Free Life in the UK Test Practice · Chapter Quiz
Law & Justice
45 original questions on this handbook topic, one at a time. Score and full explanations at the end. Free, no signup.
The legal system, criminal and civil law, the courts, the police, and the everyday rights and responsibilities that come with living in the UK.
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Question 1 of 45.According to the handbook, laws in the UK can be divided into two broad types. Which pair describes them?
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According to the handbook, laws in the UK can be divided into two broad types. Which pair describes them?
- Common law and statute law
- Public law and private law
- Criminal law and constitutional law
- Criminal law and civil law (correct answer)
The handbook explains that law is generally split into criminal law, which relates to crimes usually investigated by the police and punished by the courts, and civil law, which is used to settle disputes between individuals or groups. Knowing this basic division is the foundation for understanding the rest of the justice system.
Which of the following is an example of a matter dealt with under CRIMINAL law?
- A disagreement over an unpaid personal debt
- A dispute between a landlord and a tenant over a deposit
- Carrying a weapon in public (correct answer)
- A claim for compensation after a faulty product breaks
Criminal law covers offences such as carrying a weapon, dangerous driving, selling illegal drugs and stealing. These are usually investigated by the police and punished by the courts. The other options are civil matters, which settle disputes between individuals or groups rather than punishing crimes.
Which of these situations would normally be settled under CIVIL law rather than criminal law?
- A dispute between a landlord and tenant over repairs (correct answer)
- Selling illegal drugs
- Drink driving
- Carrying a weapon
Civil law is used to settle disputes between individuals or groups, such as disagreements between landlords and tenants, debt problems, personal injury claims or consumer complaints. Selling drugs, drink driving and carrying a weapon are all crimes dealt with under criminal law.
The handbook lists several fundamental principles of British life. Which of the following is one of them?
- The right to avoid paying tax
- The rule of law, so that no one is above the law (correct answer)
- Loyalty to a single political party
- The duty to attend a place of worship
The fundamental principles of British life include democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs, and participation in community life. The rule of law means that everyone, including those in authority, must obey the law and no one is above it.
What does the phrase 'the rule of law' mean in the UK?
- Only judges have to obey the law
- The government can change any court decision it dislikes
- Laws only apply to people who are not citizens
- Everyone, including people in government, must obey the law (correct answer)
The rule of law is a fundamental principle of British life. It means that everyone is equal before the law and that everybody, from ordinary citizens to members of the government, must obey the law. No one is above the law.
Who is responsible for interpreting the law and making sure that trials are conducted fairly?
- The Prime Minister
- Police and Crime Commissioners
- The judges (the judiciary) (correct answer)
- Members of Parliament
Judges, who together are known as the judiciary, are responsible for interpreting the law and ensuring that trials are conducted fairly. Importantly, the government cannot interfere with this. This independence of the judiciary is a key part of the rule of law.
Which statement about the relationship between judges and the government is correct?
- The government cannot interfere with how judges interpret the law (correct answer)
- The government appoints juries in every criminal trial
- Judges must follow the Prime Minister's instructions
- Ministers decide whether a defendant is guilty
The independence of the judiciary is central to British justice. Judges interpret the law and make sure trials are fair, and the government cannot interfere with this. This separation helps guarantee that everyone receives a fair trial and that the rule of law is upheld.
In the UK, what is the main role of the police?
- To make new laws in Parliament
- To protect life and property, prevent and detect crime, and keep the peace (prevent public disturbances) (correct answer)
- To collect taxes for the government
- To decide the sentence given to a guilty person
The police protect life and property, prevent and detect crime, and prevent public disturbances (keep the peace). They must themselves obey the law, must not misuse their authority, and must not be racist. Making laws is the role of Parliament, and passing sentence is the role of the courts.
Which of the following is true about the police in the UK?
- The police are allowed to make up their own laws
- The police can be corrupt as long as they catch criminals
- Only citizens can ask the police for help
- The police must themselves obey the law and cannot misuse their authority (correct answer)
The police work to protect the public, but they must themselves obey the law. They must not misuse their authority, make a false statement, be rude or abusive, or commit racial discrimination. If they do not follow these rules, they can be investigated and disciplined.
The police in the UK are organised into separate forces. Who heads each individual police force?
- The Home Secretary
- A local Member of Parliament
- A Chief Constable (correct answer)
- A High Court judge
The UK has a number of separate regional police forces, each headed by a Chief Constable. The police are organised locally, with every area of the country having its own police force. This local structure is overseen by elected Police and Crime Commissioners in England and Wales.
In England and Wales, who is elected by the public to make the police accountable for how crime is tackled in their area?
- Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) (correct answer)
- Chief Constables
- Magistrates
- Local council leaders
Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) are elected by the public in England and Wales. Their role is to make the police accountable for how crime is tackled in their area. They set local policing priorities and hold the Chief Constable to account, but they do not run day-to-day operations.
If a person believes the police have not behaved properly, what can they do?
- Nothing, because complaints against the police are not allowed
- Make a complaint, which can be investigated by an independent body (correct answer)
- Ask a friend to arrest the officer
- Refuse to pay any tax until it is resolved
The police must obey the law. If people think the police have acted wrongly, they have the right to make a complaint. This can be taken to an independent body responsible for investigating complaints against the police, ensuring that officers are held accountable.
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, most minor criminal cases are dealt with in which court?
- The Crown Court
- The Supreme Court
- The County Court
- A Magistrates' Court (correct answer)
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, most minor criminal cases are dealt with in a Magistrates' Court. In Scotland, minor criminal offences go to a Justice of the Peace Court. More serious offences are sent to a higher court for trial.
In Scotland, minor criminal offences are usually heard in which court?
- A Magistrates' Court
- The High Court of Justiciary
- A Justice of the Peace Court (correct answer)
- The Crown Court
Scotland has its own legal system. Minor criminal offences in Scotland are dealt with in a Justice of the Peace Court, which is the Scottish equivalent of the Magistrates' Court used in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. More serious cases go to the Sheriff Court or the High Court of Justiciary.
In England and Wales, who normally hears cases in a Magistrates' Court?
- Magistrates (lay members of the community), or a District Judge (correct answer)
- A single High Court judge
- A jury of 12 people
- The Chief Constable
In England and Wales, cases in a Magistrates' Court are usually heard by magistrates (also called Justices of the Peace), who are members of the local community. In England, Wales and Scotland, magistrates are usually unpaid and do not need legal qualifications. In some areas a legally qualified District Judge may hear cases instead. In Northern Ireland, these cases are heard by a legally qualified District Judge.
Which statement about magistrates in England and Wales is correct according to the handbook?
- They must be qualified barristers
- They are usually unpaid and do not need legal qualifications (correct answer)
- They are appointed directly by the Prime Minister
- They always sit with a jury of 12 people
In England and Wales, magistrates (Justices of the Peace, or JPs) are members of the local community. They are usually unpaid and do not need legal qualifications, though they receive training. In Northern Ireland, cases are heard by a legally qualified District Judge.
Serious criminal offences in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are tried in which court, in front of a judge and jury?
- The County Court
- A Justice of the Peace Court
- A youth court
- The Crown Court (correct answer)
Serious offences in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are tried in the Crown Court, in front of a judge and a jury. The jury decides whether the defendant is guilty, and if they are, the judge decides the penalty. In Scotland, serious cases are heard in the Sheriff Court or the High Court of Justiciary.
In Scotland, serious criminal cases are heard in the Sheriff Court or, for the most serious offences such as murder, in which court?
- The Crown Court
- The Supreme Court
- The High Court of Justiciary (correct answer)
- A Magistrates' Court
In Scotland, serious cases are heard in a Sheriff Court, with either a sheriff or a sheriff with a jury. The most serious cases, such as murder, are heard at the High Court of Justiciary with a judge and jury. This mirrors the Crown Court used elsewhere in the UK.
In a Crown Court trial in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, how many members make up a jury?
- 12 (correct answer)
- 6
- 10
- 15
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, a jury has 12 members, who are chosen at random from the local electoral register. In Scotland, a criminal jury has 15 members. The jury listens to the evidence and decides whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty.
In a Scottish criminal trial with a jury, how many members does the jury have?
- 9
- 15 (correct answer)
- 12
- 18
Scotland has its own legal system, and a criminal jury there is made up of 15 members. This differs from England, Wales and Northern Ireland, where a jury has 12 members. In both systems, jurors are chosen at random from the electoral register.
How are the members of a jury chosen?
- They are appointed by the judge in each case
- They are elected by the public every four years
- They are chosen by the police
- At random from the local electoral register (correct answer)
Members of a jury are chosen at random from the local electoral register, which is another reason it is important to register to vote. Everyone chosen must be a certain age and eligible. The jury's job is to listen to the evidence in a trial and decide on a verdict.
What is the main job of a jury in a criminal trial?
- To decide the sentence for a guilty person
- To interpret the law for the judge
- To decide whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty (correct answer)
- To arrest and charge the suspect
The jury has to listen to the evidence presented at the trial and then decide a verdict of guilty or not guilty based on that evidence. If the jury finds a person guilty, it is the judge who then decides on the penalty or sentence.
If a jury finds a defendant guilty, who decides the penalty or sentence?
- The judge (correct answer)
- The jury
- The police
- The victim
In a trial, the jury decides whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty. If the person is found guilty, the judge decides on the penalty. This division of roles, with the jury deciding the facts and the judge applying the law, is a key feature of the court system.
Serving on a jury when you are summoned is best described as which of the following?
- A paid career
- A public duty that you must carry out if you are eligible (correct answer)
- Completely optional for everyone
- A punishment for a minor crime
Doing jury service is a public duty. When people are summoned to serve on a jury, they must do so unless they are not eligible (for example, because of certain criminal convictions) or can give a good reason to be excused. It is one of the responsibilities of living in the UK.
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, if a person charged with a crime is aged 10 to 17, where is their case normally heard?
- In the Crown Court in front of a jury
- In the High Court of Justiciary
- In the County Court
- In a youth court (correct answer)
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, if an accused person is aged between 10 and 17, their case is normally heard in a youth court. It is held in front of up to three specially trained magistrates or a District Judge, and there is no jury. Members of the public are not allowed in a youth court.
Which statement about youth courts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is correct?
- The public and press can report the young person's name freely
- The case is heard by a jury of 12
- The parents or carers of the young person are expected to attend (correct answer)
- Only people over 18 can be tried there
In a youth court, the parents or carers of the young person are expected to attend. The court is closed to the public, and the young person's name and photograph cannot be published in newspapers or used by the media. Cases are heard by specially trained magistrates or a District Judge, not by a jury.
In Scotland, a young person who has committed an offence may be dealt with through which system rather than a youth court?
- The Children's Hearings System (correct answer)
- The Crown Court
- A tribunal
- The House of Lords
Scotland does not use youth courts in the same way as the rest of the UK. Instead, a system called the Children's Hearings System is used to deal with children and young people who have committed offences. Northern Ireland has a system of youth conferencing.
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the youth court deals with accused people of what age range?
- 8 to 16
- 10 to 17 (correct answer)
- 12 to 18
- 14 to 21
The handbook explains that in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, if an accused person is aged between 10 and 17, their case is normally heard in a youth court. It is held in front of up to three specially trained magistrates or a District Judge, and there is no jury.
Disputes over money, such as trying to get back money that is owed, are usually dealt with in which type of court?
- A criminal court such as the Crown Court
- A youth court
- The Justice of the Peace Court
- A County Court (or, in Scotland, the Sheriff Court) (correct answer)
Civil disputes, such as trying to recover money that is owed, personal injury claims, family matters, breaches of contract and divorce, are dealt with in the County Court in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and in the Sheriff Court in Scotland. These are matters of civil law rather than crimes.
Which of the following is a civil matter typically dealt with by the County Court?
- Burglary
- Assault
- A breach of contract or a divorce (correct answer)
- Dangerous driving
County Courts deal with a wide range of civil disputes, including people trying to recover money owed to them, personal injury claims, family matters, breaches of contract and divorce. Burglary, assault and dangerous driving are crimes and are dealt with by the criminal courts.
The handbook describes a simpler, less formal way to settle minor civil disputes over small amounts of money. What is it called?
- The small claims procedure (correct answer)
- A public inquiry
- A trial by jury
- A tribunal appeal
The small claims procedure is an informal way of helping people to settle minor disputes without spending a lot of time and money using a lawyer. It is used for claims of low value and usually takes place in an informal setting, in front of a judge, rather than a full court hearing.
What is the main advantage of using the small claims procedure to settle a minor dispute?
- It always results in a prison sentence
- It is informal and does not usually require an expensive lawyer (correct answer)
- It is only available to businesses
- It is decided by a jury of 15
The small claims procedure is used for disputes over small amounts of money. It is an informal process, held in front of a judge with people sitting around a table, and it does not usually require a lawyer. This makes it a cheaper and quicker way for ordinary people to resolve minor civil disagreements.
If someone needs advice about a legal problem but cannot afford a solicitor, what may be available to help?
- A free holiday abroad
- An automatic pardon
- A place on a jury
- Legal aid, which can help with the cost of legal advice or representation (correct answer)
People who need legal advice can usually go to a solicitor. Those who cannot afford legal costs may be able to get financial help known as legal aid, though the rules about who qualifies vary across the UK. People can also get information and advice from organisations such as the Citizens Advice Bureau.
Where can people go to get free information and advice about legal and other problems, according to the handbook?
- The Crown Court
- The local police station only
- The Citizens Advice Bureau (correct answer)
- Parliament
The Citizens Advice Bureau provides free, confidential and independent advice on a wide range of issues, including legal problems, debt, housing and employment. People can also find a solicitor to help them with legal matters, and legal aid may be available for those who cannot afford to pay.
The UK has laws to protect people from being treated unfairly at work or in daily life. This is generally known as what?
- Protection from discrimination (equal opportunities) (correct answer)
- Freedom of the press
- Freedom of movement
- The right to silence
UK laws provide protection from discrimination, ensuring that people are not treated unfairly in areas such as work or the provision of services. It is against the law to discriminate against someone because of characteristics such as their age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, or sexuality.
Which of the following is protected against discrimination under UK equality law, as described in the handbook?
- A person's favourite football team
- A person's age, disability, race, religion, sex or sexuality (correct answer)
- A person's choice of holiday destination
- The car a person drives
UK law states that people should not be treated unfairly because of their age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sexuality (sexual orientation) or marital status. Discrimination on these grounds is against the law in the workplace and in wider society.
It is against the law in the UK to discriminate against someone at work because of which of the following?
- The number of hours they are willing to work
- Their level of experience
- Their qualifications for the job
- Their disability (correct answer)
Discrimination law protects people from being treated unfairly because of protected characteristics such as disability, race, sex, age, religion or belief, and sexuality. An employer can still make fair decisions based on someone's qualifications or ability to do the job, but not on the basis of a protected characteristic like disability.
Which body works to help enforce equality law and challenge discrimination in England, Wales and Scotland?
- The Crown Prosecution Service
- The Bank of England
- The Equality and Human Rights Commission (correct answer)
- The Electoral Commission
The Equality and Human Rights Commission works to protect people from discrimination in England, Wales and Scotland. In Northern Ireland, the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland carries out a similar role. These bodies help enforce the laws that protect people's rights to equal treatment.
In the UK, everyone has both rights and responsibilities. Which of the following is a fundamental right protected by law?
- Freedom from unfair discrimination (correct answer)
- The right to break laws you disagree with
- The right to avoid jury service for any reason
- The right to ignore court decisions
Fundamental rights in the UK include freedom of belief and religion, freedom of speech, freedom from unfair discrimination, the right to a fair trial, and the right to join in the election of a government. These rights come alongside responsibilities, such as obeying the law and treating others with fairness and respect.
Alongside their rights, what is a key responsibility of everyone living in the UK?
- To join a political party
- To obey and respect the law (correct answer)
- To become a magistrate
- To attend court every year
Living in the UK brings both rights and responsibilities. A central responsibility is to respect and obey the law. Other responsibilities include treating others with fairness, looking after yourself and your family, and looking after the area in which you live and the environment.
The right to a fair trial is protected in the UK. What does this principle mean?
- Trials can be decided by the government
- Only wealthy people are entitled to a trial
- The accused must prove they did not commit the crime before any evidence is heard
- Everyone accused of a crime is entitled to a fair hearing conducted according to the law (correct answer)
The right to a fair trial is a fundamental principle of British justice, protected in law. Everyone accused of a crime is entitled to a fair hearing before an independent court, and trials must be conducted fairly. Judges ensure that trials follow the law, and the government cannot interfere with this.
Which of these best describes the difference between the aims of criminal and civil law?
- Criminal law is only for adults; civil law is only for children
- Criminal law applies in Scotland; civil law applies elsewhere
- Criminal law punishes crimes; civil law settles disputes between people or groups (correct answer)
- Criminal law is decided by Parliament; civil law is decided by the police
Criminal law relates to crimes, which are usually investigated by the police and punished by the courts. Civil law is used to settle disputes between individuals or groups, such as claims for compensation or disagreements over contracts. The two types of law serve different purposes within the justice system.
In Northern Ireland, cases that in England and Wales would be heard by lay magistrates are instead heard by whom?
- A legally qualified District Judge (Magistrates' Court) (correct answer)
- A jury of 15
- The Chief Constable
- A panel of elected councillors
The handbook notes that in England and Wales, magistrates are usually unpaid members of the community with no legal qualifications, but in Northern Ireland cases in the equivalent court are heard by a legally qualified District Judge. Northern Ireland has a court structure similar to England and Wales but with some of its own arrangements.
Which fundamental principle means that people are free to hold their own beliefs and to express their opinions, within the law?
- The rule of law
- Individual liberty (correct answer)
- Democracy
- Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs
Individual liberty is one of the fundamental principles of British life. It includes freedoms such as freedom of belief and religion and freedom of speech, allowing people to hold their own opinions and express them, provided they act within the law and respect the rights of others.
Why does the handbook say it is important to be registered on the electoral register, in relation to the justice system?
- Because only registered voters can be arrested
- Because it lets you avoid paying court fees
- Because it makes you a magistrate automatically
- Because jury members are chosen at random from the electoral register (correct answer)
As well as being needed in order to vote, the electoral register is used to select members of a jury at random. This is one of the reasons the handbook says it is important to register to vote. Serving on a jury when selected is a public duty and an important part of the justice system.
FAQ: Law & Justice
How many Law & Justice questions are on the Life in the UK Test?
The real test does not split into fixed sections — its 24 questions are drawn from across the whole handbook, so Law & Justice facts can appear anywhere in it. This chapter quiz gives you 45 original questions focused on this topic so you can revise it thoroughly before mixing it back into a full mock test.
Are these the real test questions?
No. The official question bank is confidential and is not published. These are original questions written to test the same handbook facts, each with an explanation so you learn the point, not just the answer.
How should I use this chapter quiz?
Work through it, read every explanation — including for the questions you get right — then take a full 24-question mock test to see this topic alongside the rest of the syllabus. Cycle back to any chapter where your score is shaky before you book the real test.
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