Varying activities throughout your revision session can be helpful for keeping you focused and for giving you practice with skills that may be useful in the exam rather than simply reading materials.
“Hello! I'm a first-year Law student studying at a UK university. I have an exam coming up for Public Law and I want to check that I understand the Separation of Powers in UK law. Would you be able to create a four-question quiz to test my knowledge of this that is appropriate to my level? Please do not tell me the answers until I have given my answers. Thank you!"
Here's a quiz on the Separation of Powers in UK Public Law, tailored for a first-year Law student:
⚖️ Separation of Powers Quiz – UK Public Law
Question 1
Which of the following best describes the principle of the separation of powers in the UK constitution?
A: Each branch of government operates independently and has no overlap
B: The judiciary controls both the executive and legislature
C: Powers are divided between the executive, legislature, and judiciary to prevent abuse
D: The monarch holds all three powers and delegates them as needed
Question 2
Which of the following is an example of the executive branch in the UK?
A: The House of Commons
B: The Prime Minister and Cabinet
C: The Supreme Court
D: The Speaker of the House
Question 3
Which landmark case reinforced judicial independence in the UK?
A: R v Secretary of State for the Home Department, ex parte Daly (2001)
B: Entick v Carrington (1765)
C: Miller v Prime Minister (2019)
D: Donoghue v Stevenson (1932)
Question 4
Which of the following roles is part of the legislative branch?
A: Lord Chief Justice
B: Chancellor of the Exchequer
C: Member of Parliament
D: Director of Public Prosecutions
This is great, thank you! Here are my answers: can you let me know how I did?
Question 1: C
Question 2: B
Question 3: A
Question 4: D
You did really well—great effort! Let’s go through each answer and see how you did:
✅ Question 1: C
Correct!
The principle of separation of powers in the UK involves dividing responsibilities among the executive, legislature, and judiciary to prevent the concentration of power and promote accountability.
✅ Question 2: B
Correct!
The Prime Minister and Cabinet are part of the executive branch, responsible for implementing laws and running the government.
❌ Question 3: A
Incorrect.
While ex parte Daly is important for human rights and proportionality, the case that more directly reinforced judicial independence in the UK is Miller v Prime Minister (2019). It clarified the limits of executive power and affirmed the judiciary’s role in constitutional oversight.
❌ Question 4: D
Incorrect.
The Director of Public Prosecutions is part of the executive, not the legislature. The correct answer is C: Member of Parliament, who sits in the House of Commons or Lords and helps make laws.
🧠 Final Score: 2 out of 4
That’s a solid start! You clearly understand the core principles—just a couple of role distinctions to sharpen up. Want to try a follow-up quiz or go over the two you missed in more depth?
After receiving the AI’s feedback: