Chapter 2

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Question 1 of 11
1. Which of the following does not describe the characteristics of conventions?
- Evolving
- Fixed and Entrenched
- No set sanctions for breach
- Uncertain
- Correct. Feedback: The correct answer is B. Conventions are not fixed and entrenched in the constitution.
- Incorrect. Feedback: The correct answer is B. Conventions are not fixed and entrenched in the constitution.
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Question 2 of 11
2. Which of the following is NOT a source of the UK constitution?
- Constitutional and Administrative Law textbooks
- Case law
- EC law
- Legislation
- Correct. Feedback: The correct answer is A as general textbooks may describe the constitution but are not authoritative texts such as those written by theorists like Dicey and Blackstone.
- Incorrect. Feedback: The correct answer is A as general textbooks may describe the constitution but are not authoritative texts such as those written by theorists like Dicey and Blackstone.
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Question 3 of 11
3. Which is the following is an Act that has significantly shaped the UK Constitution?
- Human Rights Act 1998
- Occupiers Liability Act 1984
- Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977
- Tort (Interference with Goods) Act 1977
- Correct. Feedback: The correct answer is A. Though answer B, C and D may have shaped areas of private law such as contract and tort, answer A is part of a collection of Acts of Parliament that have had broad public significance and implications for the responsibilities of the state, law-makers and public bodies.
- Incorrect. Feedback: The correct answer is A. Though answer B, C and D may have shaped areas of private law such as contract and tort, answer A is part of a collection of Acts of Parliament that have had broad public significance and implications for the responsibilities of the state, law-makers and public bodies.
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Question 4 of 11
4. Which terms best describe a "form of legislation that allows the provisions of an Act of Parliament to be subsequently brought into force or altered without Parliament having to pass a new Act."
- Precedent
- Statutory Instrument
- Authority
- Bill
- Correct. Feedback: The correct answer is B. Precedent is an example of past judicial decisions, which can be termed an authority that is persuasive. A Bill is what is presented to one of the Houses of Parliament before it is made into an Act of Parliament
- Incorrect. Feedback: The correct answer is B. Precedent is an example of past judicial decisions, which can be termed an authority that is persuasive. A Bill is what is presented to one of the Houses of Parliament before it is made into an Act of Parliament
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Question 5 of 11
5. What connects the following series of names, A. V Dicey, Sir William Blackstone, Sir William Jennings and Walter Bagehot?
- They have all been influential judges in judicial review cases
- They are the names of 18th century politicians
- They are a group of academic writers, whose constitutional principles have formed a source of the UK constitution.
- They are the names of those who attempted to draft a UK constitution.
- Correct. Feedback: The correct answer is C. The ideas of these thinkers may influence what a written constitution may consist of, but statement D is nonetheless inaccurate.
- Incorrect. Feedback: The correct answer is C. The ideas of these thinkers may influence what a written constitution may consist of, but statement D is nonetheless inaccurate.
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Question 6 of 11
6. Which of the following is NOT part of the Jennings three part test to identify whether a constitutional convention exists?
- Are there any precedents?
- Is there a constitutional reason for the rule?
- Whether judges have declared conventions legally enforceable.
- Do those operating and working within constitutional rules believe they are bound?
- Correct. Feedback: The correct answer is C. One of the distinctions between laws and conventions is conventions are not legally enforceable, where as laws are.
- Incorrect. Feedback: The correct answer is C. One of the distinctions between laws and conventions is conventions are not legally enforceable, where as laws are.
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Question 7 of 11
7. Which of the following do Fenwick and Phillipson define as "non-legal, generally agreed rules about how government should be conducted and, in particular, governing the relations between different organs of government"?
- Acts of Parliament
- Constitutional Conventions
- Precedents
- Collective Ministerial Responsibility
- Correct. Feedback: The correct answer is B. Acts of Parliament are far wider in scope, and can cover many areas, precedents are legal rules from case law, and collective ministerial responsibility is an example of a constitutional convention.
- Incorrect. Feedback: The correct answer is B. Acts of Parliament are far wider in scope, and can cover many areas, precedents are legal rules from case law, and collective ministerial responsibility is an example of a constitutional convention.
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Question 8 of 11
8. Which of the following is NOT a potential consequence of breaching a constitutional convention?
- It may cease to be a convention.
- The convention may evolve or develop.
- It may be treated as an exception.
- The Head of State could declare a new convention.
- Correct. Feedback: The correct answer is D. Whilst there is nothing technically to stop our monarch from declaring a new convention, this is very unlikely to ever occur. Conventions are not always written down, and they are established after conduct in line with the Jennings criteria.
- Incorrect. Feedback: The correct answer is D. Whilst there is nothing technically to stop our monarch from declaring a new convention, this is very unlikely to ever occur. Conventions are not always written down, and they are established after conduct in line with the Jennings criteria.
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Question 9 of 11
9. Which of the following statements provides the most accurate definition of a EU directive?
- Law that is directly applicable in all members' states and is binding in its entirety.
- Law which is binding as to the result achieved, upon each Member State to which it is addressed, but it is left to national authorities as to how to achieve the desired results.
- Law that is binding in its entirety upon those to whom it is addressed.
- An optional source of rules, for member states to choose to opt-in.
- Correct. Feedback: The correct answer is B. Answer A refers to regulations, answer C refers to EU decisions.
- Incorrect. Feedback: The correct answer is B. Answer A refers to regulations, answer C refers to EU decisions.
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Question 10 of 11
10. What is the most accurate description of the convention of collective ministerial responsibility?
- It is where the Cabinet agrees to disagree and then inform the public as to their individual views.
- It is where the Cabinet speaks, after extensive negotiation in private, with one voice as a show of unity.
- It is where the Prime Minister tells the Cabinet his views and the Cabinet are forced to accept them.
- It is where the Cabinet are compelled to agree on everything at all times in all forums for discussion.
- Correct. Feedback: The correct answer is C.
- Incorrect. Feedback: The correct answer is C.
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Question 11 of 11
11. Which of the following statements most accurately describes the appointment of the Prime Minister?
- Parliament chooses the PM once the result of a general election is known.
- The monarch appoints the PM, which is by convention from the Lords, who is best able to command a stable majority.
- The monarch appoints the PM, which is by convention from the Commons, who is best able to command a stable majority.
- The speaker of the House of Commons appoints the most popular candidate as PM.
- Correct. Feedback: The correct answer is C. The leader of the majority party is conventionally appointed by the Queen.
- Incorrect. Feedback: The correct answer is C. The leader of the majority party is conventionally appointed by the Queen.
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Chapter 2

1. Which of the following does not describe the characteristics of conventions?

2. Which of the following is NOT a source of the UK constitution?

3. Which is the following is an Act that has significantly shaped the UK Constitution?

4. Which terms best describe a "form of legislation that allows the provisions of an Act of Parliament to be subsequently brought into force or altered without Parliament having to pass a new Act."

5. What connects the following series of names, A. V Dicey, Sir William Blackstone, Sir William Jennings and Walter Bagehot?

6. Which of the following is NOT part of the Jennings three part test to identify whether a constitutional convention exists?

7. Which of the following do Fenwick and Phillipson define as "non-legal, generally agreed rules about how government should be conducted and, in particular, governing the relations between different organs of government"?

8. Which of the following is NOT a potential consequence of breaching a constitutional convention?

9. Which of the following statements provides the most accurate definition of a EU directive?

10. What is the most accurate description of the convention of collective ministerial responsibility?

11. Which of the following statements most accurately describes the appointment of the Prime Minister?

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