MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
1. In the UK, which of the following best describes the legislative process?
a) Bills become law automatically once introduced in Parliament
b) Bills must be debated, amended, and receive Royal Assent to become Acts of Parliament
c) Acts of Parliament are enacted without any public consultation or debate
d) Only the House of Lords can introduce a Bill for it to become law
2. Which of the following documents is published by the government to set out
tentative proposals for changes to the law and invite public consultation?
a) Green Paper
b) White Paper
c) Bill
d) Act of Parliament
3. After the government has published a Green Paper, what is the next step in the
law-making process?
a) The Green Paper is automatically turned into a Bill
b) A White Paper is published, containing the government’s firm proposals
c) The Bill is introduced directly into Parliament
d) The Bill is passed without further consultation
4. What happens after a Bill has passed through all the necessary stages in
Parliament and received Royal Assent?
a) It becomes a Green Paper
b) It becomes a White Paper
c) It becomes an Act of Parliament
d) It is subject to judicial review before becoming law
5. Which of the following statements is true about the relationship between Acts
of Parliament and common law?
a) An Act of Parliament takes precedence over common law or case law
b) Common law supersedes Acts of Parliament if they conflict
c) Acts of Parliament and common law are considered equal in authority
d) Common law is more authoritative than Acts of Parliament
6. In the UK, what is the significance of Royal Assent in the legislative process?
a) It is a formality that is not necessary for a Bill to become law
b) It is the final step after a Bill has been passed by both Houses of Parliament, making it an Act
of Parliament
c) It ensures that the Bill will be debated in both Houses of Parliament
d) It means the Bill has been amended by the House of Lords
7. Which of the following is NOT a stage in the law-making process for a Bill in
Parliament?
a) Consultation on the Green Paper
b) Debate and amendment in both Houses of Parliament
c) Publication of a White Paper
d) Automatic enactment into law without debate
8. Which of the following is true regarding the House of Commons and House of
Lords in the context of the legislative process?
a) Only the House of Lords debates and amends Bills
b) Bills must be approved by both the House of Commons and the House of Lords before
becoming an Act
c) The House of Commons cannot amend Bills passed by the House of Lords
d) The House of Lords has no role in the legislative process
9. Which of the following best describes the purpose of a White Paper in the UK
legislative process?
a) It proposes tentative ideas for law reform
b) It introduces an Act of Parliament to the public
c) It sets out the government’s firm proposals for law reform, often with a draft Bill attached
d) It provides commentary on existing Acts of Parliament
10. Following Brexit, what is the status of EU law in the UK?
a) EU law still takes precedence over all domestic laws in the UK
b) EU law is no longer directly applicable, but some laws have been retained in UK law through
the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018
c) EU law now governs UK law exclusively
d) EU law is automatically incorporated into UK law without change
11. What is the Green Paper primarily used for in the UK law-making process?
a) To provide a summary of existing law without proposing any changes
b) To introduce a Bill to Parliament for immediate consideration
c) To outline tentative proposals for law reform and invite public consultation
d) To describe the final wording of an Act of Parliament
12. Which of the following is the primary purpose of the Royal Assent process?
a) It allows the House of Lords to amend the Bill before it becomes law
b) It is the formal approval by the monarch, making the Bill an Act of Parliament
c) It signals the start of public consultation on the Bill
d) It is the first step in the process of creating a Bill
13. What does a Bill need in order to become a valid Act of Parliament?
a) Only approval from the House of Commons
b) The Queen’s Royal Assent and approval from both Houses of Parliament
c) Approval from the European Court of Justice
d) A unanimous vote in the House of Lords
14. In the UK, which type of law has supremacy over common law and judicial
precedents?
a) Customary law
b) Statutory law (Acts of Parliament)
c) Case law
d) EU law (before Brexit)
15. Which of the following best describes the role of public consultation in the
legislative process?
a) Public consultation happens after a Bill is passed by Parliament
b) Public consultation occurs before a Bill is drafted, usually in the form of a Green Paper
c) Public consultation happens only in the House of Commons
d) Public consultation is a formality that has no influence on the Bill
16. Which of the following acts established the Scottish Parliament, the National
Assembly for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Assembly?
a) The Human Rights Act 1998
b) The Scotland Act 1998, Government of Wales Act 1998, and Northern Ireland Act 1998
c) The Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949
d) The devolution Act 2015
17. Which of the following best describes the powers of the devolved legislatures
in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland?
a) Devolved legislatures can pass legislation in all areas of law, without exception
b) Devolved legislatures can pass legislation in areas specified by statute but remain bound by
UK Westminster Parliament law in other areas
c) Devolved legislatures have full independence and can override any law passed by the
Westminster Parliament
d) Devolved legislatures are restricted to passing only non-legislative decisions
18. Which Act of the Scottish Parliament allows Scotland to make its own
legislation within its devolved powers?
a) The Scotland Act 1998
b) The Human Rights Act 1998
c) The Northern Ireland Act 1998
d) The Government of Wales Act 1998
19. The Government of Wales Act 1998 initially established what was known as
the National Assembly for Wales. How were its legislative powers altered by later
reforms?
a) It was given full legislative powers in all areas of law
b) It was renamed the "Senedd" and granted enhanced legislative powers under the Wales Act
2017
c) It was abolished and replaced by a new Parliament
d) Its powers were reduced, and it could only serve as an advisory body to Westminster
20. Which of the following statutory arrangements is true regarding the devolved
powers in Northern Ireland?
a) The Northern Ireland Assembly has exclusive legislative authority over all aspects of law
within Northern Ireland
b) The Northern Ireland Assembly has legislative power in areas like health and education but
remains subject to Westminster in certain matters, such as defense and foreign affairs
c) The Northern Ireland Assembly has no legislative powers and only serves an advisory role
d) The Northern Ireland Assembly can override Westminster laws in all cases
21. Common law in England and Wales is primarily:
a) Law made by Acts of Parliament
b) Law established by judicial decisions in individual cases
c) Law created by local customs
d) Law formed through international treaties
22. When referring to common law, which of the following is NOT a typical
characteristic?
a) It is developed through decisions made by judges in court cases
b) It is contained in legal rules set out in Acts of Parliament
c) It relies on legal precedents, or previous judicial decisions
d) It forms the basis of many legal principles, such as contract law
23. Which of the following is true about the relationship between common law
and statute law?
a) Statute law always takes precedence over common law
b) Common law is more authoritative than statute law in all cases
c) Statute law and common law are equally authoritative and can be applied in isolation
d) Common law can override statute law in any area of law
24. In the context of contract law in England and Wales, where are the
fundamental principles primarily found?
a) In Acts of Parliament
b) In judicial decisions and case law
c) In the European Convention on Human Rights
d) In international treaties
25. As of 31 December 2020, EU law:
a) Continues to be a source of UK law
b) Became entirely irrelevant in the UK legal system
c) Remains a source of UK law through the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 as "retained
EU law"
d) Is automatically replaced by UK domestic law without any transition period
26. Retained EU law refers to:
a) EU law that was never applicable in the UK
b) The body of EU law that was converted into UK domestic law on 31 December 2020
c) EU law that only applies to countries still part of the EU
d) EU law that will be automatically revised and replaced by UK Parliament
27. The European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 primarily:
a) Provides for the UK's complete withdrawal from the EU
b) Establishes a new legal system independent of EU law
c) Converts EU law into "retained EU law" to be incorporated into UK domestic law
d) Replaces all UK legislation with EU law
28. Which of the following best describes the scope of the EU's Charter of
Fundamental Rights?
a) It only applies to EU citizens living in non-EU countries
b) It outlines the human rights that EU institutions and EU member states must uphold when
applying EU law
c) It was created to replace national constitutions within the EU
d) It applies exclusively to the UK after Brexit
29. The UK's departure from the EU on 31 January 2020 was followed by a
transition period. What was the primary purpose of this transition period?
a) To continue to apply EU law in the UK until 31 December 2020
b) To permanently remove all EU laws from the UK legal system
c) To negotiate new trade agreements with the EU
d) To introduce new national laws to replace EU laws immediately
30. The doctrine of a 'margin of appreciation' developed by the European Court
of Human Rights (ECtHR) allows:
a) The European Court to disregard national laws entirely
b) Member states to have complete discretion in enforcing the European Convention on Human
Rights
c) Member states to have some discretion, subject to the supervision of the ECtHR, when taking
actions related to Convention rights
d) The ECtHR to impose strict uniformity in the application of the European Convention on
Human Rights across all member states
31. The margin of appreciation doctrine is used by the European Court of
Human Rights to:
a) Allow national governments to interpret the European Convention in any way they see fit
b) Balance the sovereignty of member states with their obligations under the European
Convention on Human Rights
c) Grant the ECtHR full power to impose judgments on national governments
d) Eliminate national legal traditions in favor of a uniform European legal system
32. In the case of Lautsi v Italy, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that:
a) The display of the crucifix in public schools violated the freedom of religion and belief
b) Member states must enforce a secular education system regardless of national traditions
c) The display of the crucifix in public schools in Italy did not violate Article 9 of the European
Convention on Human Rights
d) The margin of appreciation should never be applied in religious matters
33. The margin of appreciation doctrine allows the European Court of Human
Rights to:
a) Always rule in favor of the applicant in human rights cases
b) Allow member states greater discretion in cases involving national emergencies or security
issues
c) Impose uniform legal standards across all European countries, regardless of cultural context
d) Disregard national legal traditions and customs when enforcing the Convention
34. In the context of the margin of appreciation, the European Court of Human
Rights is more likely to allow a wide margin of appreciation in cases related to:
a) Discrimination based on race or gender
b) National security or emergency situations
c) Protection of freedom of speech
d) Protection of intellectual property
35. The principle of proportionality in human rights law ensures that:
a) States can freely interfere with human rights whenever they wish
b) State interference with human rights is justified as long as it serves any objective
c) Any state interference with human rights must be necessary, appropriate, and reasonable to
achieve the intended objective
d) Proportionality only applies to cases involving national security
36. According to the principle of proportionality, when a state interferes with a
human right, it must ensure that the interference:
a) Is essential and goes no further than necessary to achieve the objective
b) Is arbitrary and unlimited to allow for flexibility
c) Is based solely on the state's discretion, without judicial oversight
d) Is permanent and irreversible to ensure compliance
37. Which of the following best describes the role of the proportionality principle
in assessing state interference with human rights?
a) It allows state interference with human rights only in cases of emergency
b) It ensures that any state action that affects human rights is appropriate, necessary, and
reasonable
c) It permits any form of interference, regardless of its severity or necessity
d) It is only relevant when the state seeks to limit economic rights
38. In the principle of proportionality, the requirement that the measure is
"necessary" means that:
a) The state must prove that no less severe measures could achieve the same objective
b) The state must take action only if the measure is popular
c) The state can use the most extreme measure available to achieve its goal
d) The measure must be applied uniformly to all citizens, regardless of the circumstances
39. The principle of proportionality requires that state interference with a
human right should be:
a) Limited to situations of national security only
b) Appropriate, necessary, and reasonable in the circumstances, with no excess
c) Decided by the highest court without any input from lower courts
d) A permanent solution to a temporary problem
40. In October 2014, the Conservative Party proposed a reform of the
relationship between the UK courts and the European Court of Human Rights
(ECtHR). Which of the following was one of the key proposals?
a) The UK courts would be required to follow rulings from the ECtHR
b) UK courts would no longer need to take into account the rulings of the ECtHR
c) The UK would have to join the ECtHR on a permanent basis
d) UK courts would follow the ECtHR only in cases related to national security
41. Which of the following proposals was made by the Conservative Party in
relation to the Human Rights Act 1998?
a) Repeal the Human Rights Act 1998 and replace it with a British Bill of Rights
b) Strengthen the Human Rights Act 1998 and expand its scope
c) Merge the Human Rights Act with the European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights
d) Retain the Human Rights Act but limit the role of the European Court of Justice in
interpreting rights
42. In 2015, Prime Minister David Cameron stated that the government intended
to:
a) Strengthen the role of the European Court of Human Rights in the UK
b) Repeal the Human Rights Act 1998 and create a British Bill of Rights
c) Abandon the concept of human rights in UK law
d) Extend the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to all EU member states
43. What was the key concern raised by the EU Justice Sub-Committee in 2016
regarding the potential repeal of the Human Rights Act 1998 and the
introduction of a British Bill of Rights?
a) It would improve the UK's international reputation
b) It could cause constitutional disruption, particularly in relation to the devolved nations
(Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland)
c) It would create more human rights protections for UK citizens
d) It would strengthen the UK's relationship with the European Union
44. Dominic Grieve QC, the former Conservative Attorney General, argued that
opting out of the ECHR would:
a) Strengthen international human rights law and the UK's role within the EU
b) Have no impact on the UK's international reputation
c) Undermine respect for international human rights law and have potentially devastating
consequences for the UK
d) Lead to greater constitutional clarity within the UK
45. The modern development of the English common law can be traced back to
the reign of:
a) Henry VIII
b) Edward I
c) William the Conqueror
d) Richard the Lionheart
46. Before the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, the English legal system
was characterized by:
a) A unified national legal system
b) Customary rules that varied by region and were enforced by local lords or landowners
c) A codified system of written laws
d) A highly centralized legal system controlled by the King
47. The Curia Regis (King’s Court) was established by William the Conqueror
to:
a) Serve as a national legislative body
b) Administer justice and create a central system of law controlled by the King
c) Focus on religious matters and provide a forum for religious leaders
d) Create a system of local courts in each shire
48. Henry II made a significant contribution to the development of common law
by:
a) Creating a system of local courts governed by regional customs
b) Establishing a unified system of justice and introducing the concept of "travelling justices"
c) Imposing Roman law as the legal system in England
d) Allowing local lords to decide cases based on their own interpretation of the law
49. The role of the ‘travelling justices’ under Henry II was to:
a) Conduct legislative sessions in different regions of the country
b) Travel to different parts of the country to dispense justice according to the laws developed in
Westminster
c) Serve as a form of local government to enforce regional laws
d) Act as military leaders enforcing the king’s rule
50. The centralization of the English legal system under Henry II replaced:
a) A system of royal courts with a system of ecclesiastical courts
b) Local laws with a single set of national laws that applied to all citizens, forming the
foundation of common law
c) The role of judges with that of local landowners
d) The need for royal advisers with a more formal legislative process
51. The establishment of the King's Courts in the 12th century in England
primarily aimed to:
a) Centralize power in the monarchy
b) Resolve disputes through violence
c) Offer a peaceful means of resolving disputes and preventing bloodshed
d) Establish a system of religious courts
52. The role of the King's Courts in the 12th century included:
a) Providing a system of private vengeance
b) Punishing criminals and offering remedies for disputes over land, contracts, and debts
c) Enforcing the king's power through military force
d) Creating new criminal offenses for political purposes
53. The shift from violence to law in resolving disputes during the 12th century
was part of a broader effort to:
a) Establish a system of strict punishment for criminals
b) Ensure that property rights and personal freedom were recognized
c) Abandon traditional legal customs in favor of a new legal system
d) Replace courts with military tribunals
54. One of the critical social functions of law, as emphasized in the 12th century,
was to:
a) Ensure that all property disputes were settled by armed conflict
b) Provide citizens with a means of resolving disputes peacefully and avoiding violence
c) Limit access to justice for the general public
d) Protect the interests of the wealthy and powerful
55. The concerns about denied access to courts and the risk of citizens "taking
the law into their own hands" in the 21st century are similar to the concerns of
Henry II in:
a) The creation of military tribunals for quick justice
b) Ensuring the rule of law to prevent violence and ensure social order
c) Abandoning the King's Courts for private feudal courts
d) Limiting the reach of the common law
56. The word ‘equity’ in its legal context refers to:
a) A fair or just distribution of property
b) A set of legal rules developed to overcome the inflexibility of common law
c) A principle of strict adherence to common law procedures
d) A method of financial compensation for wrongdoing
57. By the 15th century, the common law courts had become:
a) Highly flexible and efficient
b) Slow, expensive, and overly technical, with inadequate remedies
c) Efficient in providing fair compensation for all legal matters
d) Free from any involvement of the King or his advisors
58. The creation of the Court of Chancery was primarily in response to:
a) The need to create a criminal law system distinct from civil law
b) The desire to provide citizens with a more technical legal remedy
c) The increasing number of petitions to the King for redress of grievances
d) The expansion of common law principles to cover moral and ethical issues
59. The Chancellor, who was responsible for overseeing the Court of Chancery,
would give relief based on:
a) The legal precedent set by the common law courts
b) His own sense of right and wrong, without relying on legal precedent
c) The strict application of the statutory laws passed by Parliament
d) The advice of the King’s Council and common law judges
60. The main feature that differentiated equity from common law was:
a) The availability of monetary compensation or damages
b) The creation of new legal rights and remedies, such as trusts and specific performance
c) The use of criminal penalties for wrongdoers
d) The requirement for a jury to determine the outcome of cases
61. Which of the following was a remedy available in equity but not in common
law?
a) Money compensation or damages
b) Specific performance (ordering a party to perform a contract)
c) Jail time for contract breach
d) Public reprimand or punishment
62. One of the criticisms of the Court of Chancery in the 19th century was that:
a) It was too focused on monetary damages
b) Its procedures were expensive and cases took too long to be decided
c) It only dealt with criminal matters, not civil disputes
d) It became too involved in political matters
63. The famous novel Bleak House by Charles Dickens criticized which aspect of
the English legal system?
a) The complexities of the common law
b) The slow and costly procedures of the Court of Chancery
c) The lack of rights for plaintiffs in criminal cases
d) The rise of administrative law
