1.4.3 The balance of power between the branches

• The legislature is responsible for creating and passing new laws
• What are the two principles that maintain the balance of power between the branches of the UK government?

  Parliamentary sovereignty, judicial independence
• What are two challenges to the balance of power in the UK government?

  Executive dominance, party politics
• The Prime Minister and Cabinet are part of the executive
• Why is it important that no single branch of the UK government becomes too dominant?

  Maintains checks and balances
• The executive branch is responsible for implementing laws and formulating policies
• What are the three primary functions of the UK government's branches?

  Lawmaking, enforcement, adjudication
• What is the role of the judiciary in the UK government?

  Interprets laws, ensures justice
• Which branch of the UK government scrutinizes the government?

  Legislature
• What is the purpose of the separation of powers in the UK government?

  Prevents dominance, ensures accountability
• What are the three branches of the UK government?

  Legislature, Executive, Judiciary
• The executive branch enforces laws passed by the legislature.


  True
• Constitutional mechanisms such as judicial review and parliamentary scrutiny maintain the balance
• What is the primary role of the legislature in the UK government?

  Makes laws, scrutinizes government
• The judiciary interprets laws and ensures justice.


  True
• What does the term 'legislature' refer to in the UK government?

  Parliament
• The judiciary ensures laws are applied fairly and consistently.


  True
• The executive branch enforces laws and executes government policies
• The system of checks and balances in the UK government prevents any single branch from becoming too powerful.


  True
• The Prime Minister and Cabinet are part of the executive
• What is the definition of parliamentary sovereignty in the UK context?

  Parliament has supreme authority
• How does judicial independence act as a check on parliamentary sovereignty?

  Ensures laws are fair
• What is the primary aim of parliamentary scrutiny in the UK government?

  Accountability of the executive
• The legislature can strike down legislation if it is found unconstitutional

  True
• Match the constitutional mechanism with its purpose:

  Judicial Review ↔️ Ensures lawfulness of actions

  Parliamentary Scrutiny ↔️ Holds executive accountable
• What does judicial review allow the judiciary to review?

  Executive and legislative actions
• Match the parliamentary scrutiny mechanism with its purpose:

  Questioning the Prime Minister ↔️ Holds executive accountable

  Debating government policies ↔️ Ensures public scrutiny

  Investigations by select committees ↔️ Examines government actions
• Executive dominance can occur when the Prime Minister and Cabinet accumulate excessive power


  True
• What are three mechanisms to address the challenges to the balance of power in the UK government?

  Judicial review, parliamentary committees, opposition parties
• Match the challenge with its description and countermeasure:

  Executive Dominance ↔️ Excessive executive power; judicial review

  Party Politics ↔️ Strong discipline reduces scrutiny; strong opposition
• The legislature in the UK consists of the House of Commons and the House of Lords
• The judiciary is responsible for interpreting laws and ensuring justice


  True
• What does parliamentary sovereignty allow the UK Parliament to do?

  Make or unmake any law
• Judicial independence ensures the judiciary can interpret laws without political interference
• Parliamentary scrutiny helps prevent the executive branch from becoming too powerful


  True
• What is the role of judicial review in the UK constitution?

  To review the legality of actions
• Match the mechanism with its purpose:

  Judicial Review ↔️ Checks executive and legislative actions

  Parliamentary Scrutiny ↔️ Holds the executive accountable
• How does strong party discipline affect the balance of power in the UK government?

  It limits parliamentary scrutiny
• The Parliament Acts of 1911 and 1949 reduced the power of the House of Lords
• The Constitutional Reform Act (2005) formally separated the judiciary from the legislature.


  True