Constitutional law worksheet with answers

Article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights protects:

1. AFreedom of religion
2. BThe right to marry
3. CThe right to liberty and security
4. DThe right to an effective remedy

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

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

Individual ministerial responsibility means that a minister:

1. ACan be removed from office by the courts
2. BIs accountable to Parliament for their department and personal conduct
3. CIs personally liable to pay damages for errors made by their civil servants
4. DMust personally approve every decision of their department

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

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

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. BOnly Parliament could question the minister
3. CThe minister had unlimited discretion
4. DThe refusal was lawful, since the Act imposed no duty to give reasons

Under AG v De Keyser's Royal Hotel, when a statute covers the same ground as a prerogative power:

1. AThe government can choose freely between the two
2. BThe prerogative overrides the statute
3. CThe prerogative is put in abeyance and the government must act under the statute
4. DThe government may still choose the prerogative if it offers more flexible powers

The Constitutional Reform Act 2005 changed the office of Lord Chancellor so that:

1. AThe office was abolished completely
2. BThe Lord Chancellor became President of the Supreme Court and head of the judiciary in England
3. CThe Lord Chancellor gained power to dismiss judges
4. DThe Lord Chief Justice, not the Lord Chancellor, is head of the judiciary in England and Wales

People buy TV licences early to avoid a fee increase, and the Home Office threatens to revoke them unless they pay the extra. In Congreve v Home Office, the court held:

1. AUsing the revocation power this way was unlawful
2. BLicence holders had no legal rights
3. CThe revocation was lawful under the statute
4. DThe minister could act for any purpose