What are the three main functions of the judiciary in the UK?
Interpreting the law, applying the law, and ensuring it is consistent with constitutional principles.
What is judicial independence?
The principle that judges must be free from external pressure and political influence.
What safeguards judicial independence in the UK?
Security of tenure, independent appointment process, protection from arbitrary dismissal, and salary security.
What is the Constitutional Reform Act 2005?
An Act that reformed the office of the Lord Chancellor and established the UK Supreme Court, enhancing judicial independence.
What was the role of the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords before 2009?
It functioned as the highest UK court before the Supreme Court was created.
What is the role of the UK Supreme Court?
It is the highest court in the UK, hearing appeals on important points of law and constitutional issues.
What is judicial review?
The process by which courts examine the lawfulness of decisions or actions by public bodies.
What was decided in the GCHQ case (1985)?
That even prerogative powers can be subject to judicial review.
What was the significance of the R (Miller) v Secretary of State for Exiting the EU case (2017)?
The court ruled that Parliament must approve the triggering of Article 50; the government could not act unilaterally.
What was the issue in the Belmarsh case (2004)?
The indefinite detention of foreign terrorist suspects under the Anti-terrorism Act was ruled incompatible with the ECHR.
What was the outcome in R (Evans) v Attorney General (2015)?
The Supreme Court ruled that the executive could not override a judicial decision to release the Prince Charles letters.
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