AC 1.1-describe processes used for law making Flashcards
What are the two main sources of the law?
The government and Parliament
What is Parliament? (one word answer)
Democracy
What is the role of Parliament?
To represent the people
What are laws made by Parliament called?
Statutes or legislation
Parliament is made up of three parts, what are they?
1) The monarch (Queen/King)
2) The House of Lords
3) The House of Commons
What is the role of the monarch?
The Queen/King giving the Royal Assent
What is the Royal Assent?
The agreement from a Queen/King to pass a new law
What is the role of the House of Lords?
To debate legislation and challenge the work of the government
How many peers are there in the House of Lords?
800
How many peers in the House of Lords are noblemen through hereditary means? (past and present)
Past: all peers were noblemen, position passed from father to eldest son
Present: 92 hereditary positions, rest are life peers unable to pass on their position (26 are also Church of England bishops and archbishops)
What is the role of the House of Commons?
To deliver the governments legislative programme
What is the House of Commons made up of?
650 elected representatives of the public (MP’s)
What is the role of the government?
To run the country
Who is the prime minister?
The leader of the majority party
What is a Bill?
A proposal for a new law
What must Bills go through before becoming Acts of Parliament (laws)?
Bills must be agreed by both Houses of Parliament and receive the Royal Assent
The government publishes a Green Paper before putting a Bill before Parliament. What is the Green Paper?
An initial report to provoke public discussion of the matter at hand eg. questions for interested individuals/organisations to respond to
The government publishes the White Paper after the Green Paper. What is the White Paper?
Document containing detailed plans for legislation (includes draft of Bill intended to put before Parliament)
How many parliamentary stages of a Bill are there?
7