Government and Law Flashcards

What is the main purpose of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in England and Wales?

Answer: To prosecute criminal cases brought by the police

The Crown Prosecution Service decides whether to bring criminal charges and prosecutes cases in court on behalf of the state.

Which of the following is a civil matter typically handled by the civil courts?

Answer: A contract dispute between two businesses

Contract disputes are civil matters resolved through the civil courts, not criminal proceedings.

What is 'parliamentary sovereignty' as understood in the UK?

Answer: Parliament can make or unmake any law

Parliamentary sovereignty means Parliament is the supreme legal authority in the UK and can create or end any law.

Which document, passed in 1689, established the constitutional relationship between Parliament and the Crown?

Answer: The Bill of Rights

The Bill of Rights 1689 established the supremacy of Parliament and limited royal powers following the Glorious Revolution.

What is the function of a 'whip' in the UK Parliament?

Answer: To ensure MPs vote in line with their party's position

Party whips are MPs or peers responsible for ensuring their party's members vote according to the party line.

In which year did women over 21 first gain the right to vote on equal terms with men in the UK?

Answer: 1928

The Equal Franchise Act 1928 gave all women aged 21 and over the right to vote on the same terms as men.

Which committee of the House of Commons examines the work of each government department?

Answer: Select committees

Select committees scrutinise the work, spending, and policy of specific government departments and are a key tool of parliamentary accountability.