Chapter 4 End-of-chapter questions

Separation of powers - an introduction

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The idea of the separation of powers is not monolithic and can take many forms. Below are some views about what the separation of powers means in practice in the UK.
Match each description with its corresponding authority.

The executive must comply with the requirements of Acts of Parliament passed by the legislature; in choosing to ignore them, the executive is deciding which laws should and should not have effect, thereby usurping the role of the legislature.

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The judiciary must respect the proper limits of its role. Political matters should not constitute the diet of judges. When disputes arise between the executive and legislature in political matters, the judiciary should be slow to interfere.

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The legislature must be able to enact legislation and hold government to account. The executive cannot bring into force limitations which would limit the ability of the legislature to make or unmake law. The judiciary has an obligation to intervene in such matters.

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The idea of a separation of powers in the UK is a fallacious and unhelpful one; real importance lies with ensuring power is evenly and fairly spread across institutions.

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The UK, in line with most other countries, operates under a separation of powers model whereby separation is not absolute; which of the following statements presents an accurate description of the ways in which the UK governmental institutions overlap?

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In some ways, the UK also adheres to a more traditional, 'strict' model of the separation of powers. Which of the following statements presents an accurate description of the ways in which the UK governmental institutions are kept separate?

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Below are four responses to the question 'what is the purpose of the separation of powers doctrine and how does it manifest in the UK context?' Please select the single best answer.

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