Life in the UK Practice Test 9
24 questions, just like the real test. You need 18 correct to pass. Every answer is explained — and you do not need an account to take it.
The voting age was reduced to 18 for men and women in 1928.
All 24 questions, answers and explanations
1. The voting age was reduced to 18 for men and women in 1928.
- • True
- ✓ False
Why: False. The voting age was reduced to 18 for men and women in 1969, and 18 is still the voting age today. The change made in 1928 was a different one: it widened the franchise rather than lowering the voting age to 18.
2. In the history of British democracy, what does the term 'the franchise' mean?
- • The right to stand for election as an MP
- • The payment of a salary to MPs
- • The use of a secret ballot at elections
- ✓ The number of people who have the right to vote
Why: The franchise means the number of people who had the right to vote. It grew over the course of the 19th century as reforms gave the vote to more and more people.
3. The Chartists' campaign was generally seen as a success at the time it took place.
- • True
- ✓ False
Why: False. At the time, the Chartists' campaign was generally seen as a failure. However, by 1918 most of the six reforms they wanted had been adopted.
4. In 1928, the right to vote was extended to men and women over which age?
- ✓ 21
- • 30
- • 18
- • 25
Why: In 1928 the franchise was extended to men and women over 21. The UK has had a fully democratic voting system since that year.
5. Which citizens resident in the UK can vote in all public elections?
- • Citizens of the UK only
- ✓ Citizens of the UK, the Commonwealth and the Irish Republic
- • Anyone who has lived in the UK for at least five years
- • Citizens of the UK and of other EU states
Why: Adult citizens of the UK, and citizens of the Commonwealth and the Irish Republic who are resident in the UK, can vote in all public elections.
6. Adult citizens of other EU states who are resident in the UK are allowed to vote in a General Election.
- • True
- ✓ False
Why: False. Adult citizens of other EU states who are resident in the UK can vote in all elections except General Elections.
7. On election day, when are polling stations open?
- • From 6.00 am until 10.00 pm
- • From 8.00 am until 9.00 pm
- ✓ From 7.00 am until 10.00 pm
- • From 7.00 am until 9.00 pm
Why: On election day the polling station (or polling place in Scotland) is open from 7.00 am until 10.00 pm. Your poll card tells you where to vote and when the election will take place.
8. Which TWO of the following groups are not allowed to stand for public office?
- • Commonwealth citizens resident in the UK
- ✓ Civil servants
- • School teachers
- • Members of the armed forces
Why: Most citizens of the UK, the Irish Republic or the Commonwealth aged 18 or over can stand for public office. The exceptions include members of the armed forces, civil servants and people found guilty of certain criminal offences.
9. Why is the British constitution described as 'unwritten'?
- • Because the original document was destroyed and never replaced
- • Because written constitutions are forbidden by the Bill of Rights of 1689
- • Because the UK's constitutional institutions are all less than 100 years old
- ✓ Because the UK has never had a revolution that led permanently to a totally new system of government
Why: The British constitution is not written down in any single document. This is mainly because the UK, unlike America or France, has never had a revolution which led permanently to a totally new system of government; its institutions have developed over hundreds of years.
10. Who does the monarch invite to become Prime Minister?
- ✓ The leader of the party with the largest number of MPs
- • The Speaker of the House of Commons
- • The MP who has served longest in the House of Commons
- • The leader of the second-largest party in the House of Commons
Why: In a constitutional monarchy the monarch does not rule the country but appoints the government. The monarch invites the leader of the party with the largest number of MPs, or the leader of a coalition between more than one party, to become Prime Minister.
11. All Acts of Parliament are made in the Prime Minister's name.
- • True
- ✓ False
Why: False. All Acts of Parliament are made in the monarch's name – in His (or Her) Majesty's name – not in the Prime Minister's name. The monarch also has important ceremonial roles, such as opening the new parliamentary session each year with a speech on the government's policies.
12. Why is the House of Commons regarded as the more important of the two chambers of Parliament?
- ✓ Because its members are democratically elected
- • Because it has more members than the House of Lords
- • Because its debates are chaired by the Speaker
- • Because its members are specialists in particular areas
Why: The House of Commons is regarded as the more important of the two chambers because its members are democratically elected. The Prime Minister and almost all the members of the cabinet are MPs.
13. Which statement about the Speaker of the House of Commons is correct?
- • The Speaker is appointed by the Prime Minister at the start of each Parliament
- • The Speaker gives up his or her constituency on becoming Speaker
- ✓ The Speaker is neutral and does not represent a political party, but is still an MP who represents a constituency
- • The Speaker leads debates on behalf of the governing party
Why: The Speaker is the chief officer of the House of Commons and chairs its debates. He or she is neutral and does not represent a political party, but is still an MP who represents a constituency and deals with constituents' problems. The Speaker is chosen by other MPs in a secret ballot.
14. How often must a General Election be held in the UK?
- • At least every seven years
- ✓ At least every five years
- • At least every three years
- • At least every four years
Why: MPs are elected at a General Election, which is held at least every five years. If an MP dies or resigns, a separate election called a by-election is held in that constituency.
15. Under the 'first past the post' system used to elect MPs, who wins in each constituency?
- • Several candidates, in proportion to the votes each party wins
- • The candidate who gets more than half of all the votes cast
- ✓ The candidate who gets the most votes
- • The candidate nominated by the largest political party
Why: MPs are elected through a system called 'first past the post': in each constituency the candidate who gets the most votes is elected. Proportional representation, where seats are allocated in proportion to votes won, was used for European Parliament elections.
16. Which TWO of these areas remain under the control of the central UK government rather than the devolved administrations?
- ✓ Defence
- • Health
- • Education
- • Immigration
Why: Policy and laws governing defence, foreign affairs, immigration, taxation and social security all remain under central UK government control. Many other public services, such as education and health, are controlled by the devolved administrations.
17. How many members does the Scottish Parliament have?
- • 90
- ✓ 129
- • 60
- • 120
Why: The Scottish Parliament was formed in 1999 and sits in Edinburgh. It has 129 members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs), elected by a form of proportional representation.
18. Which member of the cabinet is responsible for managing relationships with foreign countries?
- • The Chancellor of the Exchequer
- ✓ The Foreign Secretary
- • The Speaker of the House of Commons
- • The Home Secretary
Why: The Foreign Secretary is responsible for managing the UK's relationships with foreign countries. The Chancellor of the Exchequer is responsible for the economy, and other ministers, called Secretaries of State, cover subjects such as education, health and defence.
19. About how many senior MPs does the Prime Minister appoint as ministers in charge of government departments?
- • About 100
- • About 10
- • About 50
- ✓ About 20
Why: The Prime Minister appoints about 20 senior MPs to become ministers in charge of departments. Together they form the cabinet, a committee which usually meets weekly to make important decisions about government policy.
20. What are the official reports of proceedings in Parliament called?
- • The Westminster Record
- • The Commons Journal
- • The Parliamentary Gazette
- ✓ Hansard
Why: Proceedings in Parliament are broadcast on television and published in official reports called Hansard. Written reports can be found in large libraries and at www.parliament.uk.
21. What happens to many of the important decisions about government policy that the cabinet makes?
- • They must be approved by the Speaker of the House of Commons
- ✓ They have to be debated or approved by Parliament
- • They must be approved personally by the monarch
- • They must be put to a public referendum
Why: The cabinet usually meets weekly and makes important decisions about government policy, but many of these decisions have to be debated or approved by Parliament.
22. The leader of the opposition appoints senior opposition MPs as 'shadow ministers', who together form the shadow cabinet.
- ✓ True
- • False
Why: True. The leader of the opposition appoints senior opposition MPs to be shadow ministers, and they form the shadow cabinet. Their role is to challenge the government and put forward alternative policies.
23. Local authorities in the UK are funded entirely by central government.
- • True
- ✓ False
Why: False. Local authorities provide a range of services in their areas and are funded by money from central government and also by local taxes.
24. Which of these statements about the Prime Minister is correct?
- • The Prime Minister is elected directly by the public in a separate national ballot
- • The Prime Minister must resign if the House of Lords rejects a new law
- ✓ The Prime Minister can be changed if the MPs in the governing party decide to do so
- • The Prime Minister is appointed by the Speaker of the House of Commons
Why: The Prime Minister is the leader of the political party in power. He or she can be changed if the MPs in the governing party decide to do so, or if he or she wishes to resign, and usually resigns if the party loses a General Election.