1.1 Flashcards
How many stages are there in the process of law making?
8
What is the first stage?
Consultation stage
What is the consultation stage?
- Before the Bill is drafted it will often have started on Green paper- a proposal for a new law or law reform with comments required for it to progress to a bill
- After the green paper, the Gov Minister may publish a white paper- states firm descions on how the law should be made
-When proposal is drafted, it is published and known as Bill
What is the 2nd stage?
First Reading
What is the first reading?
This is a formal introduction to the bill, where the title of the bill and its main aims are read out. A verb vote is then taken to see if it should reach the second reading
What is stage 3?
Second Reading
What is the Second Reading?
The main debate on the bill, followed by a vote, the bill must get the majority of the vote to move further. If there is a division the MPs will pass through the ‘Aye’ door or ‘No’ door and the votes counted. The speaker will then annex if the aye have it. If it gets the majority it will continue to the committee stage.
What is the 4th stage?
The committee stage
What is the committee stage?
A standing committee of 16-50 MPs examine the Bill clause by clause and amendments are made. The committee is composed of MPs that are experts in particular ares, eg engerneering, banking, education
What is the 5th stage?
The report stage
What is the report stage?
The amendments are in the committee are reported back to the House of Commons and voted on. Only when the House is satisfied with the Bill it will go to the next stage
What is the 6th stage?
Third reading
What is the third reading?
The final debate as to whether the bill should proceed to the House of Lords and a vote is taken. If the Bill proceeds to the House of Lords it will then go through the same reading stage
What is the 7th stage?
House of Lords
What is the House of Lords stage?
If there are any amendments they feel needed, they have to send the them back to the House of Commons. If this happens then this stage is called ‘Lords Amendments Considered’. This can go back and forth for any period of time and is reffered to as ping pong
What is the 8th stage?
Royal assent
What is the royal Assent?
This is when the king gives his/her royal assent to the bill (his approval). The monarchy do not have any legal power any more, this is just a formality/tradition
