Constitutional law worksheet with answers

The principle of legality in public law means that a public authority:

1. AMust always be elected
2. BCan act freely unless a statute expressly prohibits the particular action taken
3. CCan ignore laws during weekends
4. DNeeds a legal basis for its actions, especially when interfering with rights

A unitary state is one in which:

1. ASovereign power is held at the centre, which may delegate powers to other levels
2. BThe head of state is also head of government
3. CRegions have powers guaranteed by the constitution, which the centre cannot alter alone
4. DThere is only one political party

The UK convention of collective ministerial responsibility means that:

1. AMinisters must publicly support government decisions or resign
2. BEach minister can veto Cabinet decisions
3. CMinisters are elected together as a group
4. DAll ministers are jointly liable in court for government decisions

Parliamentary sovereignty (as described by Dicey) means that:

1. AParliament must obey previous Parliaments
2. BParliament can make or unmake any law, and no body can override its Acts
3. CCourts can strike down any Act of Parliament that conflicts with common law rights
4. DThe executive can override Parliament

Ellen Street Estates v Minister of Health is cited for the principle that:

1. AParliament can entrench an Act against later repeal by stating expressly that it may not be amended in future
2. BParliament cannot bind its successors, and a later Act impliedly repeals an inconsistent earlier one
3. CEarlier Acts always prevail over later Acts
4. DCourts may refuse to apply a later Act

In Pickin v British Railways Board, the House of Lords held that courts:

1. AWill not examine whether Parliament followed its internal procedures in passing an Act
2. BCan review Acts for compliance with private bill rules
3. CCan strike down a private Act if it is shown that Parliament was misled during its passage
4. DMust investigate any allegation of fraud in Parliament

In R v Home Secretary, ex p Simms, Lord Hoffmann explained the "principle of legality" as meaning that:

1. AMinisters may limit fundamental rights whenever it is in the public interest
2. BParliament cannot legislate against fundamental rights
3. CGeneral words in a statute are presumed not to override fundamental rights
4. DCourts may strike down Acts that breach fundamental rights

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