MCQS – SECTION A
1. 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
2. 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
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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
6. 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
7. 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
8. 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
9. 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
10. 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
11. 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
12. 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
13. 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
14. 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
15. 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
16. 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
17. When was the Green Paper introduced in the UK?
a) 1998
b) 1976
c) 1967
d) 2003
18. Courts of Equity and Common Law was merged under which act?
a) The Human Rights Act 1998
b) The EU Withdrawal Act 2018
c) The Judicature Act of 1873-1875
d) Devolution Acts of 1998
19. Which of the following is the key difference between the Common Law and
Civil Law?
a) Common laws are judge made laws whereas, civil laws are based on criminal affairs of the
state
b) Common law deals with the Act of Parliament whereas, civil law deal with the contractual
duties only
c) There is no difference between both, both are the same
d) Common laws are judge made laws whereas, civil laws are based on written statues and
comprehensive legal code
20. In which of the following case did Laws LJ gave a decision that “the right of
access to the courts is a ‘constitutional right’ that cannot be displaced except by
Parliament”?
a) R v Lord Chancellor ex p Witham
b) London Streets Tramways
c) Lautsi v. Italy
d) Anderton v. Ryan
21. The role of judges in the King’s Courts can be best described?
a) Enforcers of royal will, ensuring complete submission to the monarchy
b) Arbitrators who resolve disputes based on precedent and established legal principles
c) Guardians of personal freedom, ensuring that citizens take the law into their own hands
d) Sole authorities in the creation of new laws
22. Which of the following is an absolute right of ECHR under derogations?
a) Prohibition of discrimination (Article 14)
b) Right to a fair trial (Article 6)
c) No punishment without law (Article 7)
d) Freedom of expression (Article 10)
23. One of the functions of the King’s Courts, as described in the passage, was
to?
a) Enforce the use of violence to settle disputes
b) Provide remedies in cases of land disputes, debts, and criminal offences
c) Overturn decisions made by local lords
d) Act as an advisory body to monarchs on matters of justice
24. Which King of England introduced the concept of “Travelling Justices”?
a) William the Conqueror
b) Henry III
c) Queen Elisabeth
d) Henry II
Answer: d) Henry II
25. Henry II’s concerns about access to justice are reflected in modern debates
on?
a) The role of the judiciary in legislative processes
b) The need for international treaties governing dispute resolution
c) The increased centralization of judicial powers in constitutional matters
d) The potential consequences when citizens are denied legal access, which may lead to resorting
to violence
26. The concept of precedents were introduced during the time of which of the
following kings?
a) William the Conqueror
b) Henry II
c) Kings Charles
d) Edward IV
27. The critical social function of law, as highlighted in the passage, is primarily
concerned with?
a) Ensuring that individuals receive compensation for all damages
b) Promoting violence as a means of resolving conflicts
c) Providing a peaceful and structured means to resolve disputes and uphold rights
d) Centralizing all judicial power in the hands of the monarch
28. Before the establishment of the King’s Courts in the 12th century, the
primary method for resolving disputes in England was?
a) Resorting to international arbitration
b) Resolving matters through judicial review
c) Settling disputes by violence
d) Dispute resolution via private contracts
29. The ability to ‘resort to law’ rather than violence is crucial because?
a) It encourages individuals to bypass judicial authority for personal resolutions
b) It contributes to the social order and tranquility of the state
c) It centralizes power in the hands of the government
d) It ensures that disputes are resolved based on the amount of wealth involved
30. The King’s Courts were instrumental in supporting?
a) Feudal law and the rights of landowners over the peasants
b) The social order and the peaceful resolution of conflicts within society
c) The establishment of an empire through military conquest
d) The concentration of judicial powers under the monarch
