By: Prof. Dr. Fazal Rehman | Last updated: August 6, 2024
What is the primary purpose of a constitution?
A) To outline the process for electing officials
B) To establish and define the structure of government and its powers
C) To set tax rates
D) To manage foreign relations
Answer: B) To establish and define the structure of government and its powers
Which principle asserts that the constitution is the supreme law of the land?
A) Separation of Powers
B) Rule of Law
C) Judicial Review
D) Supremacy Clause
Answer: D) Supremacy Clause
Which branch of government is responsible for interpreting the law?
A) Legislative
B) Executive
C) Judicial
D) Administrative
Answer: C) Judicial
What does “judicial review” refer to?
A) The process of reviewing legislation before it is passed
B) The examination of executive orders by the legislative branch
C) The power of courts to assess the constitutionality of laws and executive actions
D) The review of judicial decisions by other courts
Answer: C) The power of courts to assess the constitutionality of laws and executive actions
What is the significance of the “Bill of Rights” in a constitution?
A) It defines the structure of government
B) It outlines the powers of the government
C) It protects individual freedoms and rights from government infringement
D) It specifies economic policies
Answer: C) It protects individual freedoms and rights from government infringement
Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees freedom of speech?
A) First Amendment
B) Second Amendment
C) Fourth Amendment
D) Fifth Amendment
Answer: A) First Amendment
What does “separation of powers” mean in constitutional law?
A) The division of government into federal and state levels
B) The allocation of government powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches
C) The distribution of economic resources
D) The separation of religious institutions from the government
Answer: B) The allocation of government powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches
What is the “doctrine of precedent” (stare decisis) in common law systems?
A) The requirement for new legislation to be approved by the judiciary
B) The principle that courts should follow previous judicial decisions in similar cases
C) The process of amending the constitution
D) The system of checks and balances
Answer: B) The principle that courts should follow previous judicial decisions in similar cases
Which term describes the power of the courts to declare legislative or executive actions unconstitutional?
A) Legislative review
B) Executive privilege
C) Judicial review
D) Constitutional amendment
Answer: C) Judicial review
What does the “Equal Protection Clause” of the Fourteenth Amendment guarantee?
A) The right to a fair trial
B) The protection of individual rights against state infringement
C) Equal treatment under the law for all individuals
D) The right to vote
Answer: C) Equal treatment under the law for all individuals
Which article of the U.S. Constitution deals with the legislative branch?
A) Article I
B) Article II
C) Article III
D) Article IV
Answer: A) Article I
What is “federalism” in the context of constitutional law?
A) The system where power is concentrated at the national level
B) The principle that states have no power relative to the federal government
C) The distribution of power between national and state governments
D) The separation of powers within the federal government
Answer: C) The distribution of power between national and state governments
What is the primary function of the legislative branch of government?
A) To enforce laws
B) To interpret laws
C) To make laws
D) To administer justice
Answer: C) To make laws
Which principle ensures that no branch of government becomes too powerful?
A) Federalism
B) Separation of Powers
C) Judicial Review
D) Democracy
Answer: B) Separation of Powers
What does “habeas corpus” protect?
A) The right to a speedy trial
B) The right to privacy
C) The right to be free from unlawful detention or imprisonment
D) The right to free speech
Answer: C) The right to be free from unlawful detention or imprisonment