ACTUAL 2025 AQA A-LEVEL POLITICS Paper 1
Government and Politics of the UK – Comprehensive
Practice Questions & Verified Answers
1. Explain and analyse three ways in which UK membership of the EU has had
an impact upon UK politics and policy making. [9 marks] - correct answer--
- Parliamentary sovereignty was limited by EU law supremacy; EU
social and employment policies influenced UK labour laws; EU regional
funding affected devolution and local governance
2. Explain and analyse three powers of the UK prime minister. [9 marks] -
correct answer--- Patronage (appointing and dismissing ministers);
control over cabinet agenda and structure; power to request a
dissolution of Parliament (prior to Fixed-term Parliaments Act) and set
election dates
3. Explain and analyse three ways in which judicial impartiality is upheld in
the UK. [9 marks] - correct answer--- Security of tenure for senior judges
(can only be removed by Address of both Houses); independent judicial
appointments through the Judicial Appointments Commission;
separation of the judiciary from the legislature and executive via the
Constitutional Reform Act 2005
Section B – Extract Question
4. Analyse, evaluate and compare the arguments in the extracts regarding the
effects of First Past the Post upon the party system in the UK. [25 marks] -
, correct answer--- Extract 1 argues FPTP can produce hung parliaments
but favours geographically concentrated parties (e.g., SNP); Extract 2
argues FPTP manufactures majorities while ignoring over 70% of votes,
leaving voters voiceless; both agree FPTP distorts representation but
disagree on whether this is functional or undemocratic
5. Which of the following best describes the UK constitution? - correct
answer--- Uncodified, flexible, and based on statute, common law, and
conventions
6. The principle of parliamentary sovereignty means that Parliament can: -
correct answer--- Make or repeal any law whatsoever, and no court can
strike down an Act of Parliament
7. Which of the following is a convention of the UK constitution? - correct
answer--- The monarch gives royal assent to all bills passed by
Parliament
8. The Salisbury Convention applies when: - correct answer--- The House of
Lords does not oppose government bills that were in the governing
party’s manifesto
9. Which Act incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into
UK law? - correct answer--- Human Rights Act 1998
10.The Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 was repealed by which Act? - correct
answer--- Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022
11.Which of the following is a reserved matter under UK devolution? - correct
answer--- Defence and foreign affairs
, 12.The Scotland Act 2016 and Wales Act 2017 did which of the following? -
correct answer--- Made devolved institutions permanent and recognised
the Scottish Parliament and Senedd as permanent parts of the UK
constitution
13.Which of the following is an example of an English Laws provision under
EVEL? - correct answer--- Legislation applying only to England
required consent from English or English-and-Wales MPs via a
legislative grand committee
14.Which of the following is a limitation on the UK Supreme Court’s power? -
correct answer--- It cannot strike down primary legislation as
unconstitutional, only declare incompatibility with the HRA
15.Which case established the principle of implied repeal in the UK? - correct
answer--- Ellen Street Estates v Minister of Health (1934)
16.Which of the following is a prerogative power still exercised by the Prime
Minister? - correct answer--- Declaration of war and deployment of
armed forces
17.The Ministerial Code is enforced by which official? - correct answer--- The
Prime Minister, with advice from the Independent Adviser on
Ministers’ Interests
18.Which of the following is a function of the Opposition frontbench? - correct
answer--- To scrutinise government policy and present alternative
programmes as the “Government in waiting”
19.The House of Lords Act 1999 did which of the following? - correct answer-
-- Removed all but 92 hereditary peers
Government and Politics of the UK – Comprehensive
Practice Questions & Verified Answers
1. Explain and analyse three ways in which UK membership of the EU has had
an impact upon UK politics and policy making. [9 marks] - correct answer--
- Parliamentary sovereignty was limited by EU law supremacy; EU
social and employment policies influenced UK labour laws; EU regional
funding affected devolution and local governance
2. Explain and analyse three powers of the UK prime minister. [9 marks] -
correct answer--- Patronage (appointing and dismissing ministers);
control over cabinet agenda and structure; power to request a
dissolution of Parliament (prior to Fixed-term Parliaments Act) and set
election dates
3. Explain and analyse three ways in which judicial impartiality is upheld in
the UK. [9 marks] - correct answer--- Security of tenure for senior judges
(can only be removed by Address of both Houses); independent judicial
appointments through the Judicial Appointments Commission;
separation of the judiciary from the legislature and executive via the
Constitutional Reform Act 2005
Section B – Extract Question
4. Analyse, evaluate and compare the arguments in the extracts regarding the
effects of First Past the Post upon the party system in the UK. [25 marks] -
, correct answer--- Extract 1 argues FPTP can produce hung parliaments
but favours geographically concentrated parties (e.g., SNP); Extract 2
argues FPTP manufactures majorities while ignoring over 70% of votes,
leaving voters voiceless; both agree FPTP distorts representation but
disagree on whether this is functional or undemocratic
5. Which of the following best describes the UK constitution? - correct
answer--- Uncodified, flexible, and based on statute, common law, and
conventions
6. The principle of parliamentary sovereignty means that Parliament can: -
correct answer--- Make or repeal any law whatsoever, and no court can
strike down an Act of Parliament
7. Which of the following is a convention of the UK constitution? - correct
answer--- The monarch gives royal assent to all bills passed by
Parliament
8. The Salisbury Convention applies when: - correct answer--- The House of
Lords does not oppose government bills that were in the governing
party’s manifesto
9. Which Act incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into
UK law? - correct answer--- Human Rights Act 1998
10.The Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 was repealed by which Act? - correct
answer--- Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022
11.Which of the following is a reserved matter under UK devolution? - correct
answer--- Defence and foreign affairs
, 12.The Scotland Act 2016 and Wales Act 2017 did which of the following? -
correct answer--- Made devolved institutions permanent and recognised
the Scottish Parliament and Senedd as permanent parts of the UK
constitution
13.Which of the following is an example of an English Laws provision under
EVEL? - correct answer--- Legislation applying only to England
required consent from English or English-and-Wales MPs via a
legislative grand committee
14.Which of the following is a limitation on the UK Supreme Court’s power? -
correct answer--- It cannot strike down primary legislation as
unconstitutional, only declare incompatibility with the HRA
15.Which case established the principle of implied repeal in the UK? - correct
answer--- Ellen Street Estates v Minister of Health (1934)
16.Which of the following is a prerogative power still exercised by the Prime
Minister? - correct answer--- Declaration of war and deployment of
armed forces
17.The Ministerial Code is enforced by which official? - correct answer--- The
Prime Minister, with advice from the Independent Adviser on
Ministers’ Interests
18.Which of the following is a function of the Opposition frontbench? - correct
answer--- To scrutinise government policy and present alternative
programmes as the “Government in waiting”
19.The House of Lords Act 1999 did which of the following? - correct answer-
-- Removed all but 92 hereditary peers
