Constitutional Conventions Review

These flashcards cover the key concepts and discussions from the lecture on constitutional conventions, including their nature, significance, and implications in the UK legal framework.

What are constitutional conventions in the context of the UK constitution?

Constitutional conventions are nonlegal rules that govern the behavior of public officials and are considered binding, but do not arise from legal authority.

How can constitutional conventions be described in terms of legal enforceability?

Constitutional conventions are nonlegal and therefore not legally enforceable; they are considered politically binding.

What is the significance of ministerial responsibility as a convention?

Ministerial responsibility ensures that individual ministers are accountable for their personal conduct and the actions of their departments, maintaining public confidence in government.

What are the two parts of the discussion regarding the nature of conventions?

1) Conventions are nonlegal; 2) Conventions are binding rules of constitutional behavior despite being nonlegal.

How do conventions contribute to the functioning of the UK constitution?

Conventions contribute to the UK's constitution by providing necessary flexibility and guiding standards for constitutional behavior of public officials.

What is an example of a constitutional convention?

An example is the convention of collective ministerial responsibility, where all members of the cabinet must publicly support decisions or resign.

What should students do first when addressing a question about conventions?

Students should first interpret the question to understand what is being asked before constructing their response.

Why is it important to understand the binding nature of conventions?

Understanding the binding nature helps articulate how conventions dictate the conduct of public officials and affect the functioning of the constitution.