LITUK UK Government & Politics 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is 'Prime Minister's Questions' (PMQs)?
- A weekly session where the PM answers questions from MPs (Correct answer)
- A daily briefing given by the PM to Cabinet ministers
- A monthly televised debate between party leaders
- An annual parliamentary review of government policy
Correct answer: A weekly session where the PM answers questions from MPs
PMQs takes place every Wednesday when Parliament is sitting, lasting 30 minutes, allowing MPs to question the Prime Minister.
Question 2: Which devolved institution governs Scotland?
- The Scottish Parliament (Correct answer)
- The Scottish Assembly
- The Scottish Senate
- The Scottish Congress
Correct answer: The Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament, established in 1999, has devolved powers over areas such as health, education, and justice in Scotland.
Question 3: What does the term 'first past the post' mean in UK elections?
- The candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins, regardless of whether they have a majority (Correct answer)
- The first party to reach 326 seats forms the government
- Candidates must win more than 50% of votes to be elected
- Votes are counted and seats allocated proportionally
Correct answer: The candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins, regardless of whether they have a majority
Under first past the post, the candidate who receives the most votes in a constituency wins, even without an absolute majority.
Question 4: What is the Privy Council?
- A formal body that advises the monarch, made up largely of senior politicians (Correct answer)
- The private advisory board of the Prime Minister only
- A committee of senior judges
- The administrative body of the House of Lords
Correct answer: A formal body that advises the monarch, made up largely of senior politicians
The Privy Council is a formal advisory body to the monarch composed mainly of current and former senior politicians and other distinguished individuals.
Question 5: How often must a general election be held in the UK at a minimum?
- At least every five years (Correct answer)
- At least every four years
- At least every six years
- At least every three years
Correct answer: At least every five years
Under the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022, the maximum parliamentary term is five years.
Question 6: What is the function of the Cabinet Office in the UK?
- To support the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and coordinate government policy across departments (Correct answer)
- To manage the finances of all government departments
- To oversee the work of Parliament
- To appoint senior civil servants
Correct answer: To support the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and coordinate government policy across departments
The Cabinet Office supports the Prime Minister and Cabinet in coordinating policy and strategy across Whitehall departments.
Question 7: Which principle states that the UK Parliament can make or unmake any law, and no other body can override Parliament's legislation?
- Parliamentary sovereignty (Correct answer)
- Rule of law
- Separation of powers
- Constitutional monarchy
Correct answer: Parliamentary sovereignty
Parliamentary sovereignty is the cornerstone of the UK constitution, meaning Parliament has supreme legal authority.
LITUK UK Government & Politics 3
What is 'Prime Minister's Questions' (PMQs)?