Question 1

What principle did the Magna Carta (Great Charter),signed by King John in 1215,establish?

Accepted Answer

A)  Secular affairs took precedence over religious matters. 
B)  The citizens of the country were to be taxed to pay for the running of the state. 
C)  The king was accountable to Parliament. 
D)  The monarch had to rule within the law of the land. 
A)  Secular affairs took precedence over religious matters. 
B)  The citizens of the country were to be taxed to pay for the running of the state. 
C)  The king was accountable to Parliament. 
D)  The monarch had to rule within the law of the land. D

Question 2

Define and explain the significance of the Magna Carta.

Accepted Answer

The Magna Carta, also known as the Great Charter, was a document signed by King John of England in 1215. It was a landmark moment in the history of constitutional law and is considered one of the most important legal documents in the development of modern democracy.

The significance of the Magna Carta lies in the fact that it established the principle that the king was not above the law and that his powers were limited by the law. It also guaranteed certain rights to the barons and freemen, such as the right to a fair trial and protection from illegal imprisonment.

The Magna Carta laid the foundation for the idea of constitutional government and the rule of law. It has been cited as an inspiration for many subsequent legal documents, including the United States Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Overall, the Magna Carta is significant because it marked a shift towards a more democratic and rights-based form of government, and its principles continue to influence legal and political systems around the world.

Question 3

The constitution helps to regulate the way that a state is organized.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 4

Two important aspects of the rule of law include: no ________ without law (nulla poena sine lege),and recognized _______.

Accepted Answer

punishment

Question 5

What was the celebrated case of Roncarelli v.Duplessis an example of?

Accepted Answer

A)  judicial review of legislation 
B)  legislation 
C)  parliamentary sovereignty 
D)  judicial review of executive action 
A)  judicial review of legislation 
B)  legislation 
C)  parliamentary sovereignty 
D)  judicial review of executive action

Question 6

The famous case of Brown v.Board of Education and the failure of the proposed Equal Rights Amendment both reveal that the U.S.Constitution is,to a large extent,what the courts say it is.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Drafters of the Constitution Act,1982 were able to look to the American constitutional experience for ideas on what to adapt and what to avoid.How might the American experience have influenced the creation of the Canadian amending procedure?

Accepted Answer

The American experience likely influence

Question 8

The Statute of Westminster,1931,limited Britain's right to legislate for Canada.In which area did it retain the right to legislate for Canada?

Accepted Answer

A)  public law 
B)  constitutional amendments 
C)  criminal law 
D)  federal matters 
A)  public law 
B)  constitutional amendments 
C)  criminal law 
D)  federal matters

Question 9

Why is the government "subject to law"? How can the government make law,enforce law,but also be subject to law?

Accepted Answer

The government is "subject to law" becau

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT part of the British constitution?

Accepted Answer

A)  Act of Settlement, 1701 
B)  Parliament Act, 1911 
C)  Magna Carta, 1215 
D)  Bill of Rights, 1789 
A)  Act of Settlement, 1701 
B)  Parliament Act, 1911 
C)  Magna Carta, 1215 
D)  Bill of Rights, 1789

Question 11

The Constitution Act,1982,altered the amending process.What was the outcome of that alteration?

Accepted Answer

A)  The amending process became more flexible. 
B)  Many important amendments have recently passed. 
C)  It is unlikely that an amendment will ever pass. 
D)  The amendment process was transferred from convention to law. 
A)  The amending process became more flexible. 
B)  Many important amendments have recently passed. 
C)  It is unlikely that an amendment will ever pass. 
D)  The amendment process was transferred from convention to law.

Question 12

Which of the following statements best describes the evolution of the unwritten British Constitution over time?

Accepted Answer

A)  Statutes gave increasing power to the King and the House of Lords. 
B)  Unwritten laws were forgotten. 
C)  It became more and more codified. 
D)  Statutes placed increasing restrictions on the use of power by non-elected officials. 
A)  Statutes gave increasing power to the King and the House of Lords. 
B)  Unwritten laws were forgotten. 
C)  It became more and more codified. 
D)  Statutes placed increasing restrictions on the use of power by non-elected officials.

Question 13

In politics,a convention refers to a practice of government that is not legally required.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Despite their important differences,both the British and American constitutions are similar in that they have relatively flexible amending procedures.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

What effect did the Constitution Act,1982 have?

Accepted Answer

A)  It reduced the power of the executive. 
B)  It increased the power of the executive. 
C)  It increased the power of the legislature. 
D)  It enhanced the political power of the courts. 
A)  It reduced the power of the executive. 
B)  It increased the power of the executive. 
C)  It increased the power of the legislature. 
D)  It enhanced the political power of the courts.

Question 16

Which of the following statements about amending the American constitution is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Bill of Rights is a series of amendments. 
B)  It has been amended over twenty times. 
C)  Formal amendment is difficult. 
D)  It has no amending formula. 
A)  The Bill of Rights is a series of amendments. 
B)  It has been amended over twenty times. 
C)  Formal amendment is difficult. 
D)  It has no amending formula.

Question 17

The working machinery of parliamentary government in Canada is largely based on conventions.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

There are now three main ways of changing the Canadian constitution: unanimous procedure,general procedure,and bilateral procedure.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

What did the 1954 case of Brown v.The Board of Education demonstrate?

Accepted Answer

A)  the influence of the courts in the Canadian constitution 
B)  the influence of the courts on the American constitution 
C)  the importance of constitutional amendment 
D)  the importance of stare decisis 
A)  the influence of the courts in the Canadian constitution 
B)  the influence of the courts on the American constitution 
C)  the importance of constitutional amendment 
D)  the importance of stare decisis

Question 20

Which of the following situations would be LEAST likely to occur in a country with a constitution?

Accepted Answer

A)  A woman argues in court that government legislation infringes her individual rights. 
B)  A federal government allows state or provincial governments to run their own education systems. 
C)  The court and the legislature constantly fight over who has the most law-making power. 
D)  Changes to fundamental rules happen through a specific process, not haphazardly. 
A)  A woman argues in court that government legislation infringes her individual rights. 
B)  A federal government allows state or provincial governments to run their own education systems. 
C)  The court and the legislature constantly fight over who has the most law-making power. 
D)  Changes to fundamental rules happen through a specific process, not haphazardly.

Exam 7: Constitutionalism

What principle did the Magna Carta (Great Charter),signed by King John in 1215,establish?

Define and explain the significance of the Magna Carta.

The constitution helps to regulate the way that a state is organized.

Two important aspects of the rule of law include: no ________ without law (nulla poena sine lege),and recognized _______.

What was the celebrated case of Roncarelli v.Duplessis an example of?

The famous case of Brown v.Board of Education and the failure of the proposed Equal Rights Amendment both reveal that the U.S.Constitution is,to a large extent,what the courts say it is.

Drafters of the Constitution Act,1982 were able to look to the American constitutional experience for ideas on what to adapt and what to avoid.How might the American experience have influenced the creation of the Canadian amending procedure?

The Statute of Westminster,1931,limited Britain's right to legislate for Canada.In which area did it retain the right to legislate for Canada?

Why is the government "subject to law"? How can the government make law,enforce law,but also be subject to law?

Which of the following is NOT part of the British constitution?

The Constitution Act,1982,altered the amending process.What was the outcome of that alteration?

Which of the following statements best describes the evolution of the unwritten British Constitution over time?

In politics,a convention refers to a practice of government that is not legally required.

Despite their important differences,both the British and American constitutions are similar in that they have relatively flexible amending procedures.

What effect did the Constitution Act,1982 have?

Which of the following statements about amending the American constitution is NOT true?

The working machinery of parliamentary government in Canada is largely based on conventions.

There are now three main ways of changing the Canadian constitution: unanimous procedure,general procedure,and bilateral procedure.

What did the 1954 case of Brown v.The Board of Education demonstrate?

Which of the following situations would be LEAST likely to occur in a country with a constitution?

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Two important aspects of the rule of law include: no __ without law (nulla poena sine lege),and recognized _.