Relations between the Branches (4) Key words

• supranational: decision making transferred to a higher body which operates independently of nation states, it has authority over and above national gov
• intergovernmental: member states need to cooperate
• competency: the legal authority to act in a given policy area
• supreme court: the highest court in the UK political system
• judiciary: a wide description that includes all officials concerned with the dispensation of justice
• judicial neutrality: the principle that judges should not be influenced by their personal political opinions and should remain outside of party politics
• judicial independence: the principle that judges should not be influenced by other branches of government, particularly the executive
• judicial review: the power of the judiciary to review, and sometimes reverse, actions by other branches of gov that breach the law or that are incompatible with the HRA
• legal sovereignty: the legal right to exercise sovereignty e.g. sovereignty in theory
• political sovereignty: the political ability to exercise sovereignty e.g. sovereignty in practice
• ultra vires: literally “beyond the powers”, an action that is taken without legal authority when it requires it