Key term
WJEC AS-Level Government and Politics 603-1979-3
The British Constitution
Topic overviewThe nature of the constitution: uncodified, unitary and flexibleStatute law as a source of the constitutionCommon law and works of constitutional authorityConstitutional conventionsParliamentary sovereigntyThe rule of lawParliamentary government and constitutional monarchyConstitutional reform since 1997The debate on a codified constitutionThe UK, the European Union and BrexitThe UK, NATO and the United Nations
The Judiciary and the Supreme Court
Topic overviewThe constitutional role of the Supreme CourtThe Constitutional Reform Act 2005 and the creation of the CourtThe Supreme Court as the highest court of appealThe separation of powers in the UKJudicial independenceJudicial neutrality and the appointment of judgesJudicial review and the doctrine of ultra viresSupreme Court rulings on constitutional mattersA separate legal jurisdiction for Wales
The UK Executive
Topic overviewThe core executiveThe roles of the Prime MinisterThe powers and resources of the Prime MinisterThe royal prerogativeThe composition of the CabinetThe roles and functions of the CabinetCollective ministerial responsibilityIndividual ministerial responsibilityPrime ministerial government and its limitsThe civil service
Parliament and the Accountability of Government
Topic overviewThe composition of the House of CommonsThe House of Lords: composition and powersThe functions of ParliamentThe legislative processPrivate members' bills and delegated legislationSelect committeesQuestions, debates and confidence in the governmentBackbench MPs and peersThe role of the OppositionParliamentary privilegeParliamentary sovereignty in practiceExecutive dominance and where power lies
Government and the Senedd in Wales
Topic overviewThe First Minister of WalesThe Welsh Government and its CabinetCollective and individual ministerial responsibility in WalesThe powers and resources of the Welsh GovernmentThe origins and structure of the SeneddThe composition and election of the SeneddThe legislative competence of the SeneddThe legislative process in the SeneddPlenary and the business of the SeneddSenedd committeesMembers of the Senedd and the OppositionDebates over the effectiveness of the Senedd
Devolution and the United Kingdom
Topic overviewThe nature and forms of devolutionThe origins of devolution in the UKThe Scottish Parliament and Scottish GovernmentThe Northern Ireland Assembly and ExecutiveDevolution in EnglandAsymmetry in the devolution settlementThe West Lothian question and English votes for English lawsFunding devolution and the Barnett formulaDevolution, sovereignty and the unionDebates over the future of the union
Citizenship and Rights
Topic overviewThe meaning of citizenshipGlobal citizenshipFreedom, equality and active citizenshipThe rule of law and protection under the lawThe rights of minoritiesPositive discrimination and positive actionThe sources of rights in the UKEquality legislation on race and genderFreedom of expression, association and religionPrivacy, liberty and the right to a fair trialConflicts between rightsDebates over a British Bill of Rights
The Protection of Human Rights
Topic overviewThe courts and the protection of rightsJudicial review: grounds and remediesJudicial review in practiceThe Universal Declaration of Human RightsThe European Convention on Human RightsThe European Court of Human RightsThe Human Rights Act 1998The Human Rights Act in the courtsEnforcing equality lawOmbudsmen and commissionersPressure and campaigning for rightsDebates over the protection of rights in the UK
Democracy and Participation
Electoral Systems in the UK
Topic overviewThe functions of elections and the language of electoral systemsFirst Past the Post: how it worksFirst Past the Post: advantages and criticismsThe Additional Member System and Senedd electionsThe Single Transferable VoteParty list systemsThe supplementary vote and the alternative voteProportionality, fairness and effects on party systemsCoalition and minority governmentKey elections in WalesReferendums in Wales and the UK
Voting Behaviour in the UK
Topic overviewThe sociological model and social classParty identification and partisan dealignmentThe rational choice modelThe valence model and governing competenceAge, gender, ethnicity and educationRegion, nation and voting in WalesElection campaigns and party leadersThe media and voting behaviourTurnout, tactical voting and volatility
Political Parties in Wales and the UK
Topic overviewThe functions of political partiesThe Labour Party: origins and ideologyThe Conservative Party: origins and ideologyThe Liberal Democrats and the centre groundPlaid Cymru and the Welsh party systemSmaller and minor partiesParty organisation and the role of membersLeadership selection in the main partiesCandidate selection and representationManifestos, platforms and the mandateParty funding, cash for influence and reform
Pressure Groups and Social Movements
Topic overviewPressure groups and how they differ from partiesSectional and promotional groupsInsider and outsider groupsAccess points in Wales and the UKLobbying and direct contact with decision-makersDirect action and public campaigningUsing the media and new technologiesFactors in pressure group successPressure groups and the health of democracySocial movements: nature, membership and methodsThe women's movement and the environmental movement
Devolution and the United Kingdom
- 10 subtopics
- 30 things to know
- AS Unit 1
What Devolution and the United Kingdom covers
Devolution and the United Kingdom is examined in AS Unit 1, Government in Wales and the United Kingdom — how devolution works. It covers the nature and forms of devolution, the origins of devolution in the UK, the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government, the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive, devolution in England, asymmetry in the devolution settlement, the West Lothian question and English votes for English laws, funding devolution and the Barnett formula, devolution, sovereignty and the union and debates over the future of the union.
Where it is assessed
AS Unit 1
Government in Wales and the United Kingdom.
Check the WJEC specification ↗The 10 subtopics
Each one has its own page. WJEC AS Government and Politics students sit this topic in the first year.
- The nature and forms of devolutionAdministrative devolution, legislative devolution and financial devolution.Open →
- The origins of devolution in the UKRecall questions on the Kilbrandon report, the 1979 and 1997 referendums, the Northern Ireland settlement, and why Wales began with weaker powers than Scotland.Open →
- The Scottish Parliament and Scottish GovernmentRecall questions on Holyrood's composition and electoral system, the reserved-powers model, the tax and welfare powers added since 1999, and the declaration of permanence.Open →
- The Northern Ireland Assembly and ExecutiveDesignation in the Northern Ireland Assembly, cross-community support and petition of concern.Open →
- Devolution in EnglandCombined authority, metro mayor and devolution deal.Open →
- Asymmetry in the devolution settlementRecall questions on how the three settlements differ in powers, structure and electoral system, why Wales changed most often, England's position, and the case for symmetry.Open →
- The West Lothian question and English votes for English lawsWest Lothian question, english votes for English laws and legislative grand committee.Open →
- Funding devolution and the Barnett formulaBlock grant, barnett formula and barnett squeeze.Open →
- Devolution, sovereignty and the unionSewel convention, common frameworks and how intergovernmental relations across the UK are conducted.Open →
- Debates over the future of the unionWhy that difference became a constitutional argument and constitutional convention as a proposal for UK reform.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
Key term
Explain why the Welsh settlement changed more often than the Scottish one.
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Distinguish devolution from federalism.
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Which two referendums on devolution were held in 1979?
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Which electoral system is used for the Scottish Parliament?
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Why is England described as the gap in the devolution settlement?
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State the West Lothian question.
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What is the block grant?
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Why does devolution not transfer sovereignty?
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How did the 2016 European Union referendum result differ across the nations of the UK?
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Distinguish devolution from delegation.
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Why did the Scottish devolution proposal fail in 1979 despite a majority voting yes?
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Where does the Scottish Parliament sit?
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How many members sit in the Northern Ireland Assembly, and how are they elected?
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Which body was created for London after a 1998 referendum?
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Define asymmetry in the context of UK devolution.
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Why does the West Lothian question arise only after devolution?
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Why is the Barnett formula not a needs-based system?
Numbers
How was the Sewel convention placed on a statutory footing?
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What is devo-max?
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What is administrative devolution?
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What was the result of the 1979 referendum in Wales?
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What is the Scottish Government?
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What change was made to the size of the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2017?
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How many members sit in the London Assembly?
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Give one way the powers of the Scottish Parliament differ from those of the Senedd.
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What did the McKay Commission recommend in 2013?
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Why does devolving a tax create financial risk for a devolved government?
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What did the Supreme Court decide in 2017 about the enforceability of the Sewel convention?
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Give two obstacles to federalism in the UK.
Take Devolution and the United Kingdom further
The same content, four other ways.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
Define devolution.
Model answer
Devolution is the transfer of powers by statute from a central legislature to subordinate national or regional bodies, without giving up ultimate legal authority.
- 2
Distinguish devolution from federalism.
Model answer
Devolution grants powers by ordinary statute that the centre could in principle alter, whereas federalism divides power in a codified constitution that neither level can change on its own.
- 3
Distinguish devolution from delegation.
Model answer
Devolution hands law-making or executive power to a separately elected body, while delegation passes tasks to an agency that remains under central direction.
- 4
What is administrative devolution?
Model answer
Administrative devolution is the running of central policy through a separate territorial department or office, without any transfer of power to legislate.
- 5
Give an example of administrative devolution before 1999.
Model answer
The Welsh Office, created in 1964, administered UK policy in Wales under a Secretary of State without any elected Welsh body.
- 6
What is legislative devolution?
Model answer
Legislative devolution gives a body the power to pass its own primary laws within a defined field.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Devolution and the United Kingdom revision questions
- Is Devolution and the United Kingdom examined at AS in WJEC Government and Politics?
- Yes. It sits in AS Unit 1, which you take in the first year, so it is on the AS paper as well as counting towards the full A level.
- What does Devolution and the United Kingdom cover in WJEC AS-Level Government and Politics?
- 10 subtopics: the nature and forms of devolution, the origins of devolution in the uk, the scottish parliament and scottish government, the northern ireland assembly and executive, devolution in england, asymmetry in the devolution settlement, the west lothian question and english votes for english laws, funding devolution and the barnett formula, devolution, sovereignty and the union and debates over the future of the union. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Devolution and the United Kingdom organised?
- By the WJEC 603-1979-3 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Devolution and the United Kingdom, on a schedule.
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