Chapter 1: The British Constitution, law reform and the parliamentary legislative process

Self-Assessment Test (to be completed in 60 minutes)

A) DEFINITIONS

Please explain the meaning of the following terms, providing examples wherever appropriate. Click on the link to reveal the correct definition.

1) Executive

2) Legislature

3) Queen in Parliament

4) Royal Assent

5) Delegated Legislation

6) Bill

7) Green Paper

8) White Paper

9) Secretary of State

10) Declaration of Incompatibility

B) DIFFERENCES

11) Explaining the difference between Public Bills and Private Bills.

12) Explain, with some reference to the last question, the difference between Private Members’ Bills and Private Peers’ Bills.

C) LISTS

13) List two examples of Acts of Parliament (Primary Legislation) that you have studied.

14) List three influences on parliamentary law-making.

15) List and briefly explain the five stages a Bill must go through in each of the Houses of Parliament (ie, the Commons and Lords) prior to it becoming an Act of Parliament.

16) List two rights contained in the European Convention on Human Rights, as incorporated into English Law by the Human Rights Act 1998.

17) List three statements that describe the concept of parliamentary sovereignty.

D) MISCELLANEOUS

18) Using three examples, explain how parliamentary sovereignty is limited in the English Legal System.

19) Explain the significance of the Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949.

20) Using your knowledge of the impact of the Human Rights Act 1998 and the European Convention on Human Rights respectively:

21) Provide a summary definition of the British Constitution.