AC1.1

Question 1

How many stages are there to parliamentery law making?

Answer 1

9

Question 2

What is the green paper and what stage is this?

Answer 2

1
-before putting a bill before parliament, government publishes this
- initial report to provoke a public discussion of the subject
- includes questions for interested people to respond to

Question 3

What is the white paper and what stage is this?

Answer 3

2
- after consultation, government publish this
- document setting out their detailed plans for legislation
- includes draft version of the bill they intend to put before parliament

Question 4

What is the first reading and what stage is this?

Answer 4

3
- government introduces bill to commons
- formal announcement of the bill and followed by a vote to allow it to next stage

Question 5

What is the second reading and what stage is this?

Answer 5

4
- main principles of bill are considered and debated by house of commons and vote is taken
- government usually win the vote and if they do then move onto next stage

Question 6

What is the committee stage and what stage is this?

Answer 6

5
- bill examined in detail by small committee made up of MPs from different parties
- committee report back to whole house and propose amendments to bill

Question 7

What is the report stage and what stage is this?

Answer 7

6
-gives MPs opportunity to consider committees report, can debate and vote on any amendment wish to make to the bill
-the debates may be spread over a few days if for a major bill

Question 8

What is the third reading and what stage is this?

Answer 8

7
- report stage normally immediately followed by third reading
- final chance for commons to debate the bills contents
- no amendments allowed at this stage
- house votes to pass or reject the bill

Question 9

What does the lords stage include and what stage is this?

Answer 9

8
- after third reading, the bill goes to house of lord where it goes through all same stages again
- if lords amend bill, return to commons so MPs decide whether to accept r reject lords’ amendments
- house of commons has final say because peoples elected representatives in this house

Question 10

What does the royal assent stage include ad what stage is this?

Answer 10

9
- when a bill has been passed by both houses, goes to monarch for signing
- this is monarchs agreement to make bill act of parliament/law
- new law comes into force immediately, unless act specifies a later date