Constitutional law worksheet with answers

The European Convention on Human Rights was drawn up within:

1. AThe European Union
2. BThe Council of Europe
3. CNATO
4. DThe United Nations

An ombudsman typically:

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

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. CNeeds a legal basis for its actions, especially when interfering with rights
4. DCan ignore laws during weekends

Under Porter v Magill, the test for apparent bias asks whether:

1. AThe decision-maker was actually biased
2. BThe claimant personally and reasonably believed that the decision-maker had been biased against them
3. CThe decision-maker had ever met any party
4. DA fair-minded and informed observer would conclude there was a real possibility of bias

To amend the Dutch Constitution under Article 137:

1. AThe King and the Council of State decide it
2. BA national referendum must approve it
3. CA simple majority in both chambers is enough, after which the King must sign the amendment into law
4. DA proposal is passed, elections follow, and then both chambers must approve it by two-thirds

Under the UK Human Rights Act 1998, if a court cannot read an Act compatibly with Convention rights, it can:

1. ARefer the case to the European Court of Human Rights automatically
2. BStrike down the Act immediately
3. CMake a declaration of incompatibility, leaving the Act in force
4. DOrder Parliament to amend the Act within a month

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. BUpheld the detention as a valid response to an emergency
3. CHeld that national security questions were for the executive alone and could not be reviewed by courts
4. DMade a declaration of incompatibility, finding the measure disproportionate and discriminatory

After a court makes a declaration of incompatibility, section 10 of the UK Human Rights Act 1998 allows a minister to:

1. ASuspend the Convention right in question
2. BAmend the incompatible legislation by a remedial order
3. COverrule the court's declaration
4. DRefer the case directly to Strasbourg