Sample Quizzes For Preparation: English Legal System And Its Context

AS Level Law – Quiz: Principles and Sources of English Law

Topic 1.1 – Principles and Sources of English Law

Question 1

Which of the following best describes a civil law system?

A. Based on past judicial decisions
B. Unwritten laws based on customs
C. Codified set of laws applied by judges
D. Laws based on religious doctrine

Question 2

Which legal system applies stare decisis as a key principle?

A. Religious law
B. Civil law
C. Customary law
D. Common law

Question 3

In an adversarial system, the role of the judge is to:

A. Actively investigate the case
B. Represent the state
C. Act as a neutral umpire between two parties
D. Lead prosecution efforts

Question 4

The inquisitorial system is mostly found in:

A. Common law countries
B. Civil law countries
C. Islamic countries
D. Mixed legal systems

Question 5

Who formulated the classic theory of the rule of law in the UK?

A. Jeremy Bentham
B. Lord Denning
C. A.V. Dicey
D. William Blackstone

Question 6

Which of the following is not a pillar of Dicey’s rule of law?

A. Parliamentary supremacy
B. Equality before the law
C. Supremacy of regular law
D. Ordinary law securing individual rights

Question 7

Which type of law involves the claimant and the defendant?

A. Criminal law
B. Civil law
C. Constitutional law
D. Public international law

Question 8

The burden of proof in a criminal case is:

A. Balance of probabilities
B. Preponderance of evidence
C. Beyond reasonable doubt
D. On the defendant

Question 9

Which of the following best defines morality?

A. The system of punishments in criminal law
B. Rules enforced by government
C. Socially accepted principles of right and wrong
D. A legal code written in statute

Question 10

Which theory claims law must be moral to be valid?

A. Legal realism
B. Utilitarianism
C. Natural law
D. Legal positivism

Question 11

What is the main feature of common law systems?

A. Statutory codes
B. Court rulings used as precedents
C. Lack of a judiciary
D. Codified punishments

Question 12

Which of these is a source of religious law?

A. Human Rights Act 1998
B. The Ten Commandments
C. Magna Carta
D. Common law rulings

Question 13

What does “fault” primarily relate to in criminal law?

A. Statutory interpretation
B. Mens rea and actus reus
C. Constitutional rules
D. Civil liability

Question 14

Which of the following does not typically involve fault?

A. Negligence
B. Contract breach
C. Strict liability offences
D. Theft

Question 15

In the context of law and justice, procedural justice refers to:

A. Equal outcome for all
B. Fair decision by the judge
C. Fairness in processes and legal procedures
D. Ensuring victims are compensated

Question 16

An example of a mixed legal system is:

A. United States
B. France
C. Saudi Arabia
D. South Africa

Question 17

Legal positivism asserts that:

A. All laws must come from Parliament
B. Morality and law are inseparable
C. Law is valid whether moral or not
D. Only criminal law matters

Question 18

A key difference between civil and criminal law is:

A. Only civil law can lead to imprisonment
B. Criminal law always involves a jury
C. Civil law seeks remedies; criminal law seeks punishment
D. Civil law uses the adversarial system

Question 19

Which of the following reflects distributive justice?

A. Everyone receives the same punishment
B. Sentencing guidelines for all
C. Fair allocation of resources
D. Equal access to appeal courts

Question 20

What is the term for laws made by judges through case decisions?

A. Civil codes
B. Statute law
C. Common law
D. Executive orders

Question 21

Which legal system is most commonly associated with codification?

A. Religious law
B. Customary law
C. Civil law
D. Common law

Question 22

The principle that no one is above the law refers to:

A. Parliamentary sovereignty
B. Legal positivism
C. Rule of law
D. Doctrine of ultra vires

Question 23

The main remedy in civil law is typically:

A. Imprisonment
B. Compensation (damages)
C. Fine
D. Detention

Question 24

Which type of law is primarily concerned with public wrongs?

A. Contract law
B. Tort law
C. Criminal law
D. Family law

Question 25

A law that conflicts with morality may still be valid according to:

A. Natural law theory
B. Dicey’s theory
C. Legal positivism
D. Equity theory

Question 26

Which of these is an example of a fault-based tort?

A. Nuisance
B. Occupiers’ liability
C. Defamation
D. Negligence

Question 27

Which of the following best illustrates the idea of retributive justice?

A. Compensating the victim
B. Community service
C. Imprisoning the offender
D. Raising minimum wage

Question 28

Which of these systems is most influenced by Islamic principles?

A. Civil law
B. Common law
C. Customary law
D. Religious law

Question 29

Which of the following is not a civil law dispute?

A. Divorce proceedings
B. Contract dispute
C. Assault trial
D. Land boundary claim

Question 30

Which of the following best describes the purpose of the rule of law?

A. Ensuring harsher penalties for criminals
B. Making all laws moral
C. Preventing arbitrary use of power
D. Giving government complete control

Answer Key with Explanations

1. C – Civil law systems are based on codified statutes.
2. D – Stare decisis is a key principle of common law.
3. C – The judge is a neutral arbiter in adversarial systems.
4. B – Civil law countries use inquisitorial systems.
5. C – A.V. Dicey developed the UK’s rule of law theory.
6. A – Parliamentary supremacy is separate from Dicey’s three pillars.
7. B – Civil cases are between claimant and defendant.
8. C – Criminal cases require proof beyond reasonable doubt.
9. C – Morality refers to societal beliefs of right and wrong.
10. C – Natural law states laws must be moral to be valid.
11. B – Common law is shaped by judicial decisions.
12. B – Religious texts form the basis of religious law.
13. B – Criminal fault is determined by mens rea and actus reus.
14. C – Fault is irrelevant in strict liability offences.
15. C – Procedural justice is fairness in the legal process.
16. D – South Africa combines common and civil law traditions.
17. C – Legal positivists separate law and morality.
18. C – Criminal law punishes; civil law compensates.
19. C – Distributive justice concerns fair resource distribution.
20. C – Judge-made law is known as common law.
21. C – Civil law relies on written codes.
22. C – Rule of law ensures equality before law.
23. B – Damages are the typical civil remedy.
24. C – Criminal law deals with offences against the state.
25. C – Legal positivism allows law to be separate from morality.
26. D – Negligence requires proof of fault.
27. C – Retributive justice involves punishing the offender.
28. D – Religious law, such as Sharia, is based on Islamic principles.
29. C – Assault is a criminal law matter.
30. C – Rule of law prevents arbitrary and unchecked power.