Constitutional law worksheet with answers

A federal state is one in which:

1. ARegions may secede unilaterally whenever a majority of their voters wishes
2. BThere is no central government
3. CAll power is held by the capital city
4. DPower is constitutionally divided between a central government and regions

In a parliamentary system, the government usually depends on:

1. AThe support of the head of state only
2. BThe confidence of parliament
3. CA referendum every year
4. DThe approval of the courts

Under section 19 of the UK Human Rights Act 1998, the minister in charge of a bill must:

1. AObtain the Supreme Court's approval of its compatibility before second reading
2. BMake a statement about whether it is compatible with Convention rights
3. CHold a public consultation on it
4. DSend it to the European Court of Human Rights

In Ghaidan v Godin-Mendoza, the House of Lords used section 3 of the Human Rights Act to read "as his or her wife or husband" in the Rent Act as:

1. AApplying only to registered marriages
2. BIncompatible, so it issued a declaration
3. CExcluding all unmarried partners
4. DIncluding same-sex partners

In R v Bow Street Magistrate, ex p Pinochet (No 2), the House of Lords set aside its own earlier decision because:

1. AThe judges had made a legal mistake
2. BOne judge had links to a charity that was a party to the case
3. CThe case had been heard in private
4. DPinochet had not been given a lawyer of his own choice at the hearing

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

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

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

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

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

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