Constitutional law worksheet with answers

In the United States, the "Bill of Rights" refers to:

1. AThe Declaration of Independence
2. BThe first article of the Constitution
3. CA statute passed by Congress in the 1960s
4. DThe first ten amendments to the Constitution

A "rigid" constitution is one that:

1. ACan never be amended at all
2. BCan be amended only by a special procedure
3. CIs enforced strictly by the army
4. DCan be changed by an ordinary Act

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

Under Article 94 of the Dutch Constitution, Dutch courts:

1. AApply statutes even if they conflict with treaties
2. BCan strike down statutes that conflict with the Constitution or with general principles
3. CMust refer all treaty questions to the Council of State
4. DDo not apply statutes that conflict with treaty provisions binding on everyone

In Thoburn v Sunderland City Council (the "metric martyrs" case), Laws LJ said that "constitutional statutes":

1. APrevail automatically over all later Acts of Parliament
2. BMust be approved by referendum
3. CCannot be impliedly repealed, only expressly
4. DCannot be repealed at all

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

1. AProcedural impropriety only
2. BNone, because courts never review considerations
3. CLegitimate expectation only
4. DIllegality

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. BParliament cannot legislate against fundamental rights
3. CGeneral words in a statute are presumed not to override fundamental rights
4. DMinisters may limit fundamental rights whenever it is in the public interest

A statute says a commission's "determination ... shall not be called in question in any court of law". In Anisminic v Foreign Compensation Commission, the House of Lords held:

1. AThe decision was immune from review because the ouster clause applied to all its determinations
2. BThe clause was invalid as unconstitutional
3. CThe clause did not protect a decision based on an error of law, because that was a nullity
4. DThe clause excluded all judicial review