Relations between Institutions

• When was the Supreme Court established in the UK?

  2005
• What was the aim of the 2005 Constitutional Reform Act?

  To increase the independence of the judiciary
• What was the highest court of appeal in the UK before the Supreme Court?

  The Law Lords
• What role did the Lord Chancellor have before the 2005 reform?

  Head of the judiciary and cabinet minister
• When did the Supreme Court open?

  2009
• What type of cases does the Supreme Court hear?

  Appeals on points of law and constitutional matters
• What can the Supreme Court decide regarding government institutions?

  Whether they acted within their powers
• What significant case did the Supreme Court hear in 2016-17?

  The Gina Miller case on Article 50
• What was the outcome of the Gina Miller case?

  Parliament must be consulted to trigger Article 50
• When was the Supreme Court established in the UK?

  2005
• What is the structure of the UK court system?

  • Magistrates' Court: Criminal cases
  • County Court: Civil cases
  • Crown Court: Serious criminal cases
  • High Court: Complicated civil cases
  • Court of Appeal: Appeals from civil and criminal cases
  • Supreme Court: Appeals from Court of Appeal
  • European Court of Justice: EU law cases
  • European Court of Human Rights: Human rights issues
• How many members are in the Supreme Court?

  12 members
• What was the aim of the 2005 Constitutional Reform Act?

  To increase the independence of the judiciary
• How many judges usually hear cases in the Supreme Court?

  5 to 9 judges
• What was the highest court of appeal in the UK before the Supreme Court?

  The Law Lords
• Who is the most senior judge in the Supreme Court called?

  The President
• What criticism has been made regarding the composition of the Supreme Court judges?

  Majority are white males
• What role did the Lord Chancellor have before the 2005 Act?

  Head of the judiciary and cabinet minister
• In what year was there only one female judge on the Supreme Court?

  2017
• Who were the first members of the Supreme Court?

  The former Law Lords
• How are appointments to the Supreme Court made?

  By an independent selection commission
• When did the Supreme Court open?

  2009
• What is judicial neutrality?

  Absence of partisanship in judgments
• What is a criticism of the Supreme Court's political neutrality?

  Judges may have a conservative bias
• What type of cases does the Supreme Court hear?

  Appeals on points of law and constitutional matters
• Who pointed out the lack of diversity among judges in 2015?

  Lady Hale
• What is judicial independence?

  Judges' decisions should not be influenced by government
• What is the significance of the Gina Miller case in 2016-17?

  It challenged the Prime Minister's authority on Article 50
• What year did Parliament vote to trigger Article 50?

  2017
• How is judicial independence maintained?

  Judges are chosen by an independent commission
• What concerns were raised about the court system in 2011?

  Effects of spending cuts on the court system
• What is the structure of the UK court system?

  • Magistrates' Court: criminal cases
  • County Court: civil cases
  • Crown Court: serious criminal cases
  • High Court: complicated civil cases
  • Court of Appeal: appeals from civil and criminal cases
  • Supreme Court: appeals from Court of Appeal
  • European Court of Justice: EU law cases
  • European Court of Human Rights: human rights issues
• How many members are in the Supreme Court?

  12 members
• What was the criticism following the ruling on Article 50?

  It put pressure on future court decisions
• What are the principles of the Supreme Court?

  • Judicial neutrality: No partisanship in judgments
  • Judicial independence: Decisions free from government influence
• How many judges usually hear cases in the Supreme Court?

  5 to 9 judges
• Who is the most senior judge in the Supreme Court called?

  The President
• What criticism has been made regarding the composition of the Supreme Court judges?

  Majority are white males
• In what year was there only one female judge on the Supreme Court?

  2017
• Who were the first members of the Supreme Court?

  The former Law Lords