Introducing Politics for AS level

The British Constitution - Multiple Choice Quiz.

1. The first modern constitution was adopted by which country in 1787?

   1. The United Kingdom
   2. France
   3. The United States of America
   4. Scotland

2. Many of the rights in the United Kingdom derive from a treaty drawn up in 1215 which is called:

   1. The Bill of Rights
   2. The Common Law
   3. The Act of Parliament
   4. The Magna Carta

3. Which of the following countries could be described as a federal state?

   1. England
   2. The United States
   3. France
   4. Ireland

4. Parliamentary sovereignty is:

   1. Exercised by the monarchy on behalf of the people
   2. Exercised by the people on behalf of government
   3. Exercised only by the Prime Minister
   4. Exercised on behalf of the people by their elected representative

5. The separation of powers is a constitutional principle based on the writings of which eighteenth-century French philosopher?

   1. Jacques Rousseau
   2. Charles de Gaulle
   3. Charles Montesquieu
   4. Michel Foucault

6. Which political leader suggested holding elections on a Saturday or a Sunday to boost participation?

   1. David Cameron
   2. Gordon Brown
   3. Nick Clegg
   4. Tony Blair

7. When did Queen Elizabeth II come to the throne?

   1. 1970
   2. 1952
   3. 1902
   4. 1962

8. Who formally opens sessions of Parliament?

   1. The Queen
   2. Prince Charles
   3. The Prime Minister
   4. The Leader of the Opposition

9. A codified constitution would mean that the constitution is:

   1. written down
   2. written in code so that only government could understand it
   3. unwritten
   4. impossible to change