Discuss whether ministerial accountability is adequately addressed in the UK Constitution.

The first 200 words of this essay...

"The prerogatives have allowed powers to move from Monarch to Ministers without Parliament having a say in how they are exercised. This should no longer be acceptable to Parliament or the people."

Discuss whether ministerial accountability is adequately addressed in the UK Constitution.

Mustafa Mohamedali

L2

688 words

As Tom Paine (1971) stated, "A constitution is a thing antecedent to a government and a government is only the creatures of a constitution... A constitution is not the act of a government, but of a people constituting a government and a government without a constitution is power without right". In this sense there is an implication of inherent checks and balances that holds the government and ministers accountable. However since the UK constitution is not entrenched and codified, it is highly pragmatic which means that it can change and evolve over time, thus Paine's perception may no longer be appropriate. The UK constitution is made up of several rules and customs which are not written down as such. One of which are Royal Prerogative powers; these can be defined as are the rights of the Crown to make political and legal decisions. Traditionally these prerogatives