Constitutional law worksheet with answers

Free printable Constitutional law worksheet: 8 problems from easy to exam level, with an answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF.

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Name: ____________________   Date: ____________

1.Easy

The European Convention on Human Rights was drawn up within:

  1. AThe Council of Europe
  2. BNATO
  3. CThe United Nations
  4. DThe European Union
2.Easy

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

  1. ADoes not block government bills carrying out manifesto commitments
  2. BMust approve all money bills within one week
  3. CElects the Speaker of the House of Commons
  4. DMay permanently veto bills that alter the constitution of the United Kingdom
3.Easy

Section 3 of the UK Human Rights Act 1998 requires courts to:

  1. AAsk Parliament to interpret unclear statutes
  2. BStrike down any provision of an Act that cannot be read compatibly with Convention rights
  3. CRead and give effect to legislation compatibly with Convention rights, so far as possible
  4. DFollow every judgment of the Strasbourg court
4.Medium

In England and Wales, a claim for judicial review must generally be filed:

  1. AAt any time
  2. BWithin six years
  3. CWithin one year
  4. DPromptly, and in any event within three months
5.Medium

A minister refuses to refer a complaint to a committee because the result might embarrass the government. In Padfield v Minister of Agriculture, the House of Lords held:

  1. AThe refusal was unlawful, as it frustrated the purpose of the Act
  2. BThe minister had unlimited discretion
  3. COnly Parliament could question the minister
  4. DThe refusal was lawful, since the Act imposed no duty to give reasons
6.Medium

A bicameral legislature has:

  1. AThree chambers
  2. BOne chamber
  3. CNo elected members
  4. DTwo chambers
7.Hard

Walter Bagehot described the "efficient secret" of the English constitution as:

  1. AThe strict separation of all three powers
  2. BThe independence of the House of Lords
  3. CThe close union of the executive and legislative powers
  4. DThe monarch's power to veto legislation
8.Hard

In the Harmonisatiewet judgment (1989), the Dutch Supreme Court held that Article 120 of the Constitution:

  1. AAllows courts to strike down Acts that breach fundamental principles such as legal certainty
  2. BWas overridden by the principle of legal certainty
  3. CPrevents courts from reviewing Acts of Parliament against fundamental principles of law
  4. DApplies only to delegated legislation

Answer key

  1. 1. A · The Council of Europe
  2. 2. A · Does not block government bills carrying out manifesto commitments
  3. 3. C · Read and give effect to legislation compatibly with Convention rights, so far as possible
  4. 4. D · Promptly, and in any event within three months
  5. 5. A · The refusal was unlawful, as it frustrated the purpose of the Act
  6. 6. D · Two chambers
  7. 7. C · The close union of the executive and legislative powers
  8. 8. C · Prevents courts from reviewing Acts of Parliament against fundamental principles of law

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