NewsTracker Answers for week of July 11, 2022

Q: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson resigned last week as leader of the Conservative Party, which means he must leave his post after his party’s 200,000 members pick a new leader to become the next head of government. Where is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as Britain?

Circle the area on this map


Q: After a series of political scandals, Johnson was forced to resign by other leaders of the Conservative Party, which holds a majority of the seats in the ...

A. House of Commons

B. House of Lords

C. Privy Council

D. Senedd


A. Parliament’s House of Commons holds the ultimate political, legislative and executive power in the United Kingdom. The House of Lords can review and possibly delay measures passed by the Commons, but they cannot block them except in rare cases. Laws also must have the royal assent of the monarch, which is considered a formality.


Q: The prime minister is both Britain’s chief executive and a member of the House of Commons. Queen Elizabeth serves as the head of state in the United Kingdom and several former British colonies. She is NOT head of state in which of these former colonies and current parliamentary democracies?

A. Australia

B. Bahamas

C. Canada

D. Dominica


D. The Caribbean island nation of Dominica has been a republic since it became independent in 1978. The queen or king of the United Kingdom also serves as the ceremonial monarch of the sovereign states of Australia, Canada, Bahamas and 11 other former British colonies.


Q: Does the United Kingdom have a constitution covering the powers of the monarch and Parliament?

A. Yes

B. No


A. The British constitution comprises written and unwritten arrangements which have evolved over centuries. Unlike in most countries, no attempt has been made to codify these arrangements into a single document. That makes it possible for members of parliament to pass laws changing the nation’s constitution. Any law enacted by Parliament can be revoked or changed by future lawmakers.


Q: In a 2020 survey, 69% of respondents in the United Kingdom said they were dissatisfied with the way democracy worked in their country. In which nation were people most satisfied with their democracy?

A. Canada

B. Greece

C. Sweden

D. United States


C. In Sweden, 74% said they were happy with the way democracy worked for them. Greece was the most dissatisfied, with 74% unhappy with the way things were going. In the United States, 59% were dissatisfied, while north of the border most Canadians – 66% – thought their democracy was working fine.