Constitutional law worksheet with answers

The Sewel convention says that the UK Parliament will not normally:

1. ADebate matters concerning Scotland
2. BChange taxes without a referendum
3. CLegislate on devolved matters without the devolved legislature's consent
4. DLegislate on Scottish matters without first holding a referendum in Scotland

An ombudsman typically:

1. AInvestigates complaints of maladministration by public bodies
2. BProsecutes criminal offences committed by ministers and civil servants
3. CDrafts legislation for parliament
4. DHears appeals from the highest court

A writ of habeas corpus:

1. AOrders a public body to perform a statutory duty
2. BAllows the police to detain a suspect without charge for up to a week while a court reviews the evidence against them
3. CPermits the government to search private homes
4. DRequires a detained person to be brought before a court so that the legality of the detention can be tested

A chief constable is dismissed without being told the charges or given a chance to respond. In Ridge v Baldwin, the House of Lords held:

1. AThe dismissal was valid, as it was an administrative decision
2. BThe dismissal was valid, because the police had no contract
3. COnly Parliament could review the decision
4. DThe dismissal was void for breach of natural justice

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

In Marbury v Madison (1803), the US Supreme Court established:

1. AThe power of courts to review the constitutionality of legislation
2. BThe right to bear arms
3. CThe power of Congress to overrule decisions of the federal judiciary
4. DThe President's veto power

In Miller II (2019), the UK Supreme Court found the prorogation of Parliament unlawful because:

1. AThe Queen refused to approve it
2. BIt frustrated Parliament's constitutional functions without reasonable justification
3. CIt was decided by a referendum
4. DIt violated Article 3 of Protocol 1 ECHR by interfering with the right to free elections

Soldiers shoot dead three suspected terrorists in Gibraltar. In McCann v UK, the European Court of Human Rights found a breach of Article 2 because:

1. AThe UK had not ratified the Convention for Gibraltar
2. BThe soldiers acted out of personal hatred
3. CAny killing by state agents breaches Article 2
4. DThe operation was not planned and controlled to minimise the use of lethal force