Life in the UK Prep

Life in the UK test government and law questions

How the UK is run: Parliament, the devolved governments, elections, the courts in each nation, the police and the UK's place in the world.

Below are 5 free practice questions from the The UK government, the law and your role chapter of Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents. Pick an answer, then tap the question to check it. Focus on:

  • Parliament, MPs and the Prime Minister
  • Devolved governments and their sizes
  • Voting ages and who can vote
  • Courts, juries and the police
1. What type of government does the UK have?
Government and law
  1. An absolute monarchy
  2. A presidential republic
  3. A parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarch
  4. A federal republic with elected governors

Answer: C, A parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarch. The UK is a parliamentary democracy with the monarch as head of state.

2. Which Cabinet minister manages relationships with foreign countries?
Government and law
  1. The Home Secretary
  2. The Foreign Secretary
  3. The Chancellor of the Exchequer
  4. The Defence Secretary

Answer: B, The Foreign Secretary. The Foreign Secretary manages relationships with foreign countries.

3. How many members are there in the Scottish Parliament?
Government and law
  1. 129
  2. 60
  3. 90
  4. 650

Answer: A, 129. There are 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs), elected by a form of proportional representation.

4. In Scotland, which court hears most criminal cases?
Government and law
  1. The Crown Court
  2. The County Court
  3. The Magistrates' Court
  4. The Sheriff Court

Answer: D, The Sheriff Court. In Scotland, serious offences are tried in a Sheriff Court (or the High Court for the most serious).

5. When was the Council of Europe founded, with the UK as a founding member?
Government and law
  1. 1945
  2. 1957
  3. 1949
  4. 1973

Answer: C, 1949. The UK was a founding member of the Council of Europe in 1949. It is separate from the European Union.

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