nctj public affairs Exam Questions
with Answers 100% PASS
Uncodified Constitution - CORRECT ANSWER-The UK has a constitution but
it has not been written down in one document. It is all over the place. The UK
constitution is based on laws passed throughout centuries, accepted conventions
and practices and legal decisions. The UK is also part of the European Convention
on Human rights even though not the EU. These all help define the UK
constitution.
Flexible constitution - CORRECT ANSWER-It can be amended to keep up with a
public opinion. For example, gun control. In 1995 after a massacre at a school in
Dunblane the UK government severely restricted the ability of people to own
firearms, introducing tight gun control legislation. In the US constitution, the right
to bear arms is written the constitution for historical reasons - The founders of the
US wanted to justify taking up weapons to fight against the British. It is very
difficult to amend the US constitution.
,A codified constitution like in the US also has articles such as its first amendment
which guarantees the freedom of the press. In the UK it is easier to remove such
individual rights and liberties so this could be considered a disadvantage.
Parliamentary sovereignty - CORRECT ANSWER-In the UK system, parliament,
not the people, is sovereign. Many politicians who opposed EU membership
argued it was undemocratic and did so on the grounds of defending parliamentary
sovereignty. In reality, parliament is not entirely sovereign. First people vote in
elections and this limits what parliament can do and second people usually vote for
a party and usually, though not always, the parties control parliament.
Separation of powers - CORRECT ANSWER-In the UK there is also in principle
separation of powers. The House of Commons, the House of Lords and the
executive are all distinct with each balancing and controlling the other stopping
either one from becoming too powerful. In reality, the political parties dominate
parliament. The Prime Minister and ministers, who make up the executive all sit in
parliament. It is parliament more often than not which is controlled by the
executive. For example, The parties and particularly the government have the
resources to hire special advisors, influence the media and develop policy. No
other branch has these same resources. In addition, the prime minister has the
power to appoint members of the House of Lords too which weakens their ability
to provide a check on the executives' power.
© 2026 Copyright. All Rights Reserved. This document is
protected by copyright law
, Rule of Law - CORRECT ANSWER-The law is applied equally to everyone, no
one is above the law including political elites. In reality, conventions are not laws.
It is perfectly possible to do something which is unconstitutional but is not
technically illegal. An example would be the expense scandal or the cash for the
honours system. We of course also saw the supreme court declare null and void
the suspension of parliament by the prime minister. A prime minister who did
something that was unconstitutional and also managed to get the Queen involved
in the process too. To argue also that everyone is treated equally is not entirely
accurate. For example, the Prime Minister's former advisor Dominic Cummings'
breach of Covid-19 rules. He was allowed to stay in his position and it helped
undermine trust in the government.
Common vs Statute Law - CORRECT ANSWER-Made by judges in court, using
precedent - decisions made in previous similar cases - to decide how they will judge
a case before them. Statute law is made by parliament. For a bill to be passed, it
must be agreed to by a majority vote in both houses of Parliament. If no statute
law applies to cover a particular situation, the common law will apply; however,
statute law always overrides common law.
Royal Prerogative - CORRECT ANSWER-The UK has a monarch with symbolic
power. The Monarch does regularly meet with the Prime Minister and can advise
and warn the Prime Minister but monarchical powers are in effect devolved to the
Prime Minister and his/her cabinet.
with Answers 100% PASS
Uncodified Constitution - CORRECT ANSWER-The UK has a constitution but
it has not been written down in one document. It is all over the place. The UK
constitution is based on laws passed throughout centuries, accepted conventions
and practices and legal decisions. The UK is also part of the European Convention
on Human rights even though not the EU. These all help define the UK
constitution.
Flexible constitution - CORRECT ANSWER-It can be amended to keep up with a
public opinion. For example, gun control. In 1995 after a massacre at a school in
Dunblane the UK government severely restricted the ability of people to own
firearms, introducing tight gun control legislation. In the US constitution, the right
to bear arms is written the constitution for historical reasons - The founders of the
US wanted to justify taking up weapons to fight against the British. It is very
difficult to amend the US constitution.
,A codified constitution like in the US also has articles such as its first amendment
which guarantees the freedom of the press. In the UK it is easier to remove such
individual rights and liberties so this could be considered a disadvantage.
Parliamentary sovereignty - CORRECT ANSWER-In the UK system, parliament,
not the people, is sovereign. Many politicians who opposed EU membership
argued it was undemocratic and did so on the grounds of defending parliamentary
sovereignty. In reality, parliament is not entirely sovereign. First people vote in
elections and this limits what parliament can do and second people usually vote for
a party and usually, though not always, the parties control parliament.
Separation of powers - CORRECT ANSWER-In the UK there is also in principle
separation of powers. The House of Commons, the House of Lords and the
executive are all distinct with each balancing and controlling the other stopping
either one from becoming too powerful. In reality, the political parties dominate
parliament. The Prime Minister and ministers, who make up the executive all sit in
parliament. It is parliament more often than not which is controlled by the
executive. For example, The parties and particularly the government have the
resources to hire special advisors, influence the media and develop policy. No
other branch has these same resources. In addition, the prime minister has the
power to appoint members of the House of Lords too which weakens their ability
to provide a check on the executives' power.
© 2026 Copyright. All Rights Reserved. This document is
protected by copyright law
, Rule of Law - CORRECT ANSWER-The law is applied equally to everyone, no
one is above the law including political elites. In reality, conventions are not laws.
It is perfectly possible to do something which is unconstitutional but is not
technically illegal. An example would be the expense scandal or the cash for the
honours system. We of course also saw the supreme court declare null and void
the suspension of parliament by the prime minister. A prime minister who did
something that was unconstitutional and also managed to get the Queen involved
in the process too. To argue also that everyone is treated equally is not entirely
accurate. For example, the Prime Minister's former advisor Dominic Cummings'
breach of Covid-19 rules. He was allowed to stay in his position and it helped
undermine trust in the government.
Common vs Statute Law - CORRECT ANSWER-Made by judges in court, using
precedent - decisions made in previous similar cases - to decide how they will judge
a case before them. Statute law is made by parliament. For a bill to be passed, it
must be agreed to by a majority vote in both houses of Parliament. If no statute
law applies to cover a particular situation, the common law will apply; however,
statute law always overrides common law.
Royal Prerogative - CORRECT ANSWER-The UK has a monarch with symbolic
power. The Monarch does regularly meet with the Prime Minister and can advise
and warn the Prime Minister but monarchical powers are in effect devolved to the
Prime Minister and his/her cabinet.
