Chapter 1: Values & Principles — Set 6

Sex is a protected characteristic, so charging women more than men for exactly the same service is sex discrimination.

Same-sex couples in the UK can marry or form a civil partnership, giving their relationship full legal recognition.

Democracy depends on everyone accepting the results of free elections and using votes and campaigning — not disruption — to change the government.

The rule of law means the law applies to everyone equally, whatever their fame, wealth or status.

Freedom of thought, belief and religion includes the freedom to keep, change or leave a religion or belief.

Freedom of speech protects expressing opinions, including criticism of the government, provided the speech does not incite hatred or violence.

Disability is a protected characteristic: employers must not reject a qualified person because of a disability, and must consider reasonable adjustments.

Citizenship ceremonies are conducted by the Superintendent Registrar, but the certificate of naturalisation is usually presented to the new citizen by a local dignitary, such as the mayor, who welcomes them on behalf of the community.

The Equality Act 2010 gathered the main earlier equality laws into a single Act, covering areas such as work, education, services and transport.

The Equality Act 2010 covers education, so refusing a student a place because of her disability is unlawful discrimination; private social choices at home are not covered by it.

The Equality Act 2010 protects people from discrimination linked to protected characteristics, including age, disability, race and sex, in areas such as work, education and services.

Before 2010, equality law was spread across many separate laws and regulations; the Equality Act 2010 brought the main provisions together in one Act.

The Human Rights Act 1998 brought the rights in the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law, so people can enforce those rights in UK courts instead of having to go to Strasbourg.

The Human Rights Act 1998 is based on the European Convention on Human Rights, which the UK helped to draw up after the Second World War.

The Human Rights Act 1998 makes it unlawful for public authorities to act in a way that is incompatible with the Convention rights it protects.

Candidates are told their result on the day of the test, at the test centre, shortly after finishing.

People who pass are given a unique reference number, which they quote in their settlement or citizenship application so that the result can be checked.

After a fail, a candidate must wait at least seven days before sitting the test again, and must pay the fee for each attempt.

A pass does not expire — it can be used for a settlement application and, later, for a citizenship application.

The test is taken on a computer at an approved test centre; it cannot be taken at home.

Staff check the candidate's identity documents and take their photograph at the centre; a candidate who refuses to have the photo taken cannot take the test.

Candidates have 45 minutes to answer the 24 multiple-choice questions in the test.

British citizens have the right to live and work in the UK freely, with no immigration restrictions applied to them.

The law applies online as well as offline: sending threatening or abusive messages, including messages stirring up hatred, can lead to prosecution.