1.1.3 Reforms and debates concerning the UK constitution

• What does it mean that the UK Constitution is uncodified?

  Not in a single document
• The Parliament Acts 1911 & 1949 reduced the power of the House of Lords.


  True
• What did the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 establish?

  The Supreme Court
• What is the main argument against codifying the UK Constitution?

  Reduced flexibility
• One proposal for constitutional change is the codification of the Constitution to provide clarity and stability.
• What is the primary aim of devolution in the UK?

  Empower regional decision-making
• What is an example of a statute that forms part of the UK Constitution?

  Bill of Rights 1689
• What is the definition of statutes in the context of the UK Constitution?

  Acts of Parliament
• What is the primary characteristic of the UK Constitution in terms of its documentation?

  It is uncodified
• What was the significance of the Bill of Rights 1689 in the context of the UK Constitution?

  Limited royal power
• Match the constitutional reform with its significance:

  Bill of Rights 1689 ↔️ Limited royal power

  Parliament Acts 1911 & 1949 ↔️ Curtailed House of Lords

  Constitutional Reform Act 2005 ↔️ Created Supreme Court
• What is the central debate surrounding codifying the UK Constitution?

  Clarity vs. flexibility
• The Human Rights Act 1998 incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights
• Codifying the UK Constitution could reduce its adaptability to changing circumstances


  True
• The Parliament Acts 1911 & 1949 reduced the power of the unelected House of Lords
• Order the advantages and disadvantages of the Bill of Rights 1689 as outlined in the study material:

  1️⃣ Increased parliamentary power

  2️⃣ Democratic accountability

  3️⃣ Reduced royal authority

  4️⃣ Potential for tensions between branches
• Key historical reforms to the UK Constitution include the Bill of Rights 1689, the Parliament Acts 1911 & 1949, the Constitutional Reform Act 2005, and Devolution in 1998
• What did the Bill of Rights 1689 achieve?

  Limited royal power
• Arrange the following reforms to the UK Constitution in chronological order:

  1️⃣ Bill of Rights 1689

  2️⃣ Parliament Acts 1911 & 1949

  3️⃣ Constitutional Reform Act 2005

  4️⃣ Devolution in 1998
• The debate around codification of the UK Constitution centers on whether to adopt a single, written document or maintain its current uncodified system.
• House of Lords reform proposals include abolishing the unelected chamber or making it fully elected.

  True
• What are the potential advantages of House of Lords reform?

  Improved democratic accountability
• Amending the Human Rights Act 1998 has been proposed to restore parliamentary sovereignty.


  True
• What is the role of conventions in the UK Constitution?

  Unwritten rules
• The UK Constitution is uncodified, meaning it is not fixed in a single written document
• The UK Constitution's uncodified nature allows it to evolve through various sources over time


  True
• Order the following historical reforms to the UK Constitution chronologically:

  1️⃣ Bill of Rights 1689

  2️⃣ Parliament Acts 1911 & 1949

  3️⃣ Constitutional Reform Act 2005

  4️⃣ Devolution (1998)
• The 1998 devolution transferred legislative powers to regional assemblies in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland
• Reforming the House of Lords is a significant ongoing debate in the UK Constitution


  True
• Match the proposed constitutional change with its potential advantage:

  Codification of the Constitution ↔️ Increased clarity

  House of Lords Reform ↔️ Democratic accountability

  Devolution and Regional Powers ↔️ Empowering regional decision-making
• How did the Bill of Rights 1689 contribute to the UK's system of government?

  Established constitutional monarchy
• The Constitutional Reform Act 2005 strengthened judicial independence in the UK


  True
• Devolution has increased complexity in the UK's governance system

  True