Constitutional law worksheet with answers

The Salisbury convention in the UK means that the House of Lords:

1. AMay permanently veto bills that alter the constitution of the United Kingdom
2. BElects the Speaker of the House of Commons
3. CMust approve all money bills within one week
4. DDoes not block government bills carrying out manifesto commitments

A federal state is one in which:

1. APower is constitutionally divided between a central government and regions
2. BAll power is held by the capital city
3. CThere is no central government
4. DRegions may secede unilaterally whenever a majority of their voters wishes

A "rigid" constitution is one that:

1. ACan be amended only by a special procedure
2. BCan be changed by an ordinary Act
3. CCan never be amended at all
4. DIs enforced strictly by the army

Which ground of judicial review applies when a decision-maker ignores a relevant consideration?

1. AIllegality
2. BProcedural impropriety only
3. CLegitimate expectation only
4. DNone, because courts never review considerations

Under British Oxygen v Minister of Technology, a public body that adopts a policy for exercising its discretion must:

1. AMake no policy at all
2. BApply the policy rigidly in every case to ensure consistent treatment
3. CHave the policy approved by Parliament
4. DStill be willing to listen to anyone with something new to say

Under section 2 of the UK Human Rights Act 1998, UK courts must, when deciding Convention rights questions:

1. ATake into account judgments of the European Court of Human Rights
2. BIgnore Strasbourg case law
3. CRefer all questions to Strasbourg
4. DFollow every relevant Strasbourg judgment strictly, as binding precedent

After 2001, the UK detained foreign terrorism suspects indefinitely without trial. In A v Home Secretary (the Belmarsh case), the House of Lords:

1. AOrdered the immediate release of all detainees
2. BHeld that national security questions were for the executive alone and could not be reviewed by courts
3. CUpheld the detention as a valid response to an emergency
4. DMade a declaration of incompatibility, finding the measure disproportionate and discriminatory

Which statement about "horizontal effect" of human rights is correct?

1. ARights can influence legal relations between private parties, often indirectly through courts
2. BRights apply only between states
3. CPrivate parties can be brought directly before the Strasbourg court by individuals whose rights they breach
4. DHorizontal effect means rights apply only to horizontal property boundaries