UK GOV- Branches 4.1.1 Introduction to the Supreme Court

Question 1

What is the highest appellate court in the UK?

Answer 1

The UK Supreme Court

Question 2

Name a court that handles criminal cases in Northern Ireland.

Answer 2

The Court of Appeal (NI)

Question 3

What type of court is the High Court?

Answer 3

It handles both civil and criminal cases.

Question 4

Which court is responsible for serious criminal cases?

Answer 4

Crown Court

Question 5

What type of matters does the Magistrates Court deal with?

Answer 5

Primarily criminal matters

Question 6

Name a court that handles civil cases.

Answer 6

County Court

Question 7

What is the role of the Justice of the Peace Court?

Answer 7

Handles minor criminal cases

Question 8

Which court is known for handling civil cases in Scotland?

Answer 8

The Court of Session

Question 9

What is required for a candidate to be eligible for the Supreme Court?

Answer 9

Must have held high judicial office for at least two years and been a qualified legal practitioner for at least 15 years.

Question 10

Who convenes the independent selection commission for Supreme Court candidates?

Answer 10

The Lord Chancellor

Question 11

Who is included in the selection commission for interviewing Supreme Court candidates?

Answer 11

The President of the UKSC, a senior UK Judge not on the UKSC, a member of the Judicial Appointment Commission, a member of the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland, and a member of the NI Judicial Appointments Commission.

Question 12

What options does the Lord Chancellor have after receiving the commission’s recommendation?

Answer 12

Accept, reject, or ask for reconsideration.

Question 13

Who formalizes the appointment of a successful Supreme Court candidate?

Answer 13

The King

Question 14

Fill in the blank: The _______ Court handles serious criminal cases.

Answer 14

Crown

Question 15

True or False: The High Court in the UK only handles civil cases.

Answer 15

False

Question 16

What court is also known for handling criminal matters in Scotland?

Answer 16

Sheriff Court

Question 17

What is the purpose of the Sheriff Appeal Court?

Answer 17

Handles appeals from the Sheriff Court

Question 18

What is the High Court of Justiciary primarily responsible for?

Answer 18

Criminal cases in Scotland

Question 19

What is the purpose of studying the Supreme Court?

Answer 19

To judge whether the structure and make up of the Supreme Court has created an effective judiciary.

Question 20

What is the UK judiciary responsible for?

Answer 20

• Interpreting and enforcing UK law
• Checking the legality of government actions
• Upholding the rights and liberties of individuals
• Resolving devolutionary disputes

Question 21

What major change did the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 introduce?

Answer 21

It produced the UK Supreme Court, replacing the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords as the highest court in the land.

Question 22

What is the role of the Supreme Court?

Answer 22

• Acts as the final court of appeal in Civil and Criminal Cases in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland
• Hears appeals on issues of particular public importance
• Concentrates on cases of the greatest constitutional importance

Question 23

True or False: The UK Supreme Court can legislate for a referendum.

Answer 23

False

Question 24

How many justices sit on the UK Supreme Court as of March 2025?

Answer 24

12 justices

Question 25

What is the mandatory retirement age for justices in the UK Supreme Court?

Answer 25

75 years old

Question 26

List the steps in selecting a Supreme Court justice.

Answer 26

* Step 1: Eligibility criteria * Step 2: Independent selection commission interviews * Step 3: Lord Chancellor receives recommendations

Question 27

Who is the current President of the Supreme Court?

Answer 27

Lord Reed

Question 28

What is the typical number of justices that hear each case?

Answer 28

5 justices

Question 29

Fill in the blank: The Lord Chancellor's role was reduced to a _______ position after the CRA.

Answer 29

ceremonial

Question 30

What percentage of the Supreme Court's justices have been male historically?

Answer 30

84.8%

Question 31

What is the significance of the Judicial Appointments Commission?

Answer 31

It is chiefly responsible for the selection of senior justices, removing opaque appointments by the Lord Chancellor.

Question 32

What is the Supreme Court's role in resolving legal disputes?

Answer 32

It resolves legal disputes between the devolved governments of Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales and the UK Parliament.

Question 33

What was the last section of the UK course called?

Answer 33

Relations between branches

Question 34

True or False: All justices of the UK Supreme Court have been white.

Answer 34

True

Question 35

What is the current composition of the Supreme Court in terms of gender?

Answer 35

Currently, there are 2 women sitting on the bench.

Question 36

What is the location of the UK Supreme Court?

Answer 36

Middlesex Guildhall

Question 37

How many justices from Scotland are typically on the Supreme Court?

Answer 37

At least 2 justices

Question 38

What is a key role of the President of the Supreme Court?

Answer 38

Determines the composition of panels and represents the Court’s views.

Question 39

What is the significance of the 2016 EU referendum in the context of the Supreme Court?

Answer 39

The percentage of those who voted to leave was 52%.

Question 40

What does the Supreme Court clarify?

Answer 40

Common law

Question 41

What is the typical composition of a panel that hears a case in the Supreme Court?

Answer 41

Minimum of 3 to a maximum of 11 justices