3.1.1.2.1 Parliament: scrutiny of the executive and legislation Quiz: AQA Politics, Unit 1

The 20 questions

1. What is the primary constitutional purpose of parliamentary scrutiny of the executive?

   • Appointing senior judges
   • Government accountability
   • Passing secondary legislation
   • Drafting party manifestos

2. Which body in the Commons conducts detailed examination of government departments and policy?

   • Select Committees
   • The Privy Council
   • The Cabinet Office
   • The Speaker's Chair

3. What is a primary constitutional role of the official opposition in Parliament?

   • Scrutinising the government
   • Passing private bills
   • Setting ministerial salaries
   • Chairing all committees

4. What is debated during the second reading of a bill in Parliament?

   • Clause-by-clause amendments
   • Overall principles
   • Financial expenditure details
   • Royal assent approval

5. Which term refers to Parliament raising citizens' concerns directly with government ministers?

   • Collective responsibility
   • Judicial review
   • Royal prerogative
   • Redress of grievances

6. Which mechanism allows UK governments with a majority to defeat opposition scrutiny?

   • Royal assent
   • Judicial review
   • Party discipline
   • Executive privilege

7. Which party figures traditionally held strong influence over Select Committee appointments?

   • The Speaker
   • Civil servants
   • Party whips
   • Cabinet ministers

8. Which guidance restricts civil servant evidence given to parliamentary Select Committees?

   • Osmotherly Rules
   • Sewell Convention
   • Nolan Principles
   • Salisbury Convention

9. What occurs during the Public Bill Committee stage of a legislative bill?

   • Formal royal assent
   • Third reading vote
   • Clause-by-clause scrutiny
   • Drafting the bill

10. What primary legislative role is performed by the House of Lords?

    • Revising chamber
    • Financial control
    • Executive body
    • Supreme authority

11. What is a key output produced by departmental Select Committees to influence policy?

    • Binding legislation
    • Advisory reports
    • Court rulings
    • Executive decrees

12. Which committee primarily scrutinises value for money in UK public spending?

    • Public Accounts Committee
    • Standards Committee
    • Privileges Committee
    • Lords Reform Committee

13. What mechanism enforces party discipline to ensure government bills pass in the Commons?

    • Judicial review
    • The whip system
    • Select committees
    • Public petitions

14. Which factor most reduces the effectiveness of parliamentary scrutiny in the House of Commons?

    • Constituency casework
    • Judicial review
    • Bicameralism
    • Party loyalty

15. Which legal process allows courts to review the lawfulness of government executive decisions?

    • Royal prerogative
    • Legislative scrutiny
    • Judicial review
    • Parliamentary privilege

16. What is the primary function of the official Opposition in the House of Commons?

    • Appointing Cabinet ministers
    • Scrutinising government policy
    • Drafting primary legislation
    • Enforcing party whips

17. Who introduces the vast majority of successful bills in the House of Commons?

    • Select committees
    • Crossbench peers
    • Backbench MPs
    • The government

18. What is the primary role of departmental Select Committees in the Commons?

    • Scrutinising government departments
    • Enforcing party discipline
    • Passing primary laws
    • Debating private bills

19. What takes place during a bill's third reading in the House of Commons?

    • Select committee scrutiny
    • Royal assent granting
    • Detailed clause amendments
    • Final debate and vote

20. Which parliamentary bodies can effectively scrutinise government policy regardless of majority size?

    • The Supreme Court
    • The Privy Council
    • The Cabinet Office
    • Select Committees

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