The UK Constitution Strengths and weaknesses. Strengths How well is it documented? Flexibility Flexibility Strong government Strong government It’s organic!

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Presentation transcript:

The UK Constitution Strengths and weaknesses

Strengths How well is it documented? Flexibility Flexibility Strong government Strong government It’s organic! It’s organic! Definite constitution Definite constitution It is principled It is principled

Strengths Other areas? Individual freedoms Individual freedoms Independent judiciary Independent judiciary Electoral systems Electoral systems

Recent constitutional reform It is open and responsive to moving times e.g. devolution has allowed for the development of region sensitive policies and more representation of women and minority parties It is open and responsive to moving times e.g. devolution has allowed for the development of region sensitive policies and more representation of women and minority parties

Codification? Codification would undermine parliamentary sovereignty. Codification would undermine parliamentary sovereignty. Why tamper with it as it has stood the test of time Why tamper with it as it has stood the test of time Debate would be divisive Debate would be divisive It is not the answer to all problems It is not the answer to all problems What is left out will be as important as what goes in! What is left out will be as important as what goes in!

Weaknesses lack of entrenchment/too easy to change lack of entrenchment/too easy to change The constitution is unknown The constitution is unknown Imbalanced Imbalanced Parliament Acts Parliament Acts Government in driving seat Government in driving seat Undemocratic Undemocratic

Arguments FOR codification It’s a chance to update It’s a chance to update Restore balance of powers Restore balance of powers Use of Parliament Act by majority party Use of Parliament Act by majority party Entrenchment would weaken impact of ‘elective dictatorship’ Entrenchment would weaken impact of ‘elective dictatorship’ Strengthen individual rights Strengthen individual rights Improve democracy Improve democracy

Arguments AGAINST codification There is no need There is no need There is broad satisfaction There is broad satisfaction Voters not interested Voters not interested Consensus unlikely Consensus unlikely Low turnout Low turnout Might be worse Might be worse Too soon after recent changes Too soon after recent changes What to include? What to include?