Test Your Knowledge Of The British Parliament

1. Which two bodies form the British Parliament?

The Senate and the House of Representatives

The House of Lords and the House of Commons

The Legislative and Executive branches

The House of Commoners and the House of Knights

The House of Burgesses and the King

The British Parliament is made up of The House of Lords and The House of Commons. The two houses were created to check and balance each other and to make sure that the monarch didn’t gain too much power.

Explanation

The British Parliament is made up of The House of Lords and The House of Commons. The two houses were created to check and balance each other and to make sure that the monarch didn’t gain too much power.

2. Which of the two bodies is considered the “upper chamber”?

The House of Lords

The House of Knights

The House of Commons

The House of Burgesses

The Senate

The House of Lords is considered the upper chamber, and is made up of hereditary lords (known as peers and peeresses) who hold their position for their life time. Also, two archbishops and 24 senior bishops from the Church of England sit in the House of Lords.

Explanation

The House of Lords is considered the upper chamber, and is made up of hereditary lords (known as peers and peeresses) who hold their position for their life time. Also, two archbishops and 24 senior bishops from the Church of England sit in the House of Lords.

3. A bicameral legislature is one that:

Is made up of two houses

Has the power to pass laws

Contains at least 200 people

Contains officials elected through an electoral college

The British parliament is a bicameral legislature, meaning that it is made up of two bodies. The British Parliament is made of the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

Explanation

The British parliament is a bicameral legislature, meaning that it is made up of two bodies. The British Parliament is made of the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

4. Who holds the power to dissolve the lower chamber?

The upper chamber

The monarch

The tax payers of Britain

No one, it cannot be dissolved

The monarch holds the power to dissolve the lower chamber of the British Parliament, the House of Commons. He or she may do this before the eng of the five-year term of the House of Commons at the request of the prime minister.

Explanation

The monarch holds the power to dissolve the lower chamber of the British Parliament, the House of Commons. He or she may do this before the eng of the five-year term of the House of Commons at the request of the prime minister.

5. How long is one term in the lower chamber of the Parliament?

4 years

3 years

8 years

2 years

5 years

One term in the House of Commons lasts 5 years

Explanation

One term in the House of Commons lasts 5 years

6. The main responsibility of the upper chamber is:

To create bills

To vote on legislation

The upper chamber has no real power except to suspend bills passed in the lower chamber

To decide the fate of criminals

To regulate taxes

Today the upper chamber, the House of Lords, has no real power. They can suspend bills passed in the lower chamber for up to one year, but cannot prevent it from passing. The upper chamber is the highest court of appeals in criminal cases, but this is not the main purpose of the House of Lords.

Explanation

Today the upper chamber, the House of Lords, has no real power. They can suspend bills passed in the lower chamber for up to one year, but cannot prevent it from passing. The upper chamber is the highest court of appeals in criminal cases, but this is not the main purpose of the House of Lords.

7. The first Parliament was called together in:

1430

1365

1260

1265

In 1265, the first Parliament called together during the reign of King Henry III. Simon de Montfort called together a group of his supporters including knights, bishops, archbishops and burgesses. He was rebelling against King Henry III, and called together this group without permission from the King. However, the bicameral Parliament wasn’t put in place formally until the 14th century.

Explanation

In 1265, the first Parliament called together during the reign of King Henry III. Simon de Montfort called together a group of his supporters including knights, bishops, archbishops and burgesses. He was rebelling against King Henry III, and called together this group without permission from the King. However, the bicameral Parliament wasn’t put in place formally until the 14th century.

8. The main responsibility of the “lower chamber” is:

To create bills

To advise the King on which bills to pass

To vote on legislation

The lower chamber has no real power

Holding the power to dissolve the government

The main responsibility of the lower chamber, the House of Commons, is to pass legislation. Because the House of Lords only has suspension powers, the House of Commons holds all of the legislative power.

Explanation

The main responsibility of the lower chamber, the House of Commons, is to pass legislation. Because the House of Lords only has suspension powers, the House of Commons holds all of the legislative power.

9. Who is the head of the Parliament?

The Queen

The Lord Spiritual

The Prime Minister

The Speaker of the House

The Queen or King is the third component of the Parliament, today the head of the Parliament is Queen Elizabeth II.

Explanation

The Queen or King is the third component of the Parliament, today the head of the Parliament is Queen Elizabeth II.

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