11.) Parliamentary Legislative Process Flashcards
What are the functions of Parliament?
-Legislative - Pass laws
-Representation - Give people a voice for their votes
-Scrutiny - Hold the government to account
-Deliberative - debate issues of the day
What is the process to introduce a new bill?
-First reading
-Second reading
-Committee Stage
-Report Stage
-Third Reading
-HoL stages
-Royal Assent
There are two optional stages before a bill begins the legislative process, what are they?
-Green Paper
-White Paper
What is the First Reading?
The bill is introduced, but not debated
What is the Second Reading?
The bill is debated and then voted on
When the last time the government was defeated at the Second Reading?
1986: Sunday Trading Bill (296-282)
What is the Committee Stage?
Bills are sent to public bill committees, who then read the bills and suggest amendments
Public Bill Committees often have MPs with relevant experience sitting on them, what percentage of amendments accepted by government are proposed by these MPs?
87%
Between 2000-2010 percentage of non-government amendments was accepted overall?
0.5%
What is the report stage?
Public bill committees report back with any amendments, those amendments are then voted on and may be accepted, rejected or changed
What is the third reading?
The final debate and vote on the bill
What is it called when bills are pushed between the Commons and Lords?
Parliamentary ping pong
Name a bill that went through parliamentary ping pong?
The Prevention of Terrorism Bill (2005) - passed between Houses repeatedly (considered in Commons 4 times, 5 times in the Lords)
What happens if the Commons and Lords can’t agree to pass a bill?
The Commons can invoke the Parliament Acts and force the bill through
When did this last happen?
Hunting Act 2004
