Home · Chapter 5
The UK government, the law and your role: practice questions
This chapter explains how the UK is governed: Parliament, elections, the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the devolved governments, the courts and juries, the police, taxes, driving rules and how you can play a part in your community.
All 73 questions and answers in this chapter
Use this list to revise. Open a question to see the answer and a short explanation.
1. What type of government does the UK have?
Answer: A parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarch
The UK is a parliamentary democracy with the monarch as head of state. The monarch's powers are limited by the constitution.
2. Which TWO are the Houses of Parliament?
Answer: The House of Commons and The House of Lords
Parliament is made up of the House of Commons, whose members are elected, and the House of Lords.
3. How often must a general election be held?
Answer: At least every five years
A general election must be held at least every five years.
4. What is a by-election?
Answer: An election held in a constituency when its MP dies or resigns
If an MP dies or resigns, a fresh election, called a by-election, is held in their constituency.
5. Who chairs debates in the House of Commons and must remain politically neutral?
Answer: The Speaker
The Speaker keeps order during debates and makes sure the rules are followed. The Speaker is an MP chosen by other MPs in a secret ballot and is politically neutral.
6. Where is the Prime Minister's official London residence?
Answer: 10 Downing Street
The Prime Minister's official London residence is 10 Downing Street. The Prime Minister also has a country house outside London called Chequers.
7. Who is usually the Prime Minister?
Answer: The leader of the party that wins the most seats in a general election
The Prime Minister is usually the leader of the political party that wins the most seats at a general election.
8. Which government minister is responsible for the economy?
Answer: The Chancellor of the Exchequer
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is responsible for the economy. The Home Secretary deals with crime, policing and immigration.
9. Which minister is responsible for crime, policing and immigration?
Answer: The Home Secretary
The Home Secretary is responsible for crime, policing and immigration.
10. Which party forms the official Opposition?
Answer: The second-largest party in the House of Commons
The second-largest party in the House of Commons is the Opposition. Its leader is the Leader of the Opposition, who appoints a shadow cabinet.
11. Is the following statement true or false? Elections in the UK are held by secret ballot.
Answer: True
Voting in elections is by secret ballot, so no one can see or find out how you voted, and no one should put pressure on you.
12. To vote in an election, your name must be on what?
Answer: The electoral register
To vote you must have your name on the electoral register. You can register online or through your local council.
13. Is the following statement true or false? Adult citizens of the UK, and qualifying citizens of the Commonwealth and Ireland who are resident in the UK, can vote in all public elections.
Answer: True
Adult UK citizens, and qualifying Commonwealth and Irish citizens resident in the UK, can vote in all public elections if they are on the electoral register. The voting age of 18 was set in 1969.
14. How many people sit on a jury in England, Wales and Northern Ireland?
Answer: 12
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland a jury has 12 members. In Scotland a jury has 15 members.
15. How many people sit on a jury in Scotland?
Answer: 15
Juries in Scotland have 15 members. In the rest of the UK a jury has 12 members.
16. In England and Wales, where are most minor criminal cases dealt with?
Answer: Magistrates' courts
Most minor criminal cases in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are dealt with in a magistrates' court. More serious cases go to the Crown Court.
17. In Scotland, minor criminal cases are dealt with in which court?
Answer: A Justice of the Peace court
In Scotland, minor criminal cases go to a Justice of the Peace court. Serious cases are heard in a Sheriff Court or the High Court.
18. Which court deals with serious criminal cases in England and Wales?
Answer: The Crown Court
Serious offences in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are tried in front of a judge and jury in a Crown Court.
19. Which of these is an example of a civil law case?
Answer: A dispute with a landlord about repairs
Civil law settles disputes between people, such as housing disputes, employment issues, consumer rights and debt. Weapons, drugs and burglary are criminal offences.
20. Which TWO of these are criminal offences in the UK?
Answer: Carrying an offensive weapon in public and Selling tobacco to anyone under 18
Carrying a weapon in public and selling tobacco to anyone under 18 are both crimes.
21. Is the following statement true or false? Judges in the UK are independent of the government.
Answer: True
The judiciary is independent of the government. Judges interpret the law, and the government cannot instruct them about the outcome of cases.
22. Who heads the separate police forces in the UK?
Answer: Chief Constables
The police are organised into separate forces headed by Chief Constables. They are independent of the government.
23. What is the minimum age to drive a car on public roads in the UK?
Answer: 17
You must be at least 17 years old to drive a car or motorcycle. You need a driving licence and insurance.
24. Cars over three years old must take which test every year?
Answer: The MOT test
If your vehicle is over three years old, you must take it for a Ministry of Transport (MOT) test every year.
25. What is the official report of what is said in Parliament called?
Answer: Hansard
Proceedings in Parliament are recorded and published in official reports called Hansard.
26. Is the following statement true or false? Civil servants are politically neutral.
Answer: True
Civil servants support the government in developing and carrying out policies. They are chosen on merit and are politically neutral.
27. Who collects taxes in the UK?
Answer: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is the government department that collects taxes.
28. Which TWO of these are paid by most working people in the UK?
Answer: Income tax and National Insurance contributions
Most people in work pay income tax and National Insurance contributions, which help fund state benefits and services such as the NHS.
29. The UK is a permanent member of which international body's Security Council?
Answer: The United Nations
The UK is one of five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.
30. Is the following statement true or false? Forced marriage is a criminal offence in the UK.
Answer: True
A forced marriage is one where one or both parties do not consent. It is a criminal offence in the UK.
31. Which TWO are ways you can help your local community?
Answer: Volunteering for a local charity and Becoming a school governor
Volunteering, becoming a school governor, donating blood and taking part in local elections are all ways to support your community.
32. Is the following statement true or false? It is illegal to smoke in public enclosed places such as pubs and restaurants.
Answer: True
Smoking is not allowed in public buildings and enclosed workplaces such as pubs and restaurants throughout the UK.
33. What is democracy?
Answer: A system of government where the whole adult population gets a say
Democracy is a system where the whole adult population gets a say, by voting directly or by choosing representatives.
34. Is the following statement true or false? By 1918, most of the reforms the Chartists campaigned for had been adopted.
Answer: True
The Chartist campaign was seen as a failure at the time, but by 1918 most of their reforms had been adopted.
35. Which TWO of these are constitutional institutions in the UK?
Answer: The judiciary and The civil service
The main parts of government are the monarchy, Parliament, the Prime Minister, the cabinet, the judiciary, the police, the civil service and local government.
36. Since when has King Charles III reigned?
Answer: September 2022
The King has reigned since his mother's death in September 2022.
37. Which TWO are roles of the King in representing the UK to the world?
Answer: Receiving foreign ambassadors and Making state visits overseas
The King receives foreign ambassadors and high commissioners, entertains visiting heads of state and makes state visits overseas.
38. What is the system of government in the UK?
Answer: A parliamentary democracy
The system of government in the UK is a parliamentary democracy.
39. What are members of the House of Lords known as?
Answer: Peers
Members of the House of Lords are known as peers. They are not elected and do not represent a constituency.
40. Is the following statement true or false? The House of Lords is normally more independent of the government than the House of Commons.
Answer: True
The House of Lords is normally more independent of the government than the Commons. It checks laws and holds the government to account.
41. What is the voting system used to elect MPs called?
Answer: First past the post
MPs are elected through 'first past the post': in each constituency the candidate with the most votes wins.
42. About how many senior MPs does the Prime Minister appoint as cabinet ministers?
Answer: About 20
The Prime Minister appoints about 20 senior MPs to become ministers in charge of departments.
43. What do shadow ministers do?
Answer: Challenge the government and put forward alternative policies
The leader of the opposition appoints shadow ministers who form the shadow cabinet to challenge the government and propose alternatives.
44. Which of these is a pressure group that campaigns on human rights?
Answer: Liberty
Some pressure groups campaign on particular topics, such as the environment (Greenpeace) or human rights (Liberty).
45. How are local authorities funded?
Answer: By money from central government and by local taxes
Local authorities are funded by money from central government and by local taxes.
46. How many members does the Senedd have?
Answer: 60
There are 60 Senedd members (SMs), elected every four years using a form of proportional representation.
47. How many members does the Scottish Parliament have?
Answer: 129
There are 129 members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs), elected by a form of proportional representation.
48. Which agreement led to the establishment of the Northern Ireland Assembly?
Answer: The Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement
The Northern Ireland Assembly was established soon after the Belfast Agreement, also called the Good Friday Agreement, in 1998.
49. Where is the Senedd building?
Answer: Cardiff Bay
In Wales the elected members, known as SMs, meet in the Senedd building in Cardiff Bay.
50. When does the annual canvass to update the electoral register take place?
Answer: From July each year
An annual canvass takes place from July each year to check that electoral register details are up to date.
51. What will staff at a polling station ask for?
Answer: Your name, address and photo ID
At the polling station staff will ask for your name, address and photo ID.
52. Is the following statement true or false? It is usually easier to get into the public gallery of the House of Lords than the House of Commons.
Answer: True
There can be long queues for the Commons, and it is usually easier to get into the House of Lords.
53. Is the following statement true or false? The Commonwealth has the power to make laws for its member countries.
Answer: False
The Commonwealth has no power over its members, although it can suspend membership.
54. How many members does the UN Security Council have?
Answer: 15
There are 15 members on the UN Security Council. The UK is one of five permanent members.
55. Is the following statement true or false? In the UK, the law applies in the same way to everyone, no matter who they are or where they are from.
Answer: True
Every person in the UK receives equal treatment under the law.
56. Is the following statement true or false? It is a criminal offence to buy alcohol for someone under 18.
Answer: True
It is a criminal offence to sell alcohol to anyone under 18 or to buy alcohol for people under 18.
57. When were Police and Crime Commissioners first elected in England and Wales?
Answer: November 2012
The public first elected Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in England and Wales in November 2012.
58. In Northern Ireland, whom should you contact to complain about the police?
Answer: The Police Ombudsman's Office
In Northern Ireland, you should contact the Police Ombudsman's Office.
59. What are judges together called?
Answer: The judiciary
Judges are together called the judiciary. They interpret the law and make sure trials are conducted fairly.
60. In Scotland, where are the most serious cases, such as murder, heard?
Answer: The High Court
The most serious cases in Scotland, such as murder, are heard at a High Court with a judge and jury.
61. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, cases involving accused people of what age are normally heard in a Youth Court?
Answer: 10 to 17
If an accused person is aged 10 to 17, the case is normally heard in a Youth Court.
62. In Scotland, where are serious civil cases dealt with?
Answer: The Court of Session in Edinburgh
Serious civil cases are dealt with in the High Court in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and in the Court of Session in Edinburgh in Scotland.
63. Which organisation can give you names of local solicitors?
Answer: Citizens Advice
Citizens Advice can give you names of local solicitors and which areas of law they specialise in.
64. In England and Wales, which body can help with problems of discrimination?
Answer: The Equality and Human Rights Commission
In England and Wales you can get help from the Equality and Human Rights Commission or Citizens Advice.
65. When were Forced Marriage Protection Orders introduced in England, Wales and Northern Ireland?
Answer: 2008
Forced Marriage Protection Orders were introduced in 2008. Similar orders came in Scotland in November 2011.
66. How do self-employed people pay their income tax?
Answer: Through self-assessment, including completing a tax return
Self-employed people pay their own tax through self-assessment, which includes completing a tax return.
67. What is the minimum age to ride a moped in the UK?
Answer: 16
You need to be at least 16 to ride a moped, and at least 17 to drive a car or motorcycle.
68. What must you make if your vehicle is kept off the road and not used?
Answer: A Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN)
If a vehicle is parked off the road and not used, you must tell the DVLA by making a SORN.
69. What is the age range for jury service in England and Wales?
Answer: 18 to 75
Anyone on the electoral register aged 18 to 70 (18 to 75 in England and Wales) can be asked to serve on a jury.
70. What is 'canvassing'?
Answer: Persuading people to vote for a candidate, for example by knocking on doors
Party members persuade people to vote for their candidates, for example by handing out leaflets or knocking on doors. This is called canvassing.
71. What is volunteering?
Answer: Working for good causes without payment
Volunteering is working for good causes without payment.
72. Which of these is a medical research charity?
Answer: Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK is an example of a medical research charity.
73. Is the following statement true or false? Walking and using public transport create less pollution than using a car.
Answer: True
Walking and using public transport when you can is a good way to protect the environment, creating less pollution than a car.
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