The Constitution definitions

Question	Answer
Constitution	A set of principles, which may be written or unwritten, that establishes the distribution of power within a political system, relationships between political institutions, the limits of government jurisdiction, the rights of citizens and the method of amending the constitution itself
Constitutionalism	The concept that a political system is governed by a constitution and that a political institutions are bound by constitutional rules which are binding
Codification	The process of setting out a constitution in an organised way in a single document- has a single source
Unitary constitution	Sovereignty- ultimate political power- resides in one location- the centre. It is possible that some power may be distributed to regions and local government, but this is not the same as sovereignty.
Federal constitution	Sovereignty is divided between central bodies and regional institutions. Such constitutions normally arise when a number of sovereign states come together and agree to surrender some, but not all, of their sovereignty to a central authority.
Royal prerogative	Refers to the ancient, traditional powers enjoyed by the monarch. These powers do not require the sanction of Parliament but are arbitrary. Since the twentieth century, these powers have passed from the monarch to the PM of the day
Parliamentary government	A political system where Parliament is a central feature. Government is drawn from Parliament and is accountable Parliament.
Parliamentary sovereignty	The principle that Parliament is the ultimate source of all authority and power within the political system. It also means that Parliament is the ultimate source of all law and there is no higher legal authority.
Pooled sovereignty	A circumstance, as in the EU, where legal sovereignty is exercised collectively by a number of sovereign states
Quasi federalism	A description often applied to both the EU and devolution in the UK. Though the arrangements in the EU are not legally federal they are so similar that they are described as quasi federalism
Constitutional reform	A process whereby the fundamental nature of the system of government (as well as the relationships between governing institutions) is changed, or where change is proposed. In the case of the UK this may also involve the process of codification
Parliamentary reform	A process by which reforms in the membership, powers or procedures of either or both Houses of Parliament are made or proposed
Human rights	Basic rights that all citizens can expect to enjoy. Key examples include freedom of expression, freedom of association, freedom of beliefs and freedom of imprisonment without trial
Electoral reform	A process by which the electoral system is changed or where there is a campaign for such a change
Elective dicatorship	It refers to the idea that, once elected, government in the UK, has uncontrolled power. This applies even though governments in the UK don't win a majority of votes in GE
Devolution	A process of constitutional reform, whereby power, but not legal sovereignty is distributed to national or regional institutions. In the UK this has meant transfer of power to institutions in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Administrative devolution	transfer of limited powers to devolved administrations- control over the allocation of public funds, nature of administration, the way in which laws should be implemented and the passage of secondary legislation
Financial devolution	the ability of the devolved administration to raise its own taxes.
Legislative devolution	Transfer of power to make primary legislation. It is this distinction that makes the Scottish representative body a parliament rather than an assembly
Power sharing	A method of forming a government in a divided society such as that of Northern Ireland. TO avoid conflict, all major parties, representing different sections of the community, are invited to share seats in government and to develop widely agreed policies
Referendum	A popular vote in which the people rather than their elected representatives resolve a political issue. It is used as a way of gaining consent for constitutional reforms
Constitutional government	Government that is limited by a constitution and by constitutional principles
Legal sovereignty	The location of ultimate power to make laws, together with the location of the source of all legal power within the political system.

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The Constitution definitions

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	Created by laura.ng39 about 8 years ago