UK Citizenship Practice Test 5

The European Union is a political and economic union of 28 member states that are located primarily in Europe.

Magistrates decide the verdict in each case that comes before them and, if the person is found guilty, the sentence that they are given. In Northern Ireland, cases are heard by a District Judge or Deputy District Judge, who is legally qualified and paid.

Getting into debt is a civil matter, dealt with by a Country Court or the small claims procedure.

Examples of civil laws are:

• Housing law: this includes disputes between landlords and tenants over issues such as repairs and eviction.
• Consumer rights: an example of this is a dispute about faulty goods or services.
• Employment law: these cases include disputes over wages and cases of unfair dismissal or discrimination in the workplace.
• Debt: people might be taken to court if they owe money to someone.

Judges make decisions in disputes between members of the public or organisations. These might be about contracts, property or employment rights or after an accident.

John Constable was a famous British landscape painter.

Racial crime: it is a criminal offence to cause harassment, alarm or distress to someone because of their religion or ethnic origin.

If you are arrested and taken to a police station, a police officer will tell you the reason for your arrest and you will be able to seek legal advice.

The European Union is a political and economic union of 28 member states that are located primarily in Europe.

The House of Lords is normally more independent of the government than the House of Commons. It can suggest amendments or propose new laws, which are then discussed by MPs. The House of Lords checks laws that have been passed by the House of Commons to ensure they are fit for purpose. 

Forced Marriage Protection Orders were introduced in 2008 for England, Wales and Northern Ireland under the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007. Court orders can be obtained to protect a person from being forced into a marriage, or to protect a person in a forced marriage. Similar Protection Orders were introduced in Scotland in November 2011.

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland a jury has 12 members, and in Scotland a jury has 15 members.

Examples of criminal laws are:

• Drugs: selling or buying drugs such as heroin, cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis is illegal in the UK.
• Selling tobacco: it is illegal to sell tobacco products (for example, cigarettes, cigars, roll-up tobacco) to anyone under the age of 18.
• Smoking in public places: it is against the law to smoke tobacco products in nearly every enclosed public place in the UK. There are signs displayed to tell you where you cannot smoke.

Examples of civil laws are:

• Housing law: this includes disputes between landlords and tenants over issues such as repairs and eviction.
• Consumer rights: an example of this is a dispute about faulty goods or services.
• Employment law: these cases include disputes over wages and cases of unfair dismissal or discrimination in the workplace.
• Debt: people might be taken to court if they owe money to someone.

Judges (who are together called ‘the judiciary’) are responsible for interpreting the law and ensuring that trials are conducted fairly. The government cannot interfere with this.

If you are arrested and taken to a police station, a police officer will tell you the reason for your arrest and you will be able to seek legal advice.

If your driving licence is from a country in the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway, you can drive in the UK for as long as your licence is valid.

The UN was set up after the Second World War and aims to prevent war and promote international peace and security.

Brussels in Belgium is considered the capital of the European Union, having a long history of hosting the institutions of the European Union within its European Quarter. The EU has no official capital, and no plans to declare one, but Brussels hosts the official seats of the European Commission, Council of the European Union, and European Council, as well as a seat (officially the second seat but the most important one) of the European Parliament.

Every person in the UK receives equal treatment under the law. This means that the law applies in the same way to everyone, no matter who they are or where they are from. Those who do not respect the law should not expect to be allowed to become permanent residents in the UK.

Towns, cities and rural areas in the UK are governed by democratically elected councils, often called ‘local authorities’. Some areas have both district and county councils, which have different functions. Most large towns and cities have a single local authority.

Many local authorities appoint a mayor, who is the ceremonial leader of the council. In some towns, a mayor is elected to be the effective leader of the administration.

In November 2012, the public elected Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in England and Wales. These are directly elected individuals who are responsible for the delivery of an efficient and effective police force that reflects the needs of their local communities.

Police officers are supported by police community support officers (PCSOs). PCSOs have different roles according to the area but usually patrol the streets, work with the public, and support police officers at crime scenes and major events.

It is a criminal offence to sell alcohol to anyone who is under 18 or to buy alcohol for people who are under the age of 18. (There is one exception: When they are 16, people can drink wine or beer with a meal in a hotel or restaurant (including eating areas in pubs) as long as they are with someone over 18.)