Which description best captures reserved powers in the UK constitution?

Which description best captures reserved powers in the UK constitution?

• A. Reserved powers
• B. Devolved powers
• C. Legislative powers
• D. Executive powers

Answer: (A)

In the UK constitution, reserved powers are the areas of authority that the central Parliament in Westminster keeps for itself rather than transferring to Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland. This means Westminster handles national and international matters like defense, foreign policy, immigration, and monetary policy, which are not devolved to the regional governments. Devolved powers are the competences granted to the devolved administrations to make laws and run policies in specific areas within their nations. The other terms describe different ideas: legislative powers refer to the ability to make laws in a given area (a capacity shared across contexts, not the allocation of who controls what), while executive powers concern who runs the government and implements laws. Therefore, reserved powers are best described as those topics Westminster retains control over, not delegated to the devolved bodies.

In the UK constitution, reserved powers are the areas of authority that the central Parliament in Westminster keeps for itself rather than transferring to Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland. This means Westminster handles national and international matters like defense, foreign policy, immigration, and monetary policy, which are not devolved to the regional governments. Devolved powers are the competences granted to the devolved administrations to make laws and run policies in specific areas within their nations. The other terms describe different ideas: legislative powers refer to the ability to make laws in a given area (a capacity shared across contexts, not the allocation of who controls what), while executive powers concern who runs the government and implements laws. Therefore, reserved powers are best described as those topics Westminster retains control over, not delegated to the devolved bodies.