) and Historical texts like the Magna Carta.

· We therefore say that the UK constitution is ​ (e)   .

· The UK is unlike other countries, which tend to have codified constitutions, such as the USA and France.

 

• uncodified
• single
• Statute law
• Conventions
• multi-sourced
• written
• codified
• one-piece
• legislation
• solely-sourced

The UK Constitution is also ​ (a)   :

· Any part of the UK constitution can be changed with a single ​ (b)   e.g. The Human Rights Act could be scrapped or ​ (c)   if Parliament passed a law to do so.

· The UK is unlike most other countries which tend to have​ (d)   constitutions- a constitution which is entrenched is ​ (e)   from short-term amendment or changes e.g. the US constitution.

 

• unentrenched
• Act of Parliament
• amended
• entrenched
• protected
• flexible
• unamended
• unchangeable
• immutable
• rigid

Match the following

• Ultimate power is with central govt.

• Rigid

• Able to be amended.

• Written

• Shared power; regional governments.

• Federal

• Allows for no changes.

• Flexible

• Recorded on a piece of paper.

• Unitary

The rule of ___: that everyone should be accountable to law and order e.g. through a swift and fair _____.

(a)  

It’s crucial to get the process of how a constitution can be ​ (a)   in the future right from the beginning. Specifying an impossibly high ​ (b)   for change – say, everyone in parliament has to agree to any change – risks that the constitution becomes less relevant over time and that it is ultimately​ (c)   as a method to improve the country. On the flip side, make changing the constitution too ​ (d)   and chaos is likely, as politicians will try to do so when it suits their short-term political objectives. In a worst case scenario, an easily changeable constitution will be a weak one and a ​ (e)   may result.

 

• changed
• threshold
• ignored
• easy
• dictatorship
• amended
• requirement
• overlooked
• difficult
• anarchy

The British constitution comes from (a)   sources.

What are the sources of the British constitution?

• Statute law, Common Law, Supreme Court, Conventions, works of authority

• Common Law, International law, Statute Law, Conventions, Supreme Court

• Works of authority, Statute Law, Conventions, Supreme Court, International Law

• International Law, Statute Law, Common Law, Conventions, works of authority