100+ Free FE-1 Constitutional Law Practice Questions
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Key Facts: FE-1 Constitutional Law Exam
Bunreacht na hEireann 1937
Core Constitutional Text
Law Society of Ireland FE-1 syllabus
3 hours
Single Written Paper (3.5 hrs online)
Law Society of Ireland
Answer 4 of 5
Essay/Problem Questions
Law Society of Ireland
50%
Pass Mark Per Subject
Law Society of Ireland
7 years
To Pass All 8 FE-1 Subjects
Law Society of Ireland
100+
Practice Questions Here
OpenExamPrep question bank
FE-1 Constitutional Law is one of eight subjects in the Law Society of Ireland's FE-1, the entrance examination for solicitor training in Ireland. The paper is a single three-hour essay/problem exam (3.5 hours online) of five questions, of which candidates answer four, with a 50% pass mark. It is examined entirely on Irish law, centred on Bunreacht na hEireann 1937. Core topics include constitutional interpretation, the separation of powers (Oireachtas, President, Government), the courts and the administration of justice, judicial review and the presumption of constitutionality, and the personal rights of Article 40.3 (enumerated and unenumerated rights), equality, and personal liberty under Article 40.4. The family and education provisions are examinable, and candidates should note the March 2024 family and care referendums were rejected. The FE-1 is sat twice yearly (Spring and Autumn), subjects can be taken individually, and all eight must be passed within seven years.
Sample FE-1 Constitutional Law Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your FE-1 Constitutional Law exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Bunreacht na hÉireann, the Constitution of Ireland, came into operation on which date, replacing the Constitution of the Irish Free State?
2Under Article 6 of the Constitution, from whom do all powers of government — legislative, executive and judicial — ultimately derive?
3Article 15.2.1 of the Constitution vests the sole and exclusive power of making laws for the State in which body?
4What are the two Houses of the Oireachtas named in the Constitution?
5In McGee v Attorney General [1974] IR 284, the Supreme Court recognised a constitutional right that struck down the ban on importing contraceptives. Which unenumerated right did the Court principally rely upon?
6Ryan v Attorney General [1965] IR 294 is the foundational case for the doctrine of unenumerated personal rights. Which provision did Kenny J interpret as protecting rights beyond those expressly listed?
7Article 34.1 of the Constitution provides that justice shall be administered in courts established by law by judges appointed in the manner provided by the Constitution and, save in special and limited cases, shall be administered how?
8A litigant detained by An Garda Síochána wishes to challenge the lawfulness of their detention and obtain immediate release if it is unlawful. Which constitutional provision provides the habeas corpus remedy?
9Which guarantee is contained in Article 40.1 of the Constitution?
10Under the doctrine of the presumption of constitutionality, what is the position when a post-1937 Act of the Oireachtas is challenged?
About the FE-1 Constitutional Law Exam
FE-1 Constitutional Law is one of eight subjects in the Law Society of Ireland's Final Examination - First Part (FE-1), the entrance examination that must be passed to begin solicitor training in Ireland. Each subject is examined by a single three-hour paper (3.5 hours for online sittings) of five essay and problem questions, of which candidates answer four, and a mark of 50% is required to pass. The Constitutional Law paper is built on Bunreacht na hEireann 1937 and Irish constitutional jurisprudence, covering constitutional interpretation, the separation of powers among the Oireachtas, President, and Government, the courts and the administration of justice, judicial review and the presumption of constitutionality, and the personal rights guaranteed by Article 40 (including the enumerated and unenumerated rights doctrine, equality, and personal liberty). It also addresses the family, education, and religion provisions, noting that the March 2024 family and care referendums were rejected. All law examined is Irish. Candidates may sit the eight FE-1 subjects individually and have seven years from their first sitting to pass all of them.
Assessment
Question count not published by the exam provider
Time Limit
3 hours (3.5 hours online)
Passing Score
50% per subject
Exam Fee
EUR 128 per subject (2026; recheck EUR 154) (Law Society of Ireland)
FE-1 Constitutional Law Exam Content Outline
The Constitution & Interpretation
Bunreacht na hEireann 1937 as fundamental law, the hierarchy of norms, the amendment process by referendum (Articles 46 and 47), and the competing approaches to constitutional interpretation - literal, historical, harmonious, natural-law, and proportionality
Separation of Powers
The tripartite division between the Oireachtas, the President and Government, and the courts, the legislative process, the powers of the President, the conduct of foreign affairs and war, and the constitutional limits on delegated legislation
Courts & Administration of Justice
The court structure under Article 34, the requirement that justice be administered in public, the independence and tenure of the judiciary, and the prohibition on non-court bodies exercising judicial power save for limited functions
Judicial Review & Presumption of Constitutionality
The courts' power to strike down unconstitutional statutes, the presumption of constitutionality and the double-construction rule, the rules of locus standi, and the Article 26 reference of Bills by the President to the Supreme Court
Personal Rights
The personal rights guarantee in Article 40.3, the enumerated and unenumerated rights doctrine, equality before the law under Article 40.1, personal liberty and habeas corpus under Article 40.4, and the protection of life, the person, good name, and the dwelling
Family, Education & Religion
The constitutional protection of the family and marriage under Articles 41 and 42 (noting the March 2024 family and care referendums were rejected by the electorate), education rights and the role of the State, and the religion guarantees of Article 44
How to Pass the FE-1 Constitutional Law Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: 50% per subject
- Assessment: Question count not published by the exam provider
- Time limit: 3 hours (3.5 hours online)
- Exam fee: EUR 128 per subject (2026; recheck EUR 154)
Keys to Passing
- Work through all 100 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
FE-1 Constitutional Law Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the FE-1 Constitutional Law exam?
FE-1 Constitutional Law is one of eight subjects in the Law Society of Ireland's Final Examination - First Part (FE-1), the entrance examination required to begin solicitor training in Ireland. The Constitutional Law paper tests Irish constitutional law based on Bunreacht na hEireann 1937, including the separation of powers, judicial review, and personal rights under Article 40.
How is the FE-1 Constitutional Law paper structured?
It is a single three-hour written paper (3.5 hours for online sittings) containing five essay and problem questions, of which candidates must answer four. There are no multiple-choice questions; answers are full written essays and problem analyses. A mark of 50% is required to pass the subject.
What is the core text for FE-1 Constitutional Law?
The central text is Bunreacht na hEireann, the Constitution of Ireland 1937, read alongside the case law of the High Court and Supreme Court. Candidates should know the institutional articles, the courts and administration of justice under Article 34, judicial review and the presumption of constitutionality, and the personal rights of Article 40.
Do I need to know the 2024 referendums for FE-1 Constitutional Law?
Candidates should be aware that the family and care referendums held in March 2024, which proposed to amend Articles 41 and 42, were rejected by the electorate. As a result the existing constitutional text on the family, marriage, and care remains in force, and answers should reflect the current, unamended provisions.
How much does the FE-1 cost and how often is it held?
The FE-1 is held twice a year, typically in Spring (around March) and Autumn (around October). The examination fee is approximately EUR 128 per subject (candidates should recheck the current fee, which may be around EUR 154). Each of the eight subjects is paid for and sat individually.
How long do I have to pass all eight FE-1 subjects?
Candidates have seven years from their first sitting to pass all eight FE-1 subjects. The subjects may be sat individually across multiple sittings, and a pass of 50% in each subject is required. Passes achieved within the window remain valid for the seven-year period.