2.3 The Legislative Process Flashcards
What is a private bill?
A bill wanting to be passed by a local authority or organisation which the law at the moment currently forbids doing. This can take the form of; building roads or bridges, new uses of land ect
What is a private members bill?
Bills proposed by individual groups or MPs. MPs cast their name into a ballot and 7 are chosen per year to attempt to be passed. However this rarely happens as its difficult to persuade enough MPs to turn up for debate
What is a public bill?
The most common type of bill. They are presented by the Government and are expected to pass without much disruption.
What is white paper?
A document outlining the main intentions and terms of a public bill. It is presented to Parliament up to a year before it is converted to a bill
What is the First Reading of a bill?
The bill is introduced to the Lords or Commons, it is purely formal and is not challenged
What is the Second Reading of a bill?
The main debate on the general gist of the bill. It is then followed by a vote. The details of the bill aren’t discussed at this stage yet. Government expects to win this stage
What is the Committee stage of a bill?
A Public Bill Committee is formed to scrutinise the bill. Their job is to consider the detail of the bill and can propose amendments.
What is the Report Stage of a bill?
The whole house debates the whole bill again with all the amendments included.
After the Report Stage, what happens?
The bill is transferred to the other house for the same process…
What happens at the Third Reading of a bill?
There is a specific debate on the contents of the bill, including the amendments and there is a vote.
What happens with Royal Assent?
The monarch agrees the bill and makes it an act
Where do most bills start?
The House of Commons
Most common type of bill?
Public bills
How has the Lords become more obstructive to government bills in recent years?
Due to the removal of hereditary peers, the Lords are more effective at delaying bills as there are more independently minded peers
